Forrest Claypool has this commentary in the Huffington Post. He submitted 90,000 signatures to be on the ballot for Cook County Assessor as an independent. No one challenged his petition. He says that he is the first independent candidate on the ballot for that office since the office was made elective, 78 years ago.
He needed 25,000 signatures. Illinois law requires district and county independent candidates to submit petitions of 5% of the last vote cast, or 25,000, whichever is less. That law has existed since 1931, although the 25,000-signature cap has only existed since 1980. Before 1931, the independent petition for district and county office was 2% of the last vote.
It is probably safe to say that more signatures have been collected for independent candidates in Illinois this year, and also in Georgia this year, than at any time in history.
Forrest Claypool has a close history with Governor Pat Quinn.
He may have been close with Quinn in the past, but Quinn ENDORSED his opponent, so they can’t be that close.
Also keep in mind Berrios doesn’t have “a close history” with Mike Madigan (Democratic boss of IL), they are literally connected by the pocketbook.
The “independent” or “Independent” label is a “hot” political label for 2010. And in any election, it is a label that does not “scare” the voters but actually represents the general political philosophy of many of them – even if they are registered Democratic or Republican, or even if they are a 3rd party member.
For the life of me, I still cannot understand why Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Greens, Peace & Freedomites and many others who are in love with their 3rd party name, do not wake up to political reality and show some politial saavy.
They just might start winning more elections if they would. But I’m not holding my breath.
#3 In Illinois, if Claypool wins, he will need 25,000 valid signatures in 90 days to run for re-election as an incumbent independent.
For the life of you, there are more political realities to consider than you most likely have knowledge of.