6 Candidates Seek Seats On City Council, 2 Face Ballot Challenges

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Highland Park City Council will welcome at least two new members after April's municipal election.

Only one of the three councilmembers whose terms are expiring filed nomination petitions for reelection, but it remains to be seen how many choices voters will have to pick their replacement.

Incumbent councilwoman Kim Stone will appear on the ballot. Councilmen Daniel Kaufman and Alyssa Knobel will not, according to city staff.

Two of the six challengers who petitioned to appear on the ballot alongside Stone faced objections before the city's electoral board. Both were filed by Forest Barbieri.

According to one of his objections, the signatures submitted by candidate Suzanne Wilhelmsen included four who were not registered voters and one who did not live in the municipality.

At least 44 valid signatures are required for a candidate to get their name on the ballot and Wilhelmsen submitted 46. Wilhelmsen withdrew from the race Wednesday.

According to Barbieri's other objection, candidate Jami Bay neglected to properly file a statement of economic interests, which, along with signatures and a statement of candidacy, is required to appear on the ballot.

According to copies of Bay's nominating petitions provided to Highland Park Patch, Bay initially filed the packet before the economic interest statement but submitted it before the Nov. 23 deadline. But Barbieri told Patch he believed Bay's statement was invalid because it listed the office he was seeking as "Lake County."

The other candidates set to appear on the ballot include Annette Lidawer, Yumi Ross, Andres Tapia and Lori Weisskopf.

Ross missed out on a seat on the council last April, receiving about 400 fewer votes than incumbents Anthony Blumberg, Michelle Holleman and Adam Stolberg, who were able to retain their seats.

The city elects its mayor and six at-large council members to staggered four-year terms. The top three vote-getters are set to win seats on the council..

The remaining objection are being heard by the city's municipal officer electoral board, which is, by law, composed of the mayor, senior member of City Council and city clerk — in Highland Park's case, the city manager.

The local quasi-judicial bodies are tasked with ruling on objections to nominating petitions. The board began its hearing Monday. According to City Manager Ghida Neukirch, it is due to continue Dec. 15 and Dec. 18.