Rauschenberger's comeback under threat

Republicans backing Steve Rauschenberger's attempt to reclaim his Elgin-based state Senate seat were concerned today that Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman would file as a write-in candidate.
She did.
If Wegman wins with more than 1,000 votes, she would secure the Republican banner going into the general election against incumbent Democrat Mike Noland of Elgin.
That would prevent Rauschenberger from being slated after the primary by party bosses if he loses his spot on the primary ballot due to a Democratic challenge.
Wegman tells Animal Farm she "wanted to make sure the Republicans are represented in this race."
Rauschenberger - who held the 22nd District for 14 years and ran twice for statewide office as a Republican - said he already has that covered.
He encouraged Elgin Township Clerk Kurt Kojzarek and Elgin attorney Jeff Meyer to file as write-in candidates. They have an understanding with Rauschenberger, who now heads the United Republican Fund.
"Both are supporters of mine and we will work after the primary to be sure the Republican nominee is someone with the best chance of winning,” Rauschenberger said of Kojzarek and Meyer.
If one of them wins as a write-in, and Rauschenberger is removed from the primary ballot, they could step down and let party bosses slate Rauschenberger for the general election.
Wegman, who ran against Rauschenberger in the 2006 lieutenant governor's GOP primary, declined to address Rauschenberger, but the three term county official said she is “a party person” who is a “hard campaigner.”
The blow to Rauschenberger’s comeback bid came Wednesday when an election hearing officer ruled in favor of a Democratic challenge to his candidacy on the grounds that he is not a “qualified primary voter.”
That is because Rauschenberger pulled a Democratic ballot in April’s primary to support his sister’s bid for a trustee post in Elgin Township.
The theory goes that because Rauschenberger most recently voted Democratic, he can’t legitimately run as a Republican in the primary.
Ironically, the wrinkle in Illinois law came about partly because a suburban Republican incumbent challenged a Democratic opponent’s party credentials in a 2008 general election race.
Rauschenberger acknowledged Thursday he is being targeted by a stealthy campaign weapon crafted by his own party. But he contends it is still wrong.
“I don’t care who does the trickery, none of this is good,” said the Elgin native, who has been out of office since his failed lieutenant governor primary bid in 2006.
But Rauschenberger isn’t off the ballot just yet.
“It ain’t over,” said Rauschenberger’s election attorney Burt Odelson.
It will take five votes from the state election commission next week to officially kick him off the ballot, which will require at least one Republican member to side with four Democrats.
Then the case is likely to end up in the courts either way, probably delaying the final decision to just weeks or days before the primary.
Michael Kasper, an attorney for the Illinois Democratic Party, declined to comment.