Whitney, Greens make statement
Joe Lanane
Issue date: 11/8/06 Section: News
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Despite losing convincingly to Democratic incumbent Rod Blagojevich, the Green Party representative still earned an unprecedented 11 percent of the votes. Whitney was placed on the ballot after activists such as the College Greens organization at Western Illinois University helped to petition for him last year.
Kevin O'Connor, senior political science major and Campus Greens president, said it was worth his organization's efforts to see Whitney make such a substantial impact on campus and throughout Illinois.
"That's sending a message to other voters in the state and at the same it's sending a message to politicians that you have some competition," O'Connor said.
The results also send a message to the older voting generation across Illinois after seeing the impact of youthful Whitney supporters. Richard Hardy, political science department chairman, said it is not unusual to see the college generation follow third parties that attempt to become a "barometer for change" in government.
"I've seen that a lot with younger voters not entrenched with either party," Hardy said. "At college, students want to be independent … from the system in a sense - 'I don't like either candidate so here is my protest.'"
The moral victory was icing on the cake for Green Party advocates considering the amount of work by college students spent prior to the election.
"The whole system is rigged in favor of Democrats and Republicans," Hardy said, explaining how state laws requiring a minimum threshold make it very difficult for alternative parties to even be posted on the ballot. "Third parties must be very dedicated … and regardless it can be very difficult for them to do."
Relentlessness appeared to have paid off, particularly in McDonough County where Whitney accumulated more than 13 percent of the overall vote. Aside from involvement by the Campus Greens, even some Western students unaffiliated with the organization could not help but sway in Whitney's favor.
"The main reason I voted for (Whitney) was to vote against the Republicans the Democrats and show my disgust with the whole system," said Jake Ryan, junior journalism major. "Even though (Whitney) may not have won, I still feel like my voice was heard."
O' Connor said he hopes to have more votes from students such as Ryan come in 2008 when the Green Party is likely to remain on the ballot.
"We'll have at least the same numbers next election I would hope," O'Connor said, despite a trend of third parties fizzling out after initial placement on the ballot. "We're going to keep it up for sure, and we're really relying on participatory democracy to help get us there."
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Kevin O'Connor
posted 2/01/08 @ 1:54 AM CST
I have to say, Joe Lanane's article on the Green initiative during the 2006 Gubernatorial campaign was excellent. Rarely do third parties see coverage as wonderful as this in any media. (Continued…)
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