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Hidden with code "Submitted as Feature" |
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News :: Elections & Legislation |
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Prairie Greens Lose Suit Against Champaign County Clerk |
Current rating: 3 |
by Ken Urban
Email: kenurban (nospam) kenurban.com (verified) |
24 Jan 2004
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In a press conference Friday, January 23, Ken Urban, plaintiff and Green Party member, stated, "We respectfully disagree with this decision. We are determined to pursue this matter and will be speaking with our legal team about our options." Dale Strough commented, "Our government is sending troops into Iraq to establish democracy, but we can't even get on the ballot in Champaign County." |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, January 24
Prairie Greens Lose Suit Against Champaign County Clerk
Contact: Ken Urban, phone: 217-356-7987, e-mail: kenurban (at) kenurban.com
Dale Strough, phone 815-432-4821
In a summary of his decision, Judge Leonhard stated Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden was within his rights as County Clerk to reject the Green Party Petitions and that the Green Party was not an established party in Champaign County. Judge Leonhard will release his full decision on Monday, January 26, at 9am. The Greens will then make the decision on how to proceed.
In a press conference Friday, January 23, Ken Urban, plaintiff and Green Party member, stated, "We respectfully disagree with this decision. We are determined to pursue this matter and will be speaking with our legal team about our options." Dale Strough commented, "Our government is sending troops into Iraq to establish democracy, but we can't even get on the ballot in Champaign County."
The Green Party is committed and determined to be on the ballot for Champaign County in 2004. If that requires collecting signatures, the Greens will do it. In addition to our legal options, the Greens are preparing a for an extended signature campaign.
Local Greens will be required to collect over 2700 signatures from Champaign county, and will need well over 4000 to withstand challenges. As a way of comparison, Dr. David Gill, running for United States Congress collected 1100 signatures from 22 counties. If Champaign County were in Wisconsin or Minesota, we'd need only 500 signatures. In Kentucky or Indiana, we'd need 1100 signatures.
With the creation of gerrymandered districts, there is no competition between parties for seats. With no third parties and no competition, government does not change, ideas are not challenged and people become disillusioned. People may vote, but it has no effect on who is running government. The creators and enforcers of these rules are the people who have benefited from them.
The Prairie Green Party plans to continue its political agenda of advocating Citizen Police Review Boards in Champaign-Urbana, opposing a second reactor at Clinton, advocating and studying municipal power options in Champaign-Urbana, protesting the war and occupation of Iraq, and supporting local Green candidates.
The Prairie Greens are a local affiliate of the Illinois Green Party, an accredited state party of the Green Party of the United States. For more information on the Prairie Greens, visit http://www.prairiegreens.org.
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See also:
http://www.prairiegreens.org
http://www.kenurban.com
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This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Prairie Greens Lose Suit Against Champaign County Clerk |
by +
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Jan 2004
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What a petty (but so transparent) political power-grubbing game "County Clerk" Mark Shelden and Judge Charles "Chase" Leonhard are trying to play with our Prairie Greens.
Don't give up the fight Mr. Urban (and Mr. Strough), it's only a matter of time before we're voting for you!
I'll see you at the IMC/AWARE/WRFU table at our weekend Farmer's Market soon.
Bring lots of petition blanks! |
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Re: Prairie Greens Lose Suit Against Champaign County Clerk |
by Ken Urban
kenurban (nospam) kenurban.com (verified) |
Current rating: 0
25 Jan 2004
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It's even worse than that. If you read the N-G article from Jan 24th (I have an archive of media's presentation of the case at http://www.kenurban.com), Mark Sheldon was not antagonistic. The 2-party system is so deeply embedded in our legal system and so strongly reinforced that what 9% of the people of Champaign county want doesn't really matter. |
See also:
http://www.kenurban.com
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