Independent candidate blasts election measure

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is criticizing a failed election omnibus proposal that he says would have retroactively loosened petition-circulation requirements for some Chicago school board candidates, calling the measure an example of a ballot-access system that is already stacked against independent and third-party candidates.

Corbett first raised concerns in a social media video near the end of the General Assembly’s spring session, alleging that language in Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 1832 would have exempted certain Chicago school board petition circulators from requirements that other candidates were required to follow.

“At the behest of the Chicago Teachers Union, a provision is being snuck through in the election omnibus,” Corbett said in the video. He argued that the proposal would have lifted petition-circulation restrictions for nonpartisan Chicago school board candidates and applied those changes retroactively.

In an interview with The Center Square, Corbett said his primary objection was not only the proposed rule change itself, but that it would have occurred after candidates had already completed the petition process.

“We all had to follow a certain set of rules in order to make it on the ballot,” Corbett said. “If you go in and you change it just for a select group, that takes a rigged system and makes it even more rigged.”

Corbett said Illinois law imposes stricter requirements on independent, third-party and nonpartisan candidates than those faced by Democratic and Republican candidates, particularly regarding who may circulate nomination petitions.

“Those rules should be changed because the two parties do not have to follow those rules when they circulate,” Corbett said. “That said, this election omnibus would have retroactively changed those rules only for candidates for the Chicago School Board.”

Corbett alleged that the measure would have benefited candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union whose petitions may have otherwise faced legal challenges. He further speculated that either candidates were aware a legislative fix was forthcoming or failed to comply with existing requirements and later sought relief through legislation.

“So, there’s only one of two explanations,” Corbett said. “Either these candidates backed by CTU knew that they were going to push forward a bill at the end of session to allow these circulators to go through, or they didn’t follow the rules, didn’t even know the rules, and now they’re just trying to cover their ends and avoid getting knocked off the ballot.”

The proposal ultimately failed to advance before lawmakers adjourned. Corbett said he hopes public criticism contributed to its defeat.

“I’m hopeful that it didn’t pass because I and many others shined a spotlight on how bad this is, how unethical this is,” he said.

Looking beyond the specific legislation, Corbett argued that Illinois’ ballot-access laws make it difficult for candidates outside the two major parties to compete.

“The system is rigged against any everyday Illinoisan who wants to run for office,” Corbett said. “Once I make it on the ballot, I’ll be only the third independent candidate for governor in Illinois in over 80 years.”

Corbett attributed those barriers to efforts by the major political parties to preserve their influence.

“The reason for the rigged system is power and control,” he said. “Neither of the two parties want other candidates, other parties, independent candidates to be able to run.”

Corbett is running for governor as an independent and said his campaign seeks to offer voters an alternative to what he described as a dysfunctional two-party system.

“We’re running to give an alternative in Illinois, a mainstream, common-sense movement that focuses on solutions to people’s problems instead of these partisan political games,” Corbett said.