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URBANA — Champaign County Auditor George Danos will not be running for the state comptroller’s office, after all.
The State Board of Elections ruled Thursday that Danos’ voter signature petitions fell short of the 5,000 signatures necessary to quality for a ballot spot.
Danos submitted petitions containing roughly 6,200 names, well in excess of the 5,000 required.
But successful challenges to some of his signatures left him 657 short of the 5,000 minimum.
Danos said he does not anticipate appealing the decision.
“There is (an appeal process). But I’m not inclined to pursue it. I don’t think the courts want to overturn a decision by the state board,” he said.
Now that Danos — the only male candidate — is out of the race to replace current Comptroller Susana Mendoza, four women will be vying for the Democratic Party’s comptroller nomination.
They are Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago and state Reps. Margaret Croke of Chicago and Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego.
Mendoza voluntarily stepped aside after serving multiple terms. She is considered a likely candidate for mayor of Chicago in 2027.
The comptroller’s office pays the state’s bills and can act as a financial watchdog over state spending.
Two objections to Danos’ petitions were filed. One was dismissed, but the other was upheld.
Danos said his signators were “registered voters in Illinois” but questions were raised, including those about the accuracy of addresses listed or not provided.
In addition to his now-aborted comptroller candidacy, Democrat Danos is engaged in a bitter power struggle with the Democratic super-majority on the county,
The board has stripped Danos of most of his duties as auditor, transferring most of his employees to the office of County Executive Steven Summers.
That leaves Danos as a county auditor with no staff and, mostly, no duties.
Danos said he now will “focus on local issues” that include “bringing my office back.”
Given the deep political and personal animosity at play, it’s highly unlikely the board will reverse its decision regarding the auditor’s office. That leaves going to court as the only viable option, one that Danos has suggested he’ll pursue.
One of the ironies of the board vs. Danos feud is that the county board sought public permission to eliminate both Danos and his office in the 2024 election.
But voters not only rejected a referendum proposal to eliminate the auditor’s office, they also re-elected Danos to another four-year term.
Board members, however, dismissed the public’s decision and opted to eliminate Danos through administrative measures.
