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"Candidates generally get broad latitude," said state Board of Elections spokesman Dan White. "It'd be pretty hard to prove that a ballot nickname really isn't the person's nickname."

"Candidates generally get broad latitude," said state Board of Elections spokesman Dan White. "It'd be pretty hard to prove that a ballot nickname really isn't the person's nickname."

But that's just what a challenger did recently in front of the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 electoral board. Golden had submitted nominating petitions for November's school trustee election under Les "Cut the Taxes" Golden, and another one of the candidates, Kevin Peppard, filed a formal objection claiming it "is neither his real name nor a nickname by which he is commonly known; it is an electioneering slogan and is illegal."

But that's just what a challenger did recently in front of the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 electoral board. Golden had submitted nominating petitions for November's school trustee election under Les "Cut the Taxes" Golden, and another one of the candidates filed a formal objection claiming it "is neither his real name nor a nickname by which he is commonly known; it is an electioneering slogan and is illegal."

On a recent Thursday night, the three-member election board held a formal hearing at which they heard six of Golden's associates testify that they know him as "Cut the Taxes," and it saw Golden produce news releases, award certificates, mail and, from his life in the theater, a playbill, all of which used the alleged nickname.

On a recent Thursday night, the three-member election board held a formal hearing at which they heard six of Golden's associates testify that they know him as "Cut the Taxes," and it saw Golden produce news releases, award certificates, mail and, from his life in the theater, a playbill, all of which used the alleged nickname.