Objections have been filed against seven 28th Ward aldermanic candidates, according to Chicago Board of Elections records.
All candidates running for the 28th Ward seat but incumbent Ald. Jason Ervin face petition challenges. Those candidates include:
• Jasmine Jackson, an early childhood special education teacher at William Penn Elementary School in North Lawndale.
• Elliot Thomas, a third candidate who lives in West Garfield Park.
• Tammie Vinson, a special education teacher at Oscar DePriest Elementary School in South Austin and active member of the Chicago Teachers Union.
• Alex M. Lyons, founder of a real estate investment firm and former executive director of the Greater Garfield Chamber of Commerce. Lyons also ran for the seat in 2007.
• Marseil Jackson, founder of the Jackson Action Coalition, a community group.
• William Siegmund, who ran for 28th Ward alderman in 2007 and 2011.
• Willie McGill, a substitute teacher at Noble Network Charter Schools.
The electoral board will consider the objections in seven hearings starting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the lower level conference room, 69 W. Washington St. If any objection is successful, that candidates would be kicked off the 28th Ward ballot.
The objections were filed by Austin resident Emma Jean Robinson, who served as chief of staff to former 28th Ward Ald. Ed Smith. Robinson was also paid $11,000 in 2011 as a consultant and to provide meals to Ervin's campaign, state records show.
Robinson also filed objections to seven 28th ward candidates, which included Lyons and Siegmund, in 2007. Siegmund was knocked off the ballot because he failed to file a statement of economic interest. Another candidate, Derrick L. Davis, was also kicked off the ballot after failing to produce enough valid signatures on his nominating petition. Robinson ultimately withdrew another objection and the four remaining challenged candidates survived.
In 2007 and 2011 races, the percentage of candidates who were successfully knocked off the ballot was about 28 to 29 percent, according to AlderTrack figures.
Ervin, an aide to longtime Ald. Smith, was appointed to the seat Smith vacated in January 2011. A month later, he was elected to a full term as alderman. Challenged by Siegmund, Ervin won the 2011 race with nearly 85 percent of the vote.
Prior to Ervin's appointment, Smith held the seat for 27 years.
The 28th Ward includes parts of a diverse collection of West Side neighborhoods: Austin, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Little Village, Pilsen, Tri-Taylor, University Village and the West Loop.
The election is Feb. 24.
