It seems that the Constitution Party of Illinois had a pretty big foul up recently. Chairman Randy Stufflebeam reported to members that petitions they’ve been circulating for several weeks had an invalid date on them and cannot be used toward the party’s goal of collecting 25,000 signatures by June 23.
On the plus side, it sounds like they are going to secure some professional help to try and make the goal by the deadline. Additionally, Stufflebeam’s name is being replaced with Chad Koppie as the party’s candidate for U.S. Senate.
Here is the email from Chairman Stufflebeam…
Dear Constitutionalists,
I have some good news and I have some bad news.
First, the bad news: For those of us who have been gathering signatures over the past several weeks, I have some bad news. In talking with the Illinois Board of Elections legal department, I just found out that those petitions are objectionable, due to having the wrong date for the 2008 General Elections. I had used the petitions that we circulated in 2006 as a template and missed the fact that I did not get the date changed.
SEMI-GOOD NEWS: Since those petitions are not valid, due to the erroneous date, it has given us the opportunity to change the names listed on the petition to those presidential candidates who were elected last month at our 2008 National Convention: Chuck Baldwin for President & Darrell Castle for Vice-President.
It has also given us the opportunity to change the name of the senatorial candidate from me to Chad Koppie, a person who is seeking the Constitution Party of Illinois’ nomination and has been campaigning around the state.
Believe me when I say that I know and understand the set back that this represents. Not only have I been gathering signatures, but I know that you have been working hard getting signatures as well. I take full responsibility for this oversight and beg your forgiveness.
Now for the REALLY-GOOD NEWS: Over the weekend, I met with with two separate groups in the Chicago area who are willing to help us get the required 25,000 signatures. Also, we are also looking at a very real possibility of having help from national.
The date we have to turn in the signatures is June 23. In order to get the 25,000 required signatures plus another 5,000 for a cushion, we need to collect about 1,750 signatures per day. My personal goal is to collect at least 2,000. What is your goal?
Click here to download the updated, CORRECT 2008 petition or type (copy/paste) the following link into the address portion of your browser:
http://www.ConstitutionPartyIL/Petition-2008/Petition-2008.htm
Again, please accept my apologies for this oversight. I know your time is extremely valuable and I appreciate the efforts that you have made in providing an alternative to what the two major parties are offering us as choices for presidential candidates, as well as what they are providing us as a choice for U.S. Senator here in Illinois.
Yours in Liberty ,
Randall C. Stufflebeam
Chairman, Constitution Party of Illinois
It appears the national party does not have faith in the Illinois party getting on the ballot.
According to the Constitution Party website they intend to get their presidential ticket on the ballot as an independent.
haha, the third party whirlwind of Illinois strikes again!
The Constitution Party ought to file a lawsuit against the early Illinois deadline. In 2000, Nader won an injunction against the same early deadline, and a court let him have more time. Unfortunately he didn’t return to court after the election to seek declaratory relief. In 2004, he also sought an injunction for more time, but this time he lost. Again no court made any ruling on the constitutionality of the deadline. Illinois got along just fine with an August deadline, for decades, until it was moved to June in 1999.