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The Green Party, holding its 2008 national convention in Chicago, will highlight the growth of the Illinois Green Party after adversity faced by Illinois Greens in the 2006 election. The convention, at which Greens will nominate their presidential ticket, will take place July 10-13.
In 2006, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevitch spent an estimated $800,000 in taxpayers’ money in an effort to keep the Green Party off the ballot. Illinois Greens, however, overcame attempts by the state’s Democratic establishment to disqualify candidates.
Green gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney drew over 10% of the vote in 2006, losing the race but guaranteeing Greens their place in future Illinois elections. This year, more than 50 Green Party candidates will appear on ballots all across the state.
Mr. Whitney will moderate the Green presidential candidates’ forum during the 2008 Green Convention. The forum is scheduled for Friday, July 11, 7 to 9 pm at the Palmer House Hilton and will feature the four candidates for the Green nomination: Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift.
“The hostile efforts to keep Greens off the Illinois ballot in 2006 are typical of actions taken by both Democrats and Republicans in many states to limit the political field to two parties,” said Budd Dickinson, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. “The intense signature-gathering campaign organized by Illinois Greens gave voters a real choice in 2006, and will do so again in 2008 and 2010. The persistence we’ve seen in Illinois is the key to the growth of the Green Party as a force for political change.”
Greens have faced and often overcome similar adversity in many other states where Democratic and Republican officials have conspired to pass election rules designed to hinder third party and independent candidates.
In 2004 and 2006, Pennsylvania Green candidates faced vicious tactics by Democratic politicians and lawyers to block them from the ballot, in addition to grossly unfair Pennsylvania election laws. The states’ rules require Democratic and Republican candidates for President, Governor, and US Senator to hand in 2,000 signatures to get on the ballot, while third party and independent candidates must hand in over 67,000 signatures. The Green Party of the United States held its 2007 national meeting in Reading, Pennsylvania.
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