By Illinois Review
Chicago Republican Party chairman and 27th Ward Committeeman Stephen Boulton, a close ally and advisor to embattled IL GOP chair Don Tracy, will not appear on the March 19th Primary ballot after an Illinois State Board of Elections Hearing Officer ruled that his petitions did not meet the legal signature requirement.
On Tuesday, an ISBE hearing officer concluded following a hearing and after reviewing all of the facts and evidence that,
“Given the foregoing facts, circumstances and law, it is an inescapable conclusion that the Candidate [Stephen Boulton] does not meet the legal requirements of the Illinois Election Code.”
The hearing officer then stated,
“The Candidate’s name, Stephen J. Boulton, shall not be placed on the ballot for the March 19, 2024 Primary Election for the office of Committeeperson of the Twenty-Seventh (27th) District of the City of Chicago, State of Illinois.”
During a series of hearings that first began in December, Boulton was represented by attorney John Fogarty, who is also general counsel for the IL GOP. Neither Boulton or the Objector were present for the hearings – however the Objector’s counsel Daniel Kelley did appear on his behalf.
111 signatures were required to appear on the March Primary ballot as a candidate for 27th Ward Committeeman. Boulton submitted a total of 310, but after careful review, it was discovered that only 103 signatures were valid – leaving Boulton 8 signatures short.
Over the last year, lllinois Review published several articles exposing Boulton as a man with anger issues who constantly attacks his fellow locally-elected ward committeeman and grassroots conservatives – and who believes that if you are unvaccinated, then you should pay for your own hospital costs; and if you require lifesaving measures due to COVID-19 – the resources spent to save your life would be a “waste” of money.
And for months after the articles were published, dozens of people reached out with copies of emails and screenshots of Facebook comments that prove even more abusive behavior from Boulton.
The information collected was enough to create a whole series of articles that prove that Boulton is a better fit as a waiter at Ed Debevic’s, where being rude and a bully is part of the charm – then serving as the chairman of the Chicago Republican Party and 27th Ward Committeeman.
But it’s more than being a bully and rude, he frequently attacks women in public Facebook comments and in private emails. Boulton even used the official Chicago Republican Party social media handle on X to level attacks not at the Democrats – but against conservative grassroots Republicans – whom he despises.
In emails obtained by this publication, on November 28, 2022, Boulton responded to an email from a fellow Republican by copying ten other people, writing,
“Always good to receive an upbeat message from you, Eloise. I can think of an easier path: have your deadbeat marionette Do. His. Job. That would solve everything.”
In another email to a Republican Ward Committeeman, Boulton sends an email and copies several people belittling a fellow Republican who serves in his organization,
“..you have done nothing, attended no meetings other than the first by video in 2020, and in the recent election, you did nothing in the 1st Ward or elsewhere….Since you plainly have no intention of filling the duties of the office in any manner, I hereby demand your resignation as Republican Committeeman of the 1st Ward…..I do not want to pursue removal, but we have done it before with a Committeeman and I will act if you force me…..Accordingly, please advise Chairman Morrison and me of your resignation in response to this email…”
On December 5th, 2022, Boulton used the official Chicago Republican Party Facebook account to level an attack against former Republican US Senate candidate and grassroots conservative Peggy Hubbard, replying to her comment by belittling her statewide campaign, writing,
“We’d wager we’ve ventured out of Chicago for political gatherings, meetings, etc…more often than your 2022 primary campaign ventured into the city of Chicago. How many counties show up at the State Fair isn’t much of a measure of success or failure….”
Boulton oversaw an organization that couldn’t recruit or fund a single candidate to run for Chicago mayor in a town of 2.6 million residents, and at one point had 18 vacancies for the position of ward committeeman within his organization.
Sources confirmed to Illinois Review last year that Chicago Republicans were growing weary of Boulton, and that his days appear to be numbered.
On Tuesday, it appears that the game is now over – ending the political career of an IL GOP leader whose tenure was marked by controversy and endless election night defeats.
The hearing officer’s decision now goes before a full hearing panel.
