Chicago Mayor's Petitions Challenged

CHICAGO -- A candidate in Chicago's mayoral race claims his backers have found problems in the election petitions filed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, including signatures of people not registered to vote.

Supporters of William "Dock" Walls, one of four challengers to Daley's re-election bid, filed objections to Daley's petitions on Tuesday, the deadline for filing such challenges.

Daley's camp stood by their petitions.

"We are confident that our signatures will withstand any challenge," Daley campaign manager Terry Peterson said in a statement. Mayoral candidates need signatures from at least 12,500 registered voters. The Daley campaign said it filed more than 24,000.

The city election is Feb. 27, and five people, including Daley and Walls, have filed papers to run for mayor.

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners will rule on the challenges after getting recommendations from hearing officers.

Daley survived a petition challenge before he was elected mayor in 1989, and his petitions have not been challenged since.