There are more options for Governor

From the rough draft of a media release that I thought I would share since the debate is tomorrow. If you are in the area or can get there and want to learn more about your options for Governor, please feel free to attend.

Free and Equal Election Coalition Sponsors Real Gubernatorial Debate

On Thursday, October 19th at 6:30 PM the Free and Equal Election Coalition (FREE) is proud to sponsor the only Gubernatorial debate in Illinois this year where all the candidates have been invited.

The debate will take place at the Fountains Conference Center at Four Points Sheraton, 319 Fountains Parkway in Fairview Heights. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the general public and the media are encouraged to attend. The debate is expected to last one hour.

The candidates confirmed to participate are Rich Whitney from the Green Party, and write-in candidates Randall Stufflebeam and Mark McCoy.

Also invited were Republican Judy Baar Topinka, Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich, and write-in candidates Marvin Koch, Jr., Angel Rivera, Timothy Ross Nieukirk, and Luis Soto.

Supporters of all candidates are encouraged to distribute campaign materials at the event, even though they may not have been able to attend due to short notice.

Free hopes to set the tone for this and future elections by being true to the principles of democracy by not discriminating against any candidate. Write-in candidates have also been invited to this debate to give them a voice that is too often silenced by the anti-democratic ballot access laws in Illinois. Everyone should have the same opportunity to be on the ballot and some of the write-in candidates very well might have been on the ballot if they didn't face such severe ballot access requirements.

More than half of Illinois voters say that they would like more choices on the ballot according to a recent poll published in the Chicago Tribune. Those voters deserve to hear more about all of their options for the election on November 7th, and that is why FREE has decided to sponsor this debate.

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And in somewhat related news, Lisa Madigan has decided to ask for a re-hearing of the recent Lee v. Keith ruling that declared Illinois Election Laws unconstitutional for independent GA candidates even though the court did so on a 3-0 vote. Lisa Madigan wants the full 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to re-hear the case.

Aren't there corrupt politicians that need to be tracked down in Illinois where these resources could be better used than trying to defend some of the worst ballot access laws in the world? Is it really wise to waste the 7th Circuit's time and resources by even asking them to re-hear this. My guess is that they will refuse to re-hear the case, and if so, Lisa Madigan needs to apologize to the taxpayers of Illinois for wasting their money on an effort to protect crooked incumbents and prolong the use of some of the worst ballot access requirements in the world. What is SHE thinking? Stu Umholtz and David Black are running against Lisa Madigan, btw.