WEST LOOP — The crowded 28th Ward race just got a little less crowded.
After facing objections, two candidates, Willie McGill, a substitute teacher, and Elliot Thomas, a Garfield Park resident, were bounced from the 28th Ward ballot this week.
On Friday, the Chicago Board of Elections ruled that Thomas' petition sheets were not properly notarized. The board found that McGill's nomination papers contained about 345 signatures of registered voters, less than the 473 required to run for the 28th Ward seat.
For now, six candidates remain in the West Side aldermanic race, but petition challenges filed against five other candidates are still being considered by the Chicago Board of Elections. The petitions of all candidates but incumbent Ald. Jason Ervin were challenged.
Remaining candidates facing challenges include:
• Jasmine Jackson, an early childhood special education teacher at William Penn Elementary School in North Lawndale.
• Tammie Vinson, a special education teacher at Oscar DePriest Elementary School in South Austin and an 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.
The remaining challenges will be heard in a series of hearings starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the lower level conference room, 69 W. Washington St.
Incumbent Ervin was appointed to the post in January 2011 by Mayor Richard Daley. A month later, he was elected to a full term as alderman. Ervin formerly served as Maywood's village manager. Ervin lives in East Garfield Park.
Challenged by Siegmund, Ervin won the 2011 race with nearly 85 percent of the vote.
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.
In 2007 and 2011 races, the percentage of candidates who were successfully knocked off the ballot was about 28 to 29 percent, according to figures compiled by Aldertrack.
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, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Little Village, Pilsen, Tri-Taylor, University Village and the West Loop.
The election is Feb. 24.
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