CALUMET CITY | Police Sgt. Pam Cap moved forward Tuesday with plans to fight in court for a ballot spot for mayor in this year's municipal elections, saying her political aspirations received a boost in recent days from area residents and law enforcement professionals.
Her attorneys filed a challenge in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, claiming the Calumet City electoral board's interpretation of laws limiting police involvement in politics is too rigid and is not meant to be an outright ban against police running for office.
Attorney Jeffrey Jurgens also filed a separate challenge on behalf of Kellie Nelson, a candidate for city clerk who was knocked off the Calumet City ballot on the grounds that she did not clearly indicate on her nominating petitions what office she was seeking. Hearing dates for challenges of both Cap and Nelson, both of whom endorse each other's campaigns, have yet to be scheduled.
Cap said that since she was removed last week from the Feb. 24 Democratic primary ballot, she has heard from residents who want her to run against Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush who currently is on the primary ballot unopposed.
"Many people have told me I am doing the right thing (by continuing to campaign), so that is why I am moving forward," said Cap, who also has received encouragement from the Fraternal Order of Police.
She says the president of the Illinois chapter of the police union has assured her that her candidacy for mayor is on sound legal ground, despite the claims of Calumet City officials that police cannot seek political office.
Illinois FOP state President Ted Street previously told The Times that state law would prevent Cap from doing campaign work while in police uniform or on duty, and that she would have to resign her police post prior to taking office.
Cap has said she will resign her police post if she wins the mayoral election, and that she uses vacation to create blocs of time in which to do campaign work. Calumet City officials previously said Cap should have taken a leave of absence from her post to avoid the appearance of conflicts.
Cap said she spent Monday working at her campaign office, 705 Wentworth Ave., working telephones along with campaign volunteers to try to urge people in Calumet City to consider voting for her even though technically she is now off the ballot.
But she also spent part of the day dealing with a city Inspectional Services Department allegation that said Cap's campaign signs were too large to be in compliance with local law.
Cap has some campaign signs that are 4 feet by 4 feet, and local laws limit campaign signs to 15 square feet. Cap said her people were trimming their signs down to 3-feet, 9-inches by 4 feet to make them comply.
She said city officials have engaged in similar acts to try to block her campaign signs. City officials were not available to comment on the matter, but Cap said she was not letting such actions deter her.
"I have to believe in my best positive way that I'm doing the right thing," said Cap. Since she has had a few fundraising events, she is using her own money to pay legal bills incurred in trying to get a Cook County judge to overrule the Calumet City electoral board.
"I have a mortgage and car payments to make, but whatever is left over on pay day goes to my campaign," Cap said.
