CHICAGO, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The State Board of Elections Monday ordered more than 4,000 signatures checked to determine whether a 68-year-old political neophyte can remain on the March 19 primary ballot to challenge Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., son of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
The board also called for an independent hearing officer to hear evidence the neophyte, also named Jesse Jackson, is an interloper put up by the congressman's political enemies.
The board's general counsel Friday recommended both names appear on the ballot but that only one of the candidates be able to use the middle initial "L." The congressman and his lawyers want the other Jackson's name stricken. The congressman says the candidacy of the second Jackson is a political dirty trick intended to steal votes from him as he seeks a fourth term.
"A crime has occurred in my district. I'm going to hang around that crime ... until I get to the bottom of that crime," Jackson told United Press International last week at Northwestern University Law School. "We can't on the one hand raise objections about what happened in Florida and turn around and ignore what's taking place in Chicago."
The position of hearing officer Gregory Schlesinger is that the former truck driver, who lives in south suburban Robbins, can remain a candidate if the initial "L" is dropped from his name as it appears on the ballot.
The Jackson camp says homeless men circulated nominating petitions for the challenger allegedly duping voters who thought they were signing petitions for the congressman.
The congressman's attorney, Burt Odelson, said two Jacksons will only lead to confusion and wants to stop the printing of the ballots. The board held another evidence hearing Monday.
"The real shame in this whole case now presents itself," Odelson told WBBM-AM. "(Friday's decision) means both Jesse L. Jackson's will be on the ballot which will go to our soldiers overseas, will go to people who are living overseas, and the confusion that will reign in the 2nd Congressional District if names are to appear on the ballot as they are will happen overseas."
The other Jackson, a Mississippi-born political novice, said he used "Lee" as a middle name but admitted at an earlier evidence hearing he was not known as "Jesse L. Jackson."
The congressman, 36, believes fraternal twins William and Robert Shaw are behind the "Jackson vs. Jackson" confusion. State Sen. Bill Shaw of Dolton and his brother Bob, a Cook County Board commissioner, deny involvement.
