CHAMPAIGN – No one has run a quieter campaign than county board candidate Stephanie Dold.

It doesn't get much more low-key than to avoid the media altogether. The News-Gazette has tried repeatedly to reach the candidate, but calls and e-mails go unanswered.

District 7 is a crowded field, with two Democrats, two Republicans and a Green candidate contending for two four-year seats.

One of her opponents, Democrat C. Pius Weibel, said he's never seen her. "I've seen her Web site," he said.

Dold's Web site describes her as an accomplished young student, both an entomologist and a member of the University of Illinois synchronized swimming team.

The candidate lists an address on the county clerk's Web site at 911 S. Locust St., Apt. 301. But if you knock at the one-bedroom apartment's door, a young man named Andrew Parks answers.

"I've lived here since August," said Parks, a UI senior who wants to work in a green industry.

Not only is he not a close friend, he's not even of the same party. Parks is a Democrat; Dold is running as a Republican.

"I still get her mail," Parks said. "It's all from the GOP."

Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden said she's still on the ballot but is otherwise hard to track down.

"I talked to Stephanie in mid-July," he said.

"It's one of those things, you see it all the time, you get on the ballot, have decent intentions, then life gets in the way. I don't know how to get hold of her."

Shelden, who was out of his office, said he would check for a change of address form. After a couple of calls he did some digging, and found a change of address, to a place on Green Street still within District 7.

Again The News-Gazette was stymied, this time by a low-tech but effective iron gate.

Though she's not shouting it about, Champaign County Republican Chairman Jason Barickman said Dold is "definitely still running."

Dold is teamed with fellow District 7 Republican candidate Tony Pomonis at their Web site, stephandtony.com.

The Web site says: "Stephanie Dold has lived in Champaign for 4 years as a student of the University of Illinois. She graduated in May 2008 and is attending graduate school in entomology, with research interests in integrated pest management. In addition to entomology, Stephanie is a member of the synchronized swimming team at the University of Illinois."

There's a photo there of her next to a sailor.

Even Pomonis doesn't talk with her very often.

"She is running, but I haven't had much contact with her recently," he said.