I enjoyed seeing this in the paper this morning:

Democrats popping up like daffodils in DuPage

Increasing number of uncontested Republican seats will face a challenge

By Jake Griffin (contact) | Daily Herald Staff

Several fresh faces and a few familiar names are filling some of the holes on the November ballot for DuPage County Democrats.

DuPage Democrat Chairman Bob Peickert said 10 new candidates will file for various offices by the end of the day Monday. Some already have.

Perhaps the most recognizable name in the lot is Villa Park Trustee Tom Cullerton, who will square off against Itasca Republican Carole Pankau for her state Senate seat.

"We talked to every one of the new candidates," Peickert said. "Everybody was in agreement that this was the best thing to do."

County Republican Chairman Dan Cronin, a state senator from Elmhurst, was surprised to see Cullerton file as a Democrat.

"Cullerton's been a Republican for years," Cronin said. "He and I sat down and he asked to be more involved in the Republican Party with me. He's a guy who's a little bit confused, I would say."

Cullerton dismissed Cronin's assessment.

"Dan Cronin can say what he wants to say," Cullerton said.

Peickert said he wouldn't be bothered by any of the candidates' ties to the GOP.

"Even Cronin said there were Republicans who pulled Democratic ballots in the last primary," he said, "although we disagree on the reason."

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