Quincy, Illinois, holds partisan elections for city office. On April 7, independent candidate Jeff Vancamp, running for Alderman in the 6th ward, defeated Republican incumbent Jim Musolino. Here is a link to the election returns. Vancamp believes he is the first independent member of the Council in many decades.
The Santa Monica Daily Press has this op-ed about California’s top-two system, and other aspects of election laws and debate practices in California and the U.S. The author is Mike Feinstein. The Santa Monica Daily Press is a print newspaper that is free, and which has 43,000 readers.
The Rapid City Journal has this op-ed, condemning SB 69, an election law bill that passed the legislature this year. The op-ed attacks the provision in the bill that makes it illegal for members of qualified parties to sign for an independent candidate. The op-ed also reveals that a referendum petition is underway to ask the voters if they wish to repeal it.
On April 7, East St. Louis, Illinois, held an election for Mayor and other city office. The incumbent Mayor, Alvin Parks Jr., wanted to run for re-election, but the State Supreme Court had removed him from the ballot because he didn’t have enough valid signatures. He then campaigned as a write-in candidate, placing second and defeating one of the candidates whose name was on the ballot. See this story. Thanks to Ken Bush for the link.
On April 7, St. Louis County, Missouri, held a special election for County Commission, 6th district. The vote was: Democrat Kevin O’Leary 53.9%; Republican Tony Pousosa 42.3%; Constitution Party nominee Cynthia Redburn 3.8%. See this story. Redburn would not have been on the ballot but for the fact that the Constitution Party filed a federal lawsuit against the county ordinance that said in special elections, only the nominees of the two parties that polled first and second for Governor could be on the ballot.
