ILGP lost its case to retain established third party status in Districts where the Green Party candidate received at least 5% of the votes in the preceding election. ISBE said it’s because the districts were redrawn since the last election. We also lost the appeal and now it’s going to the Illinois Supreme Court.
In the meantime Laurel Lambert Schmidt, running for Congress in District 3 (part in Will County now that the 3rd Congressional District is redrawn), will be turning in her signed petitions to Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield on December 27, 2011.

OWS history thus far by Pham Binh

This article is long. There is valuable information.

The case, Schmidt v. State Board of Elections, was filed in Cook
County Circuit Court (11-CH-36783).

State of Illinois Bd of Elections ruled to not recognize our established party status in various districts where Greens received more than 5% of the vote at the 11/2010 election, and they will refuse to accept the nomination papers. An appeal was filed asking for an expedited decision by 12/2.

If refused established party status in the appeal a green party candidate may run as a “new party” or “independent” next year, with a new petition gathering time after the primary.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Gini Lester
Will County Green Party
815-258-6364
lvlginnl@gmail.com
www.wcgp.org

The Will County Green Party (WCGP) stands in full support of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement.

The Will County Green Party lends its voice to those who are calling for the criminal prosecution of those institutions and individuals who are responsible for the fraud that has created the current and impending economic poverty of the 99%;
WCGP believes in economic justice and calls for banking law reform; Restructuring of the 20 largest banks in the U.S. and initiatives for creating more community banks and credit unions. Will County Green Party also supports creation of an Illinois state bank.
We condemn aggressive and brutal policing tactics and call on the police to cease provoking Occupy participants. Police are obligated to respect the First Amendment rights of U.S. citizens and allow us freedom of assembly without provocation and violence.
The OWS movement provides opportunity for thousands of people with a shared awareness to come together with emphasis that change is imperative to reflect the true values of the American public; People before profit.

The November 5th forum held in Will County about HB311 the IL single payer healthcare bill was well attended and quite revealing. The majority of the people there were in favor of it. What is revealed is that people in attendance want to help their neighbor. This is sharp contrast to the “let them die” group that had received media attention. If there was anyone of that ilk at this forum they didn’t say a word.

Link —> synopsis of the forum.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Tuesday, October 25, 2011

ILLINOIS GREEN PARTY, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SCHMIDT FILE SUIT
AGAINST STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ON ESTABLISHED PARTY ISSUE

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

Laurel Lambert Schmidt
Green Candidate for 3rd Congress
773-991-8751
llambertschmidt@ilgp.org

The Illinois Green Party, and congressional candidate Laurel Lambert
Schmidt, on Monday filed suit against the State Board of Elections
over the Board’s interpretation of the “established party” statute.  A
victory for the plaintiffs would substantially lower ballot access
bars for Green candidates in numerous congressional and legislative
districts across the state, which would allow for many more Greens to
run for office in 2012.

The case, Schmidt v. State Board of Elections, was filed in Cook
County Circuit Court (11-CH-36783).  The complaint charges that the
Board erred in determining that the Green Party does not retain
established party status in areas of the state where Green candidates
exceeded 5% of the vote in 2010.  Four congressional candidates and
six legislative candidates reached that level, including Schmidt,
whose 10,028 votes in the old 3rd Congressional District earned her
just over 6% of the vote.

The Board’s argument is that since the old districts no longer exist
due to decennial redistricting, the 5% rule does not apply in the new
districts.

“Laurel’s situation demonstrates the absurdity of the Board’s
position,” said Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Chair.

As an established party candidate, Schmidt would need to submit a
petition in December with valid signatures from 600 registered voters
in the district, and would then be on the March primary ballot.
Non-established or “new” party candidates would have to file 5,000
signatures in June.

“The advantages for established party candidates are substantial,”
said Huckelberry.  ”Forums and debates are often set up by June, and a
number of organizations will have already issued endorsements based on
who is already on the ballot.”

Schmidt is running for the second time against Dan Lipinski, a
relatively unpopular Democrat who was the latest recipient of what
Huckelberry called “Mike Madigan’s sugarplum gerrymandering.”
Schmidt’s own residence was drawn mere blocks outside of the district,
but she is prepared to move back across the line to serve the district
in Congress.

“I’ve been an active member of this community for 27 years.  Dan
Lipinski moved into Illinois and the district after he was handed a
spot on the ballot that his dad had won in the primary.  Now, every
rule and every line are bent in Dan Lipinski’s favor,” said Schmidt,
who labeled Lipinski as a “socially conservative, blue dog hawk.”

“The people of the 3rd District deserve a choice.  As the first Green
in Congress I will work for and be a voice for peace, people, and
planet over short-term profits.  The two-party system and its control
by corporate cash is destroying the 99% – that’s us.”

Schmidt is not the only candidate who will be affected by the ruling,
said Huckelberry.  ”We have interested people who are looking for some
resolution on this issue before jumping in.”

Illinois Green Party:  www.ilgp.org

Laurel Lambert Schmidt for Congress:  www.laurel4congress.org

Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 7:00 PM
Meeting room Sacred Heart Church, 337 S. Ottawa Street
337 S Ottawa St, Joliet, IL 60436

Our fight to save the American Dream continues.

Jobs Crisis Townhall. Leaders from the Warehouse Workers for Justice, Coalition of Black Trade Unions, Mainstreet Alliance and others will speak about how the economy has affected members of their groups. Audience members will tell their own stories of how unemployment and underemployment have affected them and their families. We’ll send a video of the townhall to our elected officials to let see the faces and hear the stories behind the staggering statistics of unemployment in the south suburban region.

Please plan to attend this important event, whether you are unemployed yourself, or wish to support others in solidarity.

Occupy Wall Street

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

Learn about HB 311, the Illinois Universal Health Care Act.
Hear speakers for and against; ask questions; present testimony.
All speakers will have time limits, so that everyone can be heard.
Please come and bring your friends.

Wheelchair accessible.
Sign language interpreter present. Many thanks to Will-Grundy Center for Living for financing this service.

If you need other services, please contact Anne Scheetz and we will try to help:annescheetz@gmail.com or 773-486-6276.

IL Single Payer Coalition

7 p.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2011

213 S. Wheaton Ave, Wheaton IL

Seating is limited – Please Request your Reservation

What does an edible forest do for you? For your community?
Will County’s own, Permaculturist Gini Lester will provide practical information on
the vision, ecology, design, and stewardship of perennial
polycultures of multipurpose plants in small-scale settings. Ms.
Lester will discuss the health and environmental benefits of
building a community oasis.

Free and open to the public

This is the second forum in the Social Justice in DuPage series on
suburban agriculture. The events are co-sponsored by the DuPage
and Will County Greens.

Here’s the flyer for the September 27, 2011 Social Justice Forum discussion.  Please distribute it widely.