November 2 was the deadline for candidates seeking a place on the February 2010 primaries in Illinois. As expected, Richard Whitney filed for Governor in the Green Party primary. He had been the party’s gubernatorial candidate in 2006, and received 10.36% of the vote in the general election.
Also filing was Richard B. Mayers of Chicago, who has been associated with white supremacists in the past. He filed in the Green Party primary in 2008 for a U.S. House seat, but he was removed from the primary ballot after a challenge to his petition. Previously, he had run filed to run in the Democratic primary for various posts. The Green Party is taking steps to educate people that Mayers’ views are not in accordance with Green Party views.
Mayers has also filed for CD 10 and a position on the State Central Committee. An advantage of two candidates for a statewide office is that it means that the race will be on the ballot, which could increase participation in the primary. Illinois voters can pick a party when they vote, and might choose the Democratic or Republican party based on their perception that there are no choices to be made on the Green ballot.
Why can’t he leave us alone?
Not Positive For ILGP, GP, or Third Parties at all (OK, MOST Legitimate third parties: He’s a White Supremacist? Joe 6 Pack will end up thinking that that IS the party..
Whitney may lean Socialist, and there are obviously good and bad to some people with that, but White Supremacist? There can be no way that’s good..
you Greens might wanna challenge his petitions too.. hint hint….
Wouldn’t he lean NATIONAL socialist, then?
Are there any other Green Party filers in Illinois that aren’t exactly Green Party type candidates? Chicago Democrats are notorious for running “ringer” candidates in other party’s primaries. I could definitely see Michael Madigan and his anti-Democrat Party cohorts having Democrats file as Greens hoping to win the primary, only to drop out long after the primary leaving the Greens without a candidate.
Curious what kind of dirty tricks the anti-Democrat leaders in Illinois will use this year and if any of the other GP candidates aren’t exactly legit.
Its good to see so many Greens filing, although they did miss 3 US House seats, two that should be very competitive coincidently.
The candidate competition on the primary ballot within the Green Party will do the Green Party good, grow the Green Party, increase turnout.
One other point.
Whatever view this fellow has, he should be allowed on the primary ballot for the Green Party.
Then let Green Party members get off their duff, and vote against him.
The last thing Green Party members should do, after all the abuse we have suffered ourselves, the last thing Greens should do, is block ballot access.
Mayers submitted one signature for Governor – his own. We will make sure that he is removed from the ballot. We are also taking steps to remove him from the ballot for 10th Congress. It is a violation of our freedom of association to have someone whose views are clearly completely antagonistic to the views of the party attempting to self-identify as a member of the party. We do not fight these battles for ballot access only to have bizarre applications of the law allow for neo-Nazis to claim our mantle.
Matt Reichel mentioned two strange people filing in his primary in the 5th congressional district (in Chicago).
Phil you’ve done fine work for the Green Party.
My worry and concern is this.
Every contested Green Party primary suddenly becomes an attack by and “outsider”. You can not grow the Green Party, the way we must, in that exclusionary fashion.
Be inclusive. Welcoming. Why be so afraid of letting people VOTE.
Starting to sound like the two larger parties…..
Thanks for considering..
Concerned Green/Green Party Fan – give me a break. This guy is a neo-Nazi with a history of violence. His views and actions are completely antithetical to those of the Green Party. We aren’t just talking about someone who isn’t a “party insider.” This is a man who tried to get Barack Obama and Alan Keyes kicked off the ballot because he claims blacks aren’t allowed in the White House. He’s also tried to kick Green candidates off the ballot. It’s not like he’s some bastion of inclusion and acceptance.
To boot, he only collected one signature. Of course we’re in favor of less stringent ballot access requirements, but that doesn’t mean candidates should only have to collect their own signature.
Anyways, he withdrew his candidacy for governor and he’ll be thrown off of the 10th district congressional ballot soon enough.