David Hardison, aka Southern Spiderman, removed from Bureau County ballot

David Hardison, also known as Southern Spiderman, has been removed from the Bureau County ballot.

Hardison was removed from the ballot Thursday after the Bureau County Republican Party objected to his candidacy.

He was removed because, in order to become state’s attorney, according to statute, a person must be a licensed attorney in Illinois, Bureau County Clerk Matthew Eggers said.

Also, Hardison didn’t have the minimum required number of valid signatures on his petitions.

Eggers said he was advised by the Illinois State Board of Elections to accept Hardison’s petitions, despite knowing he didn’t qualify as a state’s attorney, because his candidacy then could go through the objection process.

The Bureau County state’s attorney race now is much clearer. Republican Daniel C. Anderson and Democrat Bradley C. Popurella figure to square off in the November 2024 general election to succeed Thomas Briddick, who did not vie for reelection.