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Eisendrath, Gidwitz among the late filers for coming primary
The state's March 21 primary lineup was brought more into focus Monday as candidates scrambled to file thousands of signatures with state election officials on the deadline to submit nominating petitions.
The last-day filers included Edwin Eisendrath, a former Chicago alderman who is challenging Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the state Democratic primary, and Ronald Gidwitz, a Chicago businessman who is among several contenders for the Republican nomination for governor.
Gidwitz chose to submit his petitions on the last day of candidate filing along with the petitions of his choice for a lieutenant governor, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin).
"There's millions--literally millions--that want a change in this state and to find [people] ... who are willing to sign petitions is not a big challenge," Gidwitz told reporters in Springfield.
Gidwitz joins previously filed candidates state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, Aurora businessman Jim Oberweis and state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka as the leading contenders on the ballot for the Republican nomination for governor.
Besides Rauschenberger, DuPage County State's Atty. Joseph Birkett, Topinka's choice for a running mate, also filed for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor on the last day. Those two are considered the leading contenders, although others have filed candidacy petitions for the office, including Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman of Elgin. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was the lone Democrat filing for his office.
Republicans filled out their statewide slate Monday with the filings of Tazewell County State's Atty. Stewart Umholtz to challenge Democratic Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan; state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca to run against Democratic Comptroller Dan Hynes; and state Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont to run for state treasurer.
State Sen. Dan Rutherford of Chenoa previously filed as the Republican challenger to incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White.
Besides the race for governor, Democrats also have a primary contest for the treasurer's office, which Topinka is giving up, involving Knox County State's Atty. Paul Mangieri and Chicago bank executive Alexander Giannoulias.
Though the filing process is completed, it is not a guarantee of appearing on the March ballot. Already, opposing campaigns have asked to copy or at least review the signatures of many statewide contenders, launching efforts that could lead to attempts to try to knock candidates off the ballot for petition irregularities or lack of legitimate signatures.
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