Most candidates will skate by the city’s dropout deadline of Dec. 20, as many attorneys and hearing officers who met Wednesday simply met to decide when to meet again for next steps on ballot objections. Attorney Ed Mullen, who is handling 26 cases this municipal election, remarked the difference in timing on one hearing meant the difference between starting the drive from his mother’s home on Christmas night or the morning after. At least one mayoral candidate is in the clear, as Toni Preckwinkle’s campaign announced they’d drop their objections to Susana Mendoza.