Guerrero’s spot on Joliet Township ballot up in air

Cesar Guerrero, who opted not to run for a second term for Joliet City Council to pursue election as Joliet Township supervisor, now is scrambling to be on the April ballot at all.

Gurerrero said Tuesday that he will be on the ballot as the township supervisor candidate after a statement from the Will County clerk indicating that he will not.

Will County Clerk Annette Parker said Tuesday that Guerrero and three other candidates are ineligible for the April 1 ballot.

Parker issued a news release on Tuesday saying that despite pressure on her office, four candidates will not be on the ballot.

“In response to efforts in the past week to pressure the office of the Will County Clerk to violate state election laws by placing ineligible candidates on the ballot for the April 1, 2025, election, I would like to explain the process,” according to the release.

Four candidates in Will County were on a forfeiture list from the Illinois State Board of Elections containing names of those who violated the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act and failed to either pay or appeal fines, according to the release.

State law requires candidates to file quarterly reports showing who is contributing to their campaigns and how the money is being spent. Those who don’t comply can be barred from appearing on ballots.

When Parker was asked in a phone interview just what pressure she had received, she said “No pressure. Just people are very passionate.”

Asked to elaborate, Parker said, “Many phone calls came in. Just leave it at that.”

Parker said the candidates will not be on the ballot unless she receives a court order instructing otherwise.

The candidates being kept off the ballot include Guerrero, she said.

“That should be worked out shortly,” Guerrero said Tuesday as he was going into a City Council meeting.

Guerrero said he resolved issues with the State Board of Elections last week and was nominated this week by precinct captains in Joliet Township to be the candidate for supervisor.

“There will be a statement going out tomorrow morning,” he said.

The three other candidates Parker identified as being ineligible for the ballot are Peter Adamson, who intends to run for Plainfield village trustee; Kevin “Kollins” Hedemark, who plans to run for Lockport Township highway commissioner; and Giovanni Santana, who plans to run for an alderperson position in the city of Aurora.

Parker noted that she consulted with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding the matter.

“I had no other decision other than not to allow them to appear on the ballot,” she said.