Nov 10, 2009 8:55 am US/Central
Opponent Wants State Rep. Mell Booted
Challenge Comes From Rival In Feb. 2 Primary
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago)
CBS
Impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lone defender in the Illinois House of Representatives may herself wind up being booted from office because of a potential glitch with her nominating petitions.
A challenge was filed Monday with the State Board of Elections against Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) by a rival in the Feb. 2 primary, Joe Laiacona. He claims Mell is not registered to vote at the address she listed as her primary residence, said election lawyer Richard Means, who represents Laiacona.
Mell expressed optimism the petition challenge will fail once it gets to court.
Mell is Blagojevich's sister-in-law and daughter of Ald. Richard Mell (33rd). She is also the first open lesbian to serve as a state lawmaker.
Earlier this year, Mell had discussed plans to run in a special election to replace White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in Congress, but later changed her mind. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) ultimately won the election.
Laiacona teaches at Columbia College and is an amateur genealogist,
according to the Windy City Times. If elected, he would be the second openly gay male legislator in the State House.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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