Following the removal of two of the four candidates from the April 9 ballot for the Ward 6 Alderman seat, reaction from the remaining and removed candidates was varied.

Incumbent Peter Muscarella, one of the two candidates removed, said that being removed from the ballot was definitely a blow, but that it was his own mistake that cost him his spot on the ballot.

“I misfiled, I made an error on the application … that is the bottom line,” Muscarella said. “I was wrong by legality, but nothing to be subversive.”

Muscarella said the challenge was based on signatures on his petition that were printed, not signed in cursive, which is why the challenge was accepted and he was removed from the ballot.

“They criticized printed signatures. We have people from other countries, that their form of signature is print, they do not do cursive,” he said. “Criticizing people, that's what they were doing and I have a real problem with that.”

Greg Simos, who was also removed from the ballot, said it was due to his failure to submit economic paperwork with his candidate petition form. Although he said it was also a mistake on his part, he said he didn't plan to challenge the issue.

“Unfortunately, it was a miscellaneous mistake on my part and [James Hortsman] picked up on it,” Simos said. “That's the end of the chapter.”

Both Muscarella and Simos said they don't plan on running as write-in candidates, although Muscarella wouldn't rule out running again in a future election.

As for the remaining candidates, Ken Barry said that he had mixed feelings about the removal of his opponents.

“It's one of those you're happy about it, but you're also sad, due to the circumstances that went about,” Barry said. “I think it was a small technicality that a better person would have let go and allowed the community to vote for who they wanted.”

Patch was unable to reach Barry's remaining opponent, James Hortsman for comment. Hortsman was the candidate who challenged both Muscarella and Simos' candidate petitions, which led to them being taken off the ballot.