Q the Eye/01.18.20

Dear LakeCountyEye,

How do I win my election?

Phillip Spiwak

Dear @Real Phillip Spiwak,

You won't win any elections with a name like that. At least not in Illinois.

Instead, use a good Irish-sounding name like Shannon. It worked for one Judge Shannon O'Malley:

He ran for judge, lost, changed parties, took Irish name, won Cook County race

Presumably knowing the law, this Judge actually had his name legally changed to Shannon O'Malley:

Candidates in Cook County changing their names to Irish-sounding names happened often enough that the Illinois legislature passed a law requiring that a candidate's old name also be listed on the ballot if the name change was made within three years before the election.
He ran for judge, lost, changed parties, took Irish name, won Cook County race

But don't make the mistake made by this DuPage County Forest Preserve candidate who was thrown off the ballot for not filing under her real name:

Natalie Rose Shannon-DiCianni of Elmhurst earlier this month entered the race to seek the Democratic nomination for the District 2 seat on the forest preserve board. But the county's electoral board on Monday voted to remove her from the ballot because of the hyphen she used in her name in her nominating papers. It turns out "Shannon" is DiCianni's nickname.
DuPage forest preserve board hopeful removed from the ballot

You can use a fake name to get elected, but be sure to file the proper paperwork first!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just under investigation by the Special Counsel, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com