Candidates secure top spots on Feb. ballot

JOLIET -- Will County Board member "Banana" Joe Babich was so intent on being first in line Monday to file his nominating petitions he parked in the county building lot at 5:02 a.m.

It's a tradition Babich said he has followed for years. Because he was an early bird, Babich, the most senior member of the county board, will be listed first on the ballot for the Feb. 2 primary.

"I went to sleep last night at quarter to nine," he said Monday evening. "I make it a point to do this, it's just in me. I want to be No. 1 on the ballot."

Everything went smoothly Monday and those who stood in line waiting to file were all on their way before 9 a.m., County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots reported.

Candidates filing nominating petitions plan to run in the Feb. 2 primary. The deadline to file petitions is 5 p.m. Nov. 2. Candidates who win their primaries go on to the general election in November 2010.

Candidates who filed Monday included:

County Clerk: Republican incumbent Nancy Schultz Voots, of Shorewood.

Regional Superintendent of Schools: Democrat incumbent Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, of Shorewood.

Sheriff: Republican incumbent Paul Kaupas, of Mokena, and Democrats Ed Bradley, of University Park, Rich Girot, of Braidwood, and Peter "Pete" Piazza, of Lockport.

Will County Board District 3: Republican Ann Dralle (incumbent) of Lemont, Suzanne Hart, of Naperville and Laurie McPhillips, of Plainfield; Democrats Diane Benjamin, of Naperville and Rhonda Reed-Slaughter, of Bolingbrook.

Will County Board District 5: Republicans Brian Smith (incumbent), Constantine "Dac" Dactelides, Mike Hilliard and Tim Reilly, all of Plainfield.

Will County Board District 8: (one unexpired two-year term) Democrats Henry Travis, of Lockport and Denise Winfrey (incumbent) of Joliet.

Will County Board District 9: Democrats Robert "Bob" Baldwin, of Crest Hill; Peter DeLaney, of Crest Hill; and incumbents Walter Adamic, Joseph Babich and Stephen Wilhelmi, all of Joliet.

The first candidate listed for each office will be first on the ballot. The rest of the candidates will enter a lottery to determine ballot position.