Green Party Candidate Announces Bid for Illinois Governor

Green Party Candidate Announces Bid for Illinois Governor
Green Party Candidate Announces Bid for Illinois Governor

Green Party Candidate Announces Bid for Illinois Governor

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Green Party candidate Rich Whitney has joined the race for Illinois governor.

He’s the first member of his party who’s announced plans to run in next year’s election.

Whitney says he grabbed more than ten percent of the vote during his first gubernatorial bid in 2006 because voters were getting fed up with the two major parties.

Whitney says that disillusionment could help him again next year.

WHITNEY: I don’t want to depend on a protest vote, but I believe that - overall, if you look at the big picture - I think that that element will be there, and probably be even stronger in 2010 than it was in 2006.

Whitney says Illinois’ most recent rash of political scandals has helped make his party a “viable third choice” for voters.

A handful of Republicans have already said they’ll run for Governor.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has not made a formal decision.