UPDATE: There were a few surprises this morning as the filing window opened for incumbents and challengers seeking to run in the March 2007 primary elections.
As we first reported last week, former school board member Bill Haas is challenging 18th Ward Alderman Terry Kennedy. When we asked Haas, who has run unsuccessfully for numerous offices over the years (including mayor and, most recently, state representative), why now alderman, he said simply “it was on the ballot.”
Haas added it would be an honor to replace “a great alderman like Terry Kennedy.”
The biggest surprise came in the filing of retired police officer Matt Browning against 12th Ward Ald. Fred Heitert. [Click here to read more about this and view a video interview with Browning.] Both are Republicans and Browning’s moving personal story and considerable name recognition could make this race very competitive.
Alderman Craig Schmid (20th Ward) also got a challenger in Cherokee Street resident Galen Gondolfi.
In the 6th Ward, Kacie Starr Triplett‘s name will appear on the ballot above Committeeman Patrick Cacchione and first-time candidate Christian Saller.
Another surprise came in the 4th Ward, where neither incumbent Ald. O.L. Shelton or his expected challenger, Sam Moore, showed up this morning to file.
Still Developing…
UPDATE 2: Here are some photos from today’s filings. Please don’t steal our photos. If you’d like to use them, just ask.
