FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wednesday, December 29, 2005
Contact: Phil Huckelberry, 309-268-9974
Phil Huckelberry, McLean County Green Party Chair and Illinois Green Party Co-Chair, has had his petitions for nomination for the March 2006 primary ballot challenged by incumbent State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington).
An official announcement of the campaign had not been planned until after the first of the year as Huckelberry puts together a campaign team, but the surprise of the challenge has caused the announcement to be expedited.
"I am running for State Representative in the 88th District in 2006," said Huckelberry. "I will be on the ballot, one way or another."
Huckelberry ran for the same office in 2004 and received over 6,900 votes. His 16% showing officially qualified the Green Party as an "established" party in the district, giving the party the ability to hold a primary in March, the ability to elect precinct committeemen, and the ability to form a central committee with the power to slate candidates. Because no other candidates have filed for the Green primary, even if Huckelberry is removed from the primary ballot, the Green central committee in the district will be able to slate him onto the November ballot. On December 19, Huckelberry and Sara Riley of Normal became the first Green candidates to file for precinct committeeman in McLean County.
"Objections to nominating papers are always based on politics," said Huckelberry. "Clearly, Dan Brady sees my campaign as a threat, so he is trying to get me thrown off the ballot. The Green Party has spent countless hours poring over the Illinois Election Code, though, and I guarantee we will absolutely be contesting this seat."
The Illinois State Board of Elections website (www.elections.state.il.us) shows that David Owens of Bloomington requested a copy of Huckelberry's petitions on December 20. Brady's objection was filed on December 27. The text of the objection is not available on the website; per law, it will be sent to Huckelberry from the board in the next few days.
"Voters across the political spectrum agree: public elections should be contested," said Huckelberry. "Every year the system gets more skewed in favor of incumbents through things like sweetheart gerrymandering and higher ballot access restrictions. The people of Bloomington-Normal deserve an actual choice for this office, not yet another unopposed race. Whether he likes it or not, Dan Brady has a challenger again this year."
