Chicago mayoral hopeful sues over dual office bids

Chicago mayoral candidate William Quinlan filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court seeking a ruling that would bar several sitting officeholders from simultaneously running for mayor and seeking reelection to their current jobs. Quinlan, an attorney who announced his mayoral campaign on Sept. 15, is asking a judge for a declaratory judgment that Section 107 of the Illinois Election Code bars candidates from seeking two offices that cannot legally be held by the same person. The suit names Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas as defendants. One account also reported that Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas was named, though other accounts did not list him. The case centers on a 2024 change to the Illinois election calendar that moved the filing period for Chicago's next mayoral election ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Mayoral candidates will file nominating petitions Oct. 19-26, while Giannoulias, Quigley and Pappas are already certified Democratic candidates for reelection in the November contest.