Green Party candidate excluded from gubernatorial debate

Story published at HOI19online, story by Nishi Gupta, on 10-03-06

Green Party candidate excluded from gubernatorial debate

Rich Whiteney

By Nishi Gupta (ngupta@hoinews.com)
Posted: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 6:32 PM

http://www.hoinews.com/about/bio.aspx?id=13707

PEORIA -- Did you think anything was missing from Monday night's gubernatorial debate at Millikin University in Decatur?   

Only two candidates were invited. 

The Green Party candidate for the Illinois governor seat said he was shut out of Monday night's debate between his opponents Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka.

Rich Whitney said if he's not invited to the next debate, voters will notice and he believes the other candidates will see their poll numbers go down

"I think most voters realize they want to see all points of view represented on the debate stage so they can make the choice of the best candidate," Whitney said. "Isn't that what democracy is supposed to be about? Being able to look at the positions of all the candidates and then making the choice. Who has the best ideas for solving the problems of the people of this state?"

Whitney said he supports tax relief for school districts, more state funding for schools, and restoring cuts to social services.

Jim Anderson is moderator of the debate and News Director of the Illinois Radio Network, which sponsored the debate.

Anderson confirmed Whitney was not invited. He said the campaign staff of Blagojevich and Topinka said if Whitney was to join the debate, it was likely Blagojevich and Topinka would not attend.