BURNHAM | The village’s Electoral Board ruled Tuesday that Burnham will not have to have a primary election Feb. 26.
The Electoral Board, consisting of Village Clerk Nancy Dobrowski and the two senior members of the Village Board, held a hearing at Village Hall, where they heard arguments from attorney Dennis Gianapolus before making their ruling.
Village President Robert Polk sat out the hearing because the challenge being filed involved a prospective opponent he could face in the April 9 nonpartisan election.
That opponent filed a challenge on the grounds he wanted to run for village president in a Democratic primary election Feb. 26.
But in Burnham, there are no primary elections and all candidates seeking office run in an April 9 election.
Gianapolus argued that, under state law, Burnham village government is not required to have primary elections because its population is under 5,000 people. The 2010 Census indicates Burnham had 4,206 residents.
The Electoral Board reached its conclusion unanimously, Dobrowski said, adding the candidate who desired a primary election in Burnham did not attend the Electoral Board hearing.
Candidates wishing to run in the April 9 election for municipal offices -- including village boards, park district and school boards -- can file nominating petitions beginning Monday.
The nominating period was to run through Dec. 24. Gov. Pat Quinn extended it to Dec. 26 for all governments when he approved the order scheduling the special primary and general elections for the Illinois 2nd Congressional District seat that now sits empty following the resignation of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
The only area communities scheduled to have primary elections Feb. 26 are Calumet City, Chicago Heights and Harvey.
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