Court ruling could lead to more third party candidates on ballot

A recent federal court ruling could make it easier for people from parties other than Republicans or Democrats to run for county offices in general elections.

U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood last week issued an order in favor of the Illinois Libertarian Party's move to have the state's full-slate law declared unconstitutional.

Lex Green, chair of the Illinois Libertarian Party, said before Wood's ruling, parties other than Republicans and Democrats had to field a full slate of candidates in a primary election, including sheriff and state's attorney, in order to have a candidate run in a general election.

The ruling means Libertarian and other parties that are not established in Illinois - as in they didn't get a minimum percentage to be automatically included in the next election - don't have to put together a full slate and can just assemble nominating petitions instead, Green said.

"This is a significant breakthrough for us because in the past, Libertarians had to run (for county offices) as either a Republican or Democrat," Green said. "We were being held to a different standard."

Green said Wood's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed in 2012 by Kane County Auditor candidate Julie Fox, her campaign manager John Kramer, and the Libertarian Party of Illinois against the Illinois State Board of Elections and Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham. Green said Fox was not put on the ballot because of the state's requirement that a full slate of Libertarian candidates be fielded for all county offices.

Cunningham said he has not read the judge's full ruling, but would comply going forward. Cunningham added that in 2012, Fox was required to gather nearly 6,500 signatures from registered voters based on a requirement that non established parties obtain signatures from 5 percent of voters from the previous election, in that case 2010. Fox only had 618 signatures, Cunningham said.

"(Fox) didn't have enough signatures," Cunningham said. "(The judge) hasn't issued the decision yet. We would have to read that. Whatever the judge says, we will and shall apply that."

Green hopes the judge's ruling leads to more alternative party candidates running for county offices in November and beyond.

"I'm hoping that as the word gets out, Libertarians will come out of the woodwork (and run for county offices)," Green said. "I would love to see that."