. . . for Chicago aldermen, to match suburbs’ requirement. This is his first defense:

. . . while the standard in Chicago has been at least 2 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the last aldermanic election, in most suburbs the standard is 5 percent.

Harmon sees no reason for that discrepancy.

Another defense:

. . . more important, filing petitions is, in the view of Mr. Harmon and some others, an initial test of viability, not only for the candidate but for the candidate’s ability to govern, should he or she actually win. If you can’t successfully obtain 400 or 500 or 600 valid signatures, Mr. Harmon argues, what makes you think you can run and then perform your duties as alderman?

Huh? But incumbents have the money and organization that gives them an edge in passing this test. They caught the eye…