Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Stufflebeam back for another try

Posted in:

Illinois

Randy Stufflebeam says the dysfunction in state government presents an opportunity for a third-party run. The former career Marine has declared his candidacy for governor under the Constitution Party.

That’s because Stufflebeam says he’s watched both Democrats and Republicans engaging in what he calls “the betrayal of our constitutions.”

Specifically he points to a provision in the Illinois Constitution commonly thought to require the governor and legislature to pass balanced budgets.

“It is not a suggestion,” Stufflebeam says. “It’s not a wish list or anything. It is a mandate.” […]

“The election of Donald Trump, being the ‘outsider,’ really espouses the fact that people want something that is not the mainstream,” he says. Stufflebeam, of Belleville, spent 22 years in the United States Marine Corps.

OK, but Trump got 39 percent of the vote here. Stufflebeam received about 19,000 votes as a write-in candidate back in 2006.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:27 pm

Comments

Well, if it “espouses” the fact, then he’s probably a sure winner.

Comment by Blue Bayou Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:30 pm
And how is he related to Boss Madigan? Queue the press release in 5…4…3…2…

Comment by Under Influenced... Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Illinois’ very own Gary Johnson. Yawn.

Comment by LessAnon? Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:34 pm
It will be interesting to see how 3rd party candidates come at Rauner from the right. I’m not sure there’s much space there but I’m willing to be convinced otherwise.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Trump was a Billionaire, deeply politically-connected, nationally known brand name, TV personality representing a successful executive, and the party nominee — oh, and yes an “outsider.”

Our guy’s a Marine. For me that wins. But that’s just me.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:38 pm
Rauner won’t even waste money on this guy. Why bother? He’ll just pull a few more votes away from the eventual dem candidate.

Comment by CCP Hostage Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:41 pm
===I’m not sure there’s much space there===

There should be space around abortion and teh gays. He’s vulnerable to a degree on those, but somehow I suspect Jill Stanek, Fran Eaton, Joe Schiedler and the rest of the gang will look past Rauner’s pro-abortion leadership like they and most other self-labeled Christian leaders did with Trump.

If those pro-life advocates won’t drop their support of Rauner, then there isn’t much hope for a challenge from the right.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:49 pm
CCP….Why would a Democrat vote for this guy? He’s a lifelong Republican who switched to this Constitutional Party.

Comment by ?? Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:50 pm
CCP….Why would a Democrat vote for this guy? He’s a lifelong Republican who switched to this Constitutional Party.

Maybe if Pat Quinn is on the other ticket?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:52 pm
== It will be interesting to see how 3rd party candidates come at Rauner from the right. ==

Plenty of room there if you are going to adhere to a fairly strict interpretation of the IL Constitution. Just keep repeating the part about Rauner’s not submitting a balanced budget. Then follow it up with Rauner’s failure to follow the wishes of the people (the non-binding referendum) and push a millionaire’s tax. Close with some of the constitutionally questionable budget and cash flow management moves Rauner has advocated / endorsed. And if you want to really have fun, include dereliction of duty by Rauner to fail to actually govern.

Then you can attack both parties in the GA with their failure to craft a balanced budget from Rauner’s proposals and their failure to over-ride Rauner’s budget vetoes. Again, dereliction of duty.

Could be a fun campaign about the issues if Stufflebeam could get some serious money behind his message. Heck, maybe some dark D money could find its’ way to him to take the heat off of the D candidates.

If he REALLY wanted to pour on the heat and probably get lots of free publicity, promise to push for a citizen’s recall bill for all state-wide elected positions. We know he couldn’t actually get one passed, but it would be a heck of an issue in an outsider year like 2018 may shape up to be.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:55 pm
You read it here first.
And last.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:58 pm
wow. that’s a blast from the past. where has this guy been hanging out the last 10 years?

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:58 pm
This story reminds me of a song about an ant and a rubber tree plant.

High hopes.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 4:07 pm
I looked forward to missing him, but since he will not go away…

Comment by Touré's Latte Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 5:32 pm
Just what we need right now !!!!!!

Comment by illini Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 6:39 pm
A guy, nicely put.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 8:48 pm
Stufflebeam makes a good point, and running against Rauner and Madigan’s Springfield is a good argument.

“Bruce Rauner promised to shake up Springfield. But instead of providing solutions, Bruce Rauner became a part of the problem. Under Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan, taxes have risen to the highest levels in state history, and so has our backlog of unpaid bills: $20 billion in debt for every man, woman and child in Illinois. It’s time for real change.”

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:39 am
People should not point to Trump regarding winning campaigns unless they plan on having the electoral college bail them out, Trump did loose by over 2% of the popular vote, and the Presidency is the only office in the country where the popular vote does not matter.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 9:07 am