The Illinois State Board of Elections reached a split vote of 4-4, then pushed back its decision of whether Joe Parnarauskis, Socialist Equality Party candidate for the 52nd District of the State Senate, will be placed on the Nov. 7 ballot, said Tom Mackaman, Paranarauskis’ campaign manager, and Bill Cleeland, campaign manager for Republican candidate Judy Myers.

Mackaman said the four Democratic members of the ISBE voted to reject hearing officer David Herman’s recommendation that Parnarauskis be placed on the ballot.

The four Republican members of the Board voted to approve the recommendation, he said.

“We’re not just going to sit back and do nothing,” Mackaman said. “We have to talk to our supporters and we’ll launch as broad a campaign as possible to fight this.”

Cleeland said the decision seemed strange and stands as an example of the major reforms needed in Illinois politics.

“This is why Judy advanced a policy to make it easier for 3rd parties to get on the ballot in Illinois,” he said.

“Hopefully next week when the board reconvenes they will allow Joe to be on the ballot,” he added.

Mackaman said that Parnarauskis’ attorney, Andrew Spiegel, learned from a source close to the Democrats, who raised the objection to the signature sheets in question, that they would not abide should the ISBE place him on the ballot. Instead, the decision would be questioned in court.

“We’re prepared for the long fight,” Mackaman said.

Democratic candidate Mike Frerichs said he is eager for the situation to be resolved and that Myers has refused to discuss his proposed debates until that happens.

“I want to get started on this campaign and talk about the issues,” he said.

Mackaman said his impression is that the ISBE will reconvene a week from today, but no specifics have been offered.