GREENS SLAM "PROTECT INCUMBENTS ACT", REPEAT CALL FOR ELECTION REFORM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Thursday, April 2, 2009

GREENS SLAM "PROTECT INCUMBENTS ACT", REPEAT CALL FOR ELECTION REFORM

Contact:
Phil Huckelberry
Illinois Green Party Chair
309-268-9974
phil.huckelberry@ilgp.org

Patrick Kelly
Illinois Green Party Media Coordinator
773-203-9631
media@ilgp.org

A legislative effort to all but end the practice of "slating" in
Illinois has drawn the ire of Green Party leaders. House Bill 723
would make it so that when no candidate of an established party runs
in a primary for a particular office, that party can only fill the
vacancy in nomination if the candidate they "slate" collects a large
number of signatures.

"The system in Illinois is already rigged to drastically limit
competition," said Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Chair.
"Voters are sick of uncontested elections and having no choice at the
ballot, and yet some legislators are trying to make the situation
worse, not better. This bill may as well be called the 'Protect
Incumbents Act'."

The main sponsor of the bill, Rep. Mike Fortner (R-95), would have
been uncontested in 2008 had the Green Party not slated Gerard Schmitt
to run for the office. John D'Amico (D-15), a co-sponsor, was
uncontested in 2008 only because a slated Green candidate was removed
from the ballot. Randy Ramey (R-55), another co-sponsor, also faced a
slated Green candidate, Dan Kairis, in 2008. Joseph Lyons (D-19),
another co-sponsor, was uncontested in 2008.

"Legislators in Illinois have an aversion to having someone run
against them," said Kairis, who is now running for Township Supervisor
in Elgin Township. "Rather than accept competitive elections as a
necessary function of a democratic system, here we have legislators
who want to avoid facing any competition in the future."

The signature threshold for slated candidates would be equal to the
threshold for new party or independent candidates for offices. For
many state representative seats, the number will exceed 2,000
signatures in 90 days, which is extremely difficult, especially when
districts have been drawn irregularly. The practice of drawing
legislative districts to protect incumbents regardless of their party
affiliation is known as "sweetheart gerrymandering." Three bills have
been introduced that would seek to amend the Illinois Constitution to
change the method of redistricting to using computer software.
Currently redistricting is handled by a partisan committee.

"Computer redistricting is precisely the kind of election reform we
sorely need in Illinois," said Tim Quirk, 44th Ward Committeeperson in
Chicago. "If we're not going to get reform now, when is it going to
happen?"

Other election reforms that Greens have argued for include campaign
contribution limits, bans on corporate contributions, public financing
of campaigns, and lowering of ballot signature requirements.

"The need for fair elections in Illinois is obvious to everyone," said
Huckelberry. "For years, the legislature has intentionally made
elections unfair to protect themselves. But voters are angrier now
after so many scandals. It's time for real change."

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