A man with ties to neo-Nazi movements in Illinois and Wisconsin who was running as a Republican to become the U.S. representative for the 3rd Congressional District has been removed from the ballot for flagrant disregard of the election code.

Arthur J. Jones of Lyons needed at least 548 signatures of registered voters to qualify to seek the congressional office. Based on a hearing and examination of records, the Illinois State Election Board ruled Wednesday that Jones didn't have any valid signatures.

Jones' petition contains "no petition sheets which remain valid, therefore the candidate has no valid signatures," the ruling states.

The election board also didn't believe Jones abided by the election code, based on a statement made in the ruling about Jones' evidence.

"The evidence at hearing, in the form of the nominating petitions and the candidate's testimony, shows a flagrant disregard for the election code," the ruling states.

Heather Kimmons, legal counsel for the election board, declined to specify why the signatures Jones submitted were not valid.

"There were numerous bases," she said.

Jones is a former member of the American National Socialist Workers Party, and has questioned in previous campaigns whether the Holocaust actually occurred. He has run several times in the 3rd Congressional District and for mayor of Chicago. The Anti-Defamation League reports he has been involved with racist and anti-Semitic groups since the 1970s.

Election boards to consider objections to candidate petitions
Election boards to consider objections to candidate petitions
The removal of Jones from the ballot means there will be no GOP candidate in the primary on March 15 for the district that includes Western Springs and La Grange, as well as portions of southwest side of Chicago and southwest suburbs, though the Republican Party may appoint a candidate later. Incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski, a Democrat from Western Springs, is uncontested in his primary.

Jones did not immediately respond to a phone call Jan. 20.

State Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, whose petitions also were questioned, will appear on the primary ballot in the 7th House District. The Cook County Board of Elections ruled in Welch's favor over an objection to his petitions. The legal number of signatures Welch required is 500. He submitted 839 valid signatures, according to a ruling made Jan. 11 by the election board.

Welch said he expected his petitions to be found valid.

"[The objection] was frivolous from the start. I wasn't concerned about it. It was never a distraction to me getting out into the community and meeting with my constiuents," he said.

He said he made sure his petitions met legal requirements before filing them.

"We always go through them before we file," he said.

The 7th District includes all or portions of River Forest, Forest Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Berkeley, Westchester, La Grange Park, Melrose Park, Western Springs and Northlake.

amannion@tribpub.com

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