Controversial Lake County Coroner Not Dead Politically

(CBS) -- A political lightning rod may be back on the ballot in Lake County.

It's not often you know the medical examiner by name, but many know Dr. Tom Rudd.

He was booted off the ballot last year, after clerical mistakes. But he says he now has 14,000 signatures – 4,000 more than needed – to get back on as an independent.

Supporter Mary Miller helped in the effort, garnering 2,000 signatures.

"I went to Home Depot, Jewels, laundromats, peoples' homes," the retired food service worker says.

Rudd was the first official to publicly speculate suicide in the Joe Gliniewicz case. He also disclosed there was an X-ray that raised doubt in the murder conviction of daycare worker Melissa Calusinski.

Rudd knows he's a target. "They're going to have to have to spend a helluva lot of money to get rid of me now," he says.

If he gets on the ballot, Rudd will run against Democrat Michael Donnenwirth, a former police officer.  Howard Cooper, a dentist, is the lone Republican seeking the office.