California has very difficult procedures for independent candidates to get on the ballot. No independent has qualified for any regularly-scheduled partisan office since 2000, and none has qualified for statewide office since 1992. This year, two independent candidates are making serious attempts to complete the petition to qualify as independent candidates. They are Cindy Sheehan, in the 8th U.S. House district, and Connor Vlakancic, in the 15th State Senate district (by coincidence, the California 15th State Senate district is also the subject of the preceding post). Vlakancic needs even more signatures than Cindy Sheehan, since California State Senate districts have bigger populations than U.S. House districts. Vlakancic kicked off his petition drive on June 28, and he and his team got 327 signatures on the first day. The deadline for California independent petitions in August 8. Vlakancic needs 13,533 valid signatures. The last time someone qualified as an independent for a California State Senate district was 1994, when incumbent Quentin Kopp was re-elected (Kopp was elected as an independent in 1986 and also re-elected as an independent in 1990).
So how many signatures does Vlakancic need?
13,533. Thanks for reminding me that this should have been part of the original post; I have just amended it.
Finally something different!
This should be good. Let’s make sure they gets the signatures required.
“No independent has qualified for any partisan office since 2000, and none has qualified for statewide office since 1992.”
So the Davis recall doesn’t count?
The normal procedures for independent candidates didn’t apply in the 2003 Davis recall election. Independents in that election only needed 65 signatures, the same as all other candidates.
Gee – one more State with separate and UN-equal ballot access laws — regardless of Brown v. Bd of Ed 1954.
Racially separate — NO-NO ???
Politically separate (old parties, new parties, minor parties, independents) — New Age YES-YES ???
I.E. more of the EVIL INSANITY in the brains of the party hack Supremes.
I don’t live in California but went to a Leadership Institute school with Connor a few years back. He has a great personality and a refreshing approach to “politics as usual”. I hope that the citizens of California will give him their support and not the “status quo”.
Semi legend in [so called] reform circles since 1995! A two legged encyclopedia of non Dem and non GOP politics, West Coast and national.
Coastal California south of Stanford U and north of Santa Barbara? There is a twisted, tortuous story behind this this ballot access issue. Give this guy all the help you can —especially petitioning for candidacy!
He hates corruption [including federal felon ‘Puke’ Cunningham], Democans and Republicrats almost as much as Citizens For A Better Veterans Home!
…
Connor Vlakancic
[Los Gatos, California 95032]
M: 831-295-7827
F: 408-364-9108
email: connorv@gmail.com
55 North Third Street
Campbell CAlifornia 95880
…
Connor Vlakancic was born in the “Corn Belt” of Illinois, about 75 miles west of Chicago. He was raised in a conservative family environment where productive work was encouraged and rewarded. His paternal Grandfather was of Croatian heritage from the Dalmatian Coast in the north Adriatic Sea, as a citizen during the end of Austro-Hungarian rule. His maternal Grandfather was of German heritage from the Alsace-Lorraine region.
* * * * * Connor Vlakancic’s early Silicon Valley technology career includes Fairchild Semiconductor
I don’t know how much good this will do but I can do NO LESS than to respond with support. California
could use a politician like him–likewise, the country could use a politican like him. God Bless.
I was really just picking nits with the wording, Richard. But then, if I pick them, they’ll just take longer to heal 😉