Democratic Staff Members -- State Employees -- Working to Block Nader in Illinois

Democratic Staff Members -- State Employees -- Working to Block Nader in Illinois

The Free and Equal Election Coalition is charging that no less than 10 Democrat state employees are working on the Nader ballot access challenge in Illinois, most coming directly from Speaker Michael Madigan’s staff. In addition Rep. Madigan sent his interns to challenge signatures as well.

FEEC News Release
Free and Equal Election Coalition

Coalition Asks Madigan to Explain Political Use of State Employees

(Chicago, IL) -- Supporters of independent candidate Ralph Nader for President held a joint press conference today to update the media and voters of Illinois on the status of the Illinois Democratic Party's attempt to kick Ralph Nader off the ballot. Members of the Free and Equal Elections Coalition also presented evidence showing state employees from Michael Madigan's staff are working on the challenge.

"We may not agree on other policies, but we are unifying against these ridiculous ballot access laws in Illinois," says Jeff Trigg, Libertarian Party of Illinois Executive Director. "The facts are that Illinois Democrats are challenging Nader, but they bent over backwards to let President Bush blatantly ignore deadlines in election law. This Bush favoritism shows you who the Democrats think their political enemies are, and it isn't the Republicans. Their enemy is voter choice, and that is wrong," adds Trigg.

In addition to their attempts to kick Ralph Nader off the ballot, the Illinois Democratic Party has challenged the petitions of the Green Party Presidential and US Senate candidates, along with Green Party candidates for county positions in Champaign County, and a Socialist Equality Party candidate for State Representative in the Champaign area. Democrats have also been responsible for removing Green candidates in previous years.

In 1998, George Ryan and the Republicans removed the Libertarian candidates for state Constitutional offices while using more than 70 Secretary of State employees on the petition challenge, several of whom were working on the state's clock. In 2002, Republicans tried again to deny voters' rights, but lost their challenge. Illinois Republican Party Chair and State Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka is now under a federal grand jury investigation for allegedly sending her Treasurer office employees to work on that petition challenge.

"We've already identified no less than 10 Democrat state employees working on this challenge, most coming directly from Speaker Michael Madigan's staff," states Christina Tobin, a local coordinator for the Nader for President campaign. "I've requested the relevant payroll records to verify these state employees are not on the clock, but Madigan's staff is acting like they've got something to hide. If that isn't enough, Madigan is sending over his 16 year old interns that have no business being put into the middle of this legal process."

"In light of all this information," Tobin concludes, "we call on Mike Madigan to explain why state employees worked on the objections to Mr. Nader's petitions, and if these employees were on taxpayers' dollars while impeding democracy."