Democrats Challenge Green Party Candidate in Illinois

Article on WQAD by Associated Press on July 5, 2006.

Democrats Challenge Green Party Candidate in Illinois
by Associated Press
WQAD
July 5, 2006

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Democrats are challenging the candidacy of the Green Party's Rich Whitney in the Illinois gubernatorial race.

Whitney is a Carbondale attorney who turned in his petition signatures last week, hoping to get on the November ballot.

Michael Kasper -- an attorney for the Illinois Democratic Party -- immediately ordered a copy, and volunteers spent much of last week comparing Whitney's petition to voter registration records in hopes of finding invalid signatures.

Observers believe Whitney could siphon votes from Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) in his re-election challenge from Republican state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.On Monday, Democrats formally filed an objection to Whitney's candidacy.

Whitney says he's not surprised because he believes he represents a threat to Democrats.

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