Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Labor Party submits petitions in South Carolina
Making the deadline to file in time for the November elections, the Labor Party has submitted more than enough signatures to secure a spot on the ballot for the Labor Party here in South Carolina.
We now have the following parties on our ballot, the most in the US I believe.
Democratic
Republican
Green
Libertarian
Constitution
Labor
Working Families
Independence
United Citizens
That's right gang, NINE political parties.
And only the Democrats and Republicans are running a candidate for Governor, although an Independent may be on the ballot for Gov, meaning that the race we all would have the best shot at impacting will not have an organized third voice.
I believe the Labor and Working Families parties will file paperwork to run candidates this fall, but I don't think the state Elections Commission will let them. While it is true that the Natural Law Party did run a Presidential nominee in the election following their filing paperwork, but that nominating period had not ended. With no Presidential ballot this fall, I don't see how either of these new parties is going to be able to run anyone this year, unless a special election is held.
The Labor Party press release is behind the "Read more!" link...
More Than 16,500 South Carolinians Say "Yes" to the Labor Party
When we embarked on our campaign to gain ballot access in South Carolina, our organizers faced the task of building an organization capable of gathering 10,000 valid signatures of registered voters. And we've made it!
On July 11, organizing committee members Willie Legette, Donna Dewitt and Linda Houck submitted 16,500+ signatures to the state election commission. Voters from every county in the state signed the petition.
"This was a major hurdle, but we cleared it with a healthy cushion to spare because of the commitment and dedication of the South Carolinians who see the need for a clear working class politics in the state," says Willie Legette, professor of political science at SC State University. "Now we can turn our attention to broadening and deepening our statewide base and building a strong, fighting organization that can enter the electoral arena on our own terms."
"I am excited," says Donna Dewitt, president of the SC AFL-CIO, "that we have submitted the signatures and am encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from union members and from the general public. And it especially means a lot to me as a trade unionist that the campaign is generating support all across the country. We are well on our way to being the first state in the nation where workers can vote for a real party of our own."
"We need to raise substantial funds to see the party-building process through to completion and to solidify a deeply rooted South Carolina Labor Party that will be strong enough to contend seriously, says National Organizer Mark Dudzic. This will take hard work and great care, but all of us involved in this process, from both the national party and the Palmetto State, are more excited than ever about the potential of what we're doing."
We now have the following parties on our ballot, the most in the US I believe.
Democratic
Republican
Green
Libertarian
Constitution
Labor
Working Families
Independence
United Citizens
That's right gang, NINE political parties.
And only the Democrats and Republicans are running a candidate for Governor, although an Independent may be on the ballot for Gov, meaning that the race we all would have the best shot at impacting will not have an organized third voice.
I believe the Labor and Working Families parties will file paperwork to run candidates this fall, but I don't think the state Elections Commission will let them. While it is true that the Natural Law Party did run a Presidential nominee in the election following their filing paperwork, but that nominating period had not ended. With no Presidential ballot this fall, I don't see how either of these new parties is going to be able to run anyone this year, unless a special election is held.
The Labor Party press release is behind the "Read more!" link...
More Than 16,500 South Carolinians Say "Yes" to the Labor Party
When we embarked on our campaign to gain ballot access in South Carolina, our organizers faced the task of building an organization capable of gathering 10,000 valid signatures of registered voters. And we've made it!
On July 11, organizing committee members Willie Legette, Donna Dewitt and Linda Houck submitted 16,500+ signatures to the state election commission. Voters from every county in the state signed the petition.
"This was a major hurdle, but we cleared it with a healthy cushion to spare because of the commitment and dedication of the South Carolinians who see the need for a clear working class politics in the state," says Willie Legette, professor of political science at SC State University. "Now we can turn our attention to broadening and deepening our statewide base and building a strong, fighting organization that can enter the electoral arena on our own terms."
"I am excited," says Donna Dewitt, president of the SC AFL-CIO, "that we have submitted the signatures and am encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from union members and from the general public. And it especially means a lot to me as a trade unionist that the campaign is generating support all across the country. We are well on our way to being the first state in the nation where workers can vote for a real party of our own."
"We need to raise substantial funds to see the party-building process through to completion and to solidify a deeply rooted South Carolina Labor Party that will be strong enough to contend seriously, says National Organizer Mark Dudzic. This will take hard work and great care, but all of us involved in this process, from both the national party and the Palmetto State, are more excited than ever about the potential of what we're doing."
// posted by Gregg Jocoy @ 7:15 AM 
