What If?

Solis had over 50% of vote; rival's suit may be tossed

Incumbent Ald. Danny Solis (25th) secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the Feb. 27 election -- but he had just five votes to spare when the votes for disqualified challenger Ambrosio Medrano were included in the tally, the city's election board was told Tuesday. At a meeting where the final vote totals were proclaimed, the board received a "what if" scenario. What if Medrano's 178 votes were counted against Solis -- as a challenger demanded in a federal lawsuit filed earlier this week. The result was that Solis still had more than 50 percent of the vote -- with five votes to spare. Based on the canvass results, the board will seek to have the lawsuit filed by challenger Cuahutemoc Morfin dismissed. Candidates with more than 50 percent of the vote avoid runoff elections. [Metro Briefs, Chicago Sun-Times, March 21, 2007]