From the campaign of Collin Corbett for Governor:
Rigged Stage: Statewide Ag Forum Shuts Out Independent Candidate Collin Corbett
PALATINE, IL — Today’s Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable (IALR) candidate forum, led by the Illinois Farm Bureau, highlights the rigged system in Illinois politics: two-party gatekeepers routinely deny voters the chance to hear a complete, competitive discussion on the issues that matter most.
While major-party candidates JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey were granted exclusive platforms at Funk Farms today, Independent candidate for governor Collin Corbett was intentionally excluded from the stage.
“Excluding the independent candidate from this major policy forum denies Illinois rural communities, and voters a real choice,” said Collin.
“Our agriculture industry faces serious challenges, from soaring input costs to the need to protect our farmland. These serious challenges deserve a serious discussion.”
Independent candidates in Illinois face significant structural barriers, including much more restrictive ballot access requirements.
Yet, despite collecting tens of thousands of signatures from citizens demanding an alternative, independent candidates are often excluded from opportunities to speak to voters by organizations looking to protect the status quo in Illinois.
“The two-party system is intentionally designed to suppress competition from everyday Illinoisans. It’s unfortunate the host organizations for this forum are enforcing that broken dynamic,” Collin added.
“Illinoisans deserve an open dialogue where every candidate who qualified for the ballot gets a seat at the table. We will continue to fight to ensure all Illinoisans have the ability to participate in their government.”
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As ther2002 Libertarian Party cansdidate for Governor, I can relate.
Prior to 2002, the first debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
To be eligible, one had to achieve t least a 5% showing in a major poll.
I did.
The two power party candidates–Jim Ryan and Rod Blagojevich–conspired to make a Rockford debate the first and the LWV neve held a debate.
As the Chicago Tribune reported on October 24, 2002, ‘Skinner felt he’d had so much success debating “JimRod, the Two-Headed Chicken” in front of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago that he repeated the stunt on the steps of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield.
“’We have selected a two-headed chicken to symbolize our opponents Jim Ryan and Rod Blagojevich for two reasons,’ Skinner said. ‘First, because Jim and Rod have so many positions that are so similar. Secondly, because they refused to include us in the gubernatorial debates.’”
