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Ousted Plainfield Candidates Run as Write-Ins

Michael Lambert challenges Mayor Mike Collins, while Tom Breier makes a try for the park board and David Schmidt hopes to keep his post as a library trustee.

After election challenges knocked several candidates off the ballot this winter, three candidates are trying their luck as write-ins.

Michael Lambert said he filed in late January to run as a write-in candidate for mayor after resident Jeff Schmitt challenged his nominating petitions and he was removed from the April 9 ballot.

“I’m continuing because I still believe in why I chose to run in the first place,” Lambert said.

He’s challenging incumbent Mike Collins, who also faced an election challenge but won his bid to stay on the ballot.

Read: Plainfield Mayor Stays on April 9 Ballot; Lambert Loses Election Challenge

“I think Plainfield deserves a choice in who’s leading their community,” Lambert said.

Lambert has established a campaign website, complete with a video tutorial on how to vote for a write-in candidate.

Plainfield Park Board

Thomas Breier withdrew from the Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners race in January after his nominating petitions were challenged. A resident filed a challenge alleging that some of the people who signed the forms either were not registered voters or printed rather than signed their names.

According to the Will County  Clerk’s office, Breier is back in the race as a write-in.

Read: Plainfield Parks Candidates Withdraw From Race Amid Objections

"I'm just trying to help make a difference for the people in Plainfield," Breier said. "Even though I can't be on the ballot, I thought I would give it a shot and run as a write-in."

He said he hopes to bring upgrades to park district facilities and fields.

Breier urged residents who have questions about him or his goals for the park district to email him at mtmrbreier@comcast.net.

Plainfield Library Board

David Schmidt was one of three Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees candidates removed from the ballot after Plainfield park commissioner Peter Hurtado questioned their nominating forms.

Schmidt is also back as a write-in. He hopes to remain on the board after being appointed to fill a vacant position in September 2012.

"I've just enjoyed my time on the board and I want to keep going," Schmidt said. "I want to keep supporting the library."

Schmidt has established a campaign Facebook page.

Read: Three Plainfield Library Candidates Removed from Ballot

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Buckgrove March 18, 2013 at 12:33 pm
This is good news!
accurate reporting March 18, 2013 at 04:40 pm
Shannon, I hope next time you report more of the facts.. Such as Tom Brier did not even declare what office he was running for on his petition sheets. It seems to me like you are portraying him as a victim when he grossly overlooked a major detail when filling out important paperwork!
Someone like that does not need to be on the Park Board and in charge of millions of taxpayer dollars!
Rich Fisher March 19, 2013 at 12:24 pm
I've known Tom Breier for several years. Tom's passion and dedication will serve Plainfield well. He has my vote. What is your agenda, "accurate reporting"?
Good Government March 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I would think their agenda is not prevent unqualified people like Tom Brier from becoming a board member of a multimillion dollar organization subsidized with my hard earned tax $.
I agree that anyone who is so reckless, that they cannot even state what office they are running for on their petition papers, should not represent me! What else would Mr. Brier miss if he got elected to the Park Board of Directors? Maybe a few commas Nd zeros? But he is a great guy, so we should vote for him even though he is completely unqualified!! I get it...
Rich Fisher March 19, 2013 at 01:10 pm
I didn't write that Tom is a great guy (though that is true) as a qualifier. I wrote that he is passionate and dedicated and I'll now add that I believe he is qualified based on his experience and service to the Plainfield community, which I can personally attest to. My sense is that there is some bullying going on here with negative comments such as "reckless". Just doesn't add up to me. Let's stop maligning the candidates and use our votes to voice our opinions on April 9.
JoJo Pinter March 24, 2013 at 06:45 pm
If any of you receive the Chicago Tribune, in the edition of Sunday 24th, there is an article about election challenges in Illinois. The article describes the "fraud" that goes on by incumbents to keep other contenders off the ballot. In Plainfield, Mr. Lambert was denied a ballot position for Mayor, even though he presented signed affidavits from the voters who had been challenged. Trustee Jim Racich and Village Clerk Michelle Gibas voted to deny Mr. Lambert a place on the ballot. The Mayor appoints the Village Clerk. How do you think Ms. Gibas felt, conflicted maybe, keep my job maybe. Come on Plainfield, stop rigging the playing field and making a joke of the election.
ghost town2 March 26, 2013 at 01:31 pm
Maybe if Lambert took the time like the rest of the candidates to get enough signatures, he would be on the ballot. If he is that lazy, he shouldn't be Mayor. I helped another candidate get signatures and I was able to get 25-30 per hour. If Lambert is too lazy to spend 4-5 hour obtaining signatures, how lazy of a Mayor would he be? He only needed just over 100!
MICHAEL LAMBERT HAS NO DEDICATION!!!!! Give Lambert the PINK SLIP on April 9th! He just wants another government paycheck.. Appearantly one isn't enough
Michael Lambert March 29, 2013 at 11:49 am
@ ghost town2: it amazes me that someone who will attack so profusely hides behind an anonymous name! The truth is that we will never know how many valid signatures were on incumbant Mike Collins' petition because it was not challenged on that basis. Call me "lazy" if you would like, but I believed--and continue to maintain--that I had sufficient valid signatures on my submitted petition. Most disturbing is the fact that registered voters, some of whom have voted in Plainfield for 50 years or more, were told that their voice did not matter when their signatures were stricken by the review panel. Interpretations of the local review panel are not consistent with the findings of similar panels. When one of the review panelists is an outspoken, active and publicly-stated endorser of the sitting mayor and another's job is "at will" by the administration, the review process of an "outsider's" effort is flawed. The issue of valid signatures has little to do with "laziness" on my part. Perhaps if "ghost town2" would come out from behind the shadows, we could compare our records of community service over the years and see who has been dedicated to the Plainfield community and its residents. If anyone thinks for one minute that my running for this office and the work ahead is simply about collecting a paycheck, they are sadly mis-informed. Seems to me that "ghost town 2" is motivated by something more than my qualifications for office.
Ed Arter March 29, 2013 at 03:51 pm
@ Ghost2: your comments compromise your credibitity, The uppercased "MICHAEL LAMBERT HAS NO DEDICATION!!!!! " shouts your disconnect with the candidates record.On both sides of this issue; Mayor Collins is a good man with a great recored of serving this community through hard times past--But so does Michael Lambert.
As far as being lazy--Very few take of their own time to spend countless hours to donate their historic knowledge to this print. I like both Mikes in this election but can see questions in the ballot review-- and if geography dictates policy---well---Chicago is only 40 miles away. Your signature gathering efforts are astonishing-- as you have stated--at 30 signatures / hour means a signature every 2 minutes. Reading between the lines, that rate may be suspect to be flawed more than your position. Albeit, It is our right to VOTE, come April 9, for who ever you believe is the best man for the job, everyone has issues and the good people of Plainfield will surely make the correct choice.
David Schmidt March 30, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Lazy??!! Please go to Michaels's website at www.writeinlambert.com and review his resume. He's an extremely dedicated, hard-working citizen who is passionate about the future of Plainfield!
flowers fan123 April 2, 2013 at 08:19 pm
I don't exactly agree with Ghost town2, but I would like to ask Michael Lambert a few questions:
1) You resigned mid-term as a village trustee- Why did you not fulfill your committment to the voters? 2) Why did you call the Illiniois State Fire Marshall and try to shut down Plainfield Fest? 3) If elected, will you abstain from participating on bids that are funded by fadace grants in the Village? 4) Will you continue to work as a government employee elsewhere, thus taking two government paychecks?
roses are red April 3, 2013 at 06:19 pm
Hey Michael Lambert, can you please tell us more about the no-bid contarcts that your friend, Michelle Kelly who used to be on the Park Board may have given your company?? She is obviously a personal friend. I find it convenient that your firm may have been heavily involved in several projects including the Village Green revamp. So if elected Mayor, will you continue to be a parasite on local government contracts that your friends may be give you?
roses are red April 3, 2013 at 06:22 pm
PS I wonder how much business Andreasen travel is losing because of their political involvement... The owner's grandson blogs on here about how he wants to be a village trustee and bring a gay bar to downtown Plainfield, her ahency has Lambert campaign sings displayed. If I owned a business, I would keep it out of politics...
You will lose business by taking either side. Bad Move Andreason......
Sore Rear April 6, 2013 at 08:29 pm
Good point. I have seen how much of a bully Michael Lambert is. I heard he called the State Fire Marshall and tried to shutdown the wonderful Plainfield Festival last year. Shame on him and shame on Andreasen Travel for supporting him. I will no longer patronize their business.

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Poor Turtle. I'm doing my part by sharing this poster. Best wishes, and prayers...
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The 12U Raiders has great week at Cooperstown, New York.
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What a fantastic week we had! We are very proud of you boys! You played great! The Anderson's
Mike Keniley June 17, 2013 at 12:18 pm
I am just wondering how long this suspense filled soap opera will continue? Bottom line: HurtadoRead More knew his buddy needed a job...so; he and his majority board members made a mockery of local government due process and gave Mr. Peck a job, even though Hurtado voted with the past board to unanimously select an Exec…who is still under a contract. And then decided there was a need to pay a board secretary (who jumped out of the frying pan…smart move) and then appointed someone without pay. And of course there is a need to have a paid political hack to help publicly spin the board’s craziness via press releases.
AlaskaDreaming June 17, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I hate to ask the obvious of Mr. Peck (not that I expect him to answer anyway), but why is thisRead More announcement coming from the Executive Director rather than our newly appointed Director of Communications?
Bad News Bears June 18, 2013 at 02:53 pm
Mr. Peck, please answer 2 questions for me: 1. If you are cutting $800K but AdministrativeRead More Salaries are up over $118K, where are the cuts coming from. I have always been a patron of the Park District and want to know which of my programs your skimming off to pay yourself and Mr. Booth. 2. "Our staff deserves a lot of credit for this budget,” Peck said, “as their efforts to hold the line wherever possible have led to our success on behalf of District residents." Is reducing hours of employees the way you reward your staff now? I'm very upset that you honestly thought that cutting loyal employees hours instead of offering benefits was a good idea. I have a better one, cut the hours of Mr. Booth who has an unnecessary job and use his pay and salaries to offset the 4 loyal part-time workers. I will not hold my breath for your answers since answering questions to the people who pay your salary isn't on your to do list