Toledo, Ohio held city council elections on September 11, 2007. The city’s elections are technically non-partisan, but the partisan affiliations of candidates are widely publicized. Three candidates run in the 6th district: incumbent Joe Birmingham, a Republican; Lindsay M. Webb, a Democrat; and David Ball, a Green. The results are: Webb 1,403; Ball 615; Birmingham 462. Webb and Ball will compete in a runoff on November 6. Thanks to Gregg Jocoy for this news.
Ohio will hold a special election to fill the vacant US House seat, 5th district, on December 11. Independent candidate petitions are due November 5. Independent candidates need approximately 2,300 signatures. The 5th district is in northwestern Ohio. Thanks to The Green Papers for this news.
In November 2004, the Working Families Party candidate for Albany County legislator, district 2, won the general election, even though she was running only on the WFP line. That nominee was Lucille McKnight. She had also sought the Democratic nomination, but had lost the Democratic primary.
At the New York primary on September 18, 2007, Lucille McKnight (now an incumbent) again sought the Democratic Party nomination, but she appears to have lost by 4 votes to Lester Freeman. However, in November, McKnight is again running as the Working Families nominee, so it is possible that she will again win the general election solely on the WFP line.
On September 23, by an e-mail vote, the Coalition for Free & Open Elections (COFOE) board endorsed HR 3600. That is the bill in Congress that outlaws restrictive ballot access laws for independent candidates for the US House, and for the nominees of unqualified parties for the US House. Activists will be working to get endorsements from other organizations for HR 3600. Congressman Ron Paul is the sponsor of HR 3600. That bill sets a ceiling of 1,000 signatures.
According to this article in the September 23 Orlando Sentinel newspaper, the Florida Democratic Party now is leaning toward choosing its delegates to the national convention in the January 29. A formal announcement is expected on September 23. If true, the national Democratic Party will deprive the state party of all its delegates, and require that the party’s presidential candidates not campaign in Florida between September 30 and January 30…or, possibly, the national party will give in.
