This just in... Team America has learned that Jerry Johnson plans to announce that he is withdrawing his candidacy as a Democratic write-in for the 30th Senate District seat currently held by State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan). He instead plans to file as an Independent in the November 2008 general election.
As an Independent candidate, Johnson will have to start all over with a new set of election petitions and needs more than twice as many signatures as he did to run in the Democratic primary (which was 1,000). The exact number of signatures is a function of the total number of persons who voted at the last regular General Election within the district (not less than 5% nor more than 8%). The actual number of signatures required is compiled by the State Board of Elections. If my math works out, Johnson needs at least 2068 signatures, based on the last election vote totals, but don't hold me to this number.
Johnson has apparently figured out (correctly) that he simply didn't stand a chance as a write-in against Link in the Dem primary.
The really interesting question is whether the Lake County GOP will run a candidate against Link in the general. While you can expect Link to be a target based on the petition scandal and other issues we have discussed here, his resources and strength as a candidate can't be understated, and the GOP would run the risk of splitting the anti-Link vote with Johnson as an Independent. But, given the hits that Link has taken (and which continue to develop as Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller continues his investigation), Link may never be in a more vulnerable position. So, it seems unlikely that the GOP would give up this chance if they can find any credible candidate to run against Link. Watch this space for more developments as they come in...
UPDATED 1/23/08: I should have mentioned yesterday that Jerry Johnson will be able to start circulating petitions on March 25, 2008 and must turn them in by June 23, 2008 (basically giving Johnson only 90 days to come up with twice as many good signatures as he needed to qualify for the Democratic primary, and which the State Board of Elections ruled he failed to do previously, which is why he finds himself in this pickle now). If you happen to be interested in the rules for running as an independent in Illinois, you can look at the State Board of Elections Candidates' Guide, here.
ALSO- IN FOOTLIK/SEALS NEWS: The Tribune has what I guess is intended to be a deeper look at the Footlik-Seals primary battle, but Team America readers are pretty well-versed in everything it covers. The only thing that caught my eye was a statement by Seals that "To me, the difference [between me and Jay Footlik] is in our credentials and credibility in delivering change."
Excuse me, Dan, YOU have more credibility in delivering change??? Exactly what have you done for the 10th District in the last two years that has changed anything? You have done nothing except decide to run for office (which took some time to do...more on what Seals was doing in between November 2006 and his announcement to run of office in summer 2007 later....) and then run for office.
The only other information in the piece was that Seals admitted working for "a social activism website" (which TA readers know is "ThePoint.com"), but claims he was working as a "business consultant" rather than as "Director of Business Development" which is what his bio on ThePoint website claimed until it was taken down. Seals also failed to explain that he only worked there for about three months, as far as we can tell. The article also notes that Seals works for Avondale Consulting, which TA knew, but hasn't been able to find out exactly what this firm is or does, besides have a nice website. The Avondale website gives no information as to when Dan Seals joined as a "principal." Hmm, that usually implies ownership of the company in some degree. Do any TA sleuths want to take a crack at peeling back the onion on this one?
Finally, I read the article twice to make sure, but Seals does not raise his claim of being an "adjunct professor" at Northwestern University in any way, shape or form in the article. Wonder why?
UPDATED x2: BREWING STORY ON OBAMA: Looks like the "squeaky clean" reputation of Barack Obama is now really coming under some pretty intense scrutiny, thanks in large part to the Clinton campaign (and Hillary's newfound best friend, "uncle" Tony Rezko), but also due to the intrepid research of the Chicago Tribune and other local sources. Since the question of whether Barack Obama will be at the top of the Dem ticket for the Nov. 2008 election, and how that may effect local Illinois elections, is of intense interest, you can bone up on the latest at a variety of sources, including the Trib, Capitol Fax Blog and the Wilmette Blog. Also, Backyard Conservative points out a huge Sun-Times headline and article. It goes on... check out Marathon Pundit for a story on Barack Obama's wife's connections to Wal-Mart (through her service on the board of a Wal-Mart supplier), while he fired shots at Hillary for serving on the Wal-Mart board.
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10 comments:
Link deserves a challenger. Wasn't/isn't he a member of the Governor's so-called "Kitchen Cabinet" and part of the cabal that created this monomanical, self-absorbed, trivia memorizing/spouting leader called Rod.
I'd make it a referendum on the Governor, Jerry. I don't think Link could survive that challenge . . .
I checked out the Avondale website, all I can think of is office space.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but someone on this site mention that they are running as a write-in for the Repbulican spot in the 30th?
You are correct, Anon 10:44, but as that particular individual is involved in a lawsuit against the Lake County Central Committee (basically over voting procedures at the last GOP county convention, which is way too much inside baseball for anyone but election diehards), I would not expect a lot of support for him coming from the regular GOPers.
And, I should add, I don't believe that individual has asked the party for support, either.
Do that person need a certain number of votes to 'win', or can one write-in do it?
Does, not 'do'.
First you have to register as a write-in candidate. You can't just show up to the voting booth and write anyone's name in, which many people do (lots of votes for Mickey Mouse in any race), but it has no effect.
Then, if there is no one who is on the ballot as the official nominee of his or her party (i.e., someone who went out and got the required number of signatures and did not get kicked off the ballot like Jerry Johnson did), a registered write-in would need as many votes as he or she needed signatures to get on the ballot in the first place, which in this case is 1,000.
However, Link remained on the ballot as a Dem despite Johnson's attempt to remove him. Thus, if Johnson were to remain as a write-in (which he says he will not), he would actually have to have more write-in votes than Link gets as votes in order to beat Link and be the Democratic nominee in the November general election.
Because there is no official GOP nominee in the primary, anyone who registered as a write in for the GOP would need 1,000 write-in votes to become the GOP nominee in November.
That's what I thought, but thanks for the clarification.
By the way, I believe this person ran as a write-in against Mark Kirk and got 140+ people to vote for him.
I’m the only republican write-in candidate, for that race, Phil Collins. Last Thurs., I was interviewed on "The Al Salvi Show." Here's my bio.:
I started volunteering for politicians, in 1978, when I lived in Kansas and, at age 11, walked precincts for Nancy Kassebaum, the first time that she was elected to the U.S. Senate. I have a B.A., in political science, from the University of Arkansas. I volunteered at the 1988, 1996, and 2000 Republican National Conventions. I’ve volunteered for seven congressional candidates, including Bob Dornan, Ken Arnold, and David McSweeney. I worked, as a paid campaign employee, for John Cox’s U.S. Senate campaigns, 2001-’02 and 2003 and for Major General John Borling’s (USAF-ret.) U.S. Senate campaign, 2003-’04. I have been a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition since Apr. 2003. I became a member of the ICRC steering committee in Sept. 2005 and was elected to a two-year term in June 2006. In Aug. 2006, I was elected to be the ICRC secretary and was appointed to be the webmaster. Our website is www.illinoiscenterright.com. In Jan.-Mar. 2006, I walked seven precincts for Warren Township Supervisor Sue Simpson, for her state senate campaign, and she defeated St. Sen. Geo-Karis, who had been in the legislature for more than 30 years. Since Sept. 2007, I’ve been the volunteer coordinator of Mike Psak's U.S. Senate campaign. His site is www.psak4ussenate.com.
In Apr. 2006, I retired from the navy, with 21 years of service, 11 on active duty (including two years at Great Lakes) and 10 in the reserves. I was stationed near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, Sept. 2004-Mar. ’05.
If I become a state senator, I would never vote for tax rate increases or gun restrictions. I want to vote for a bill that would repeal the law which states that illegal aliens may attend state universities and pay in-state tuition. I would appreciate your writing my name and voting for me.
Phil Collins North Chicago
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