Dupage Policy Journal

McCullagh for State Rep 97th has issued the following press release:

SHOREWOOD, IL — State Representative 97th District candidate Thomas McCullagh filed a petition challenge to Michelle Smith's petition packet detailing evidence of fraud in the collection and certifications of signatures.

Today, state representative candidate, Thomas McCullagh, filed a petition challenge on opponent Michelle Smith’s candidacy packet with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Highlights of the challenges allege false swearing and a pattern and practice of fraud. McCullagh and a team of volunteers have detailed information from people who signed Smith's petitions which allege that the signatures were fraudulently obtained. Their exploratory period uncovered that circulators, including Smith, allegedly coached and/or allowed signers to fraudulently sign for other members of their households- a violation of Illinois election law.  Smith is also called into question for allegedly signing her name as the circulator on petition sheets she did not in fact circulate - a violation of Illinois election law.

Smith is an elected township clerk in Plainfield, IL and is also a deputy committee woman for the Illinois State Republican Central Committee. She is supported by current state representatives Mark Batinik and Tim Ozinga, who have donated to her campaign. House Republican Majority Caucus lead by Jim Durkin and his political director, Jayme Odom,  assisted in the preparation and filing of Smith's petitions.  

McCullagh explained. “I, my campaign manager (Camielle Holcombe), alongside 20 other campaigns and their volunteers, went door-to-door together collecting valid and authentic signatures. We worked hard for hours each day in 20 degree weather to get the job done. It’s disappointing when a candidate, regardless of political party, arrogantly degrades our Republic by submitting fraudulent signatures. She needs to withdraw.”