Local: Voters need a choice, so Gov. Quinn should pardon mayoral candidate General Parker
Let me make something very clear: I am probably going to vote for Jim Ardis.
I think the incumbent Ardis has done a better job that any of his recent predecessors. I’m a bit miffed at some of the votes he’s taken in favor extending TIF’s undeveloped green fields, and with his recent support for District 150 school closings. But he lived up to his promise to making resident’s safer.
So I’m probably going to vote for him.
But I want the option of NOT voting for him. Politicians do a better job when voters have the option of tossing them out on their ear.
And right now, challenger General Parker is the only alternative.
But because of convictions on his record, it’s doubtful he could serve. If he wins, Ardis could easily challenge the results and probably win. And Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons is sending threatening letters to Parker telling him to drop out.
So, the best thing that could happen would be for Pat Quinn to issue Parker the pardon he has been seeking. Parker isn’t trying to hide anything, as far as I can tell, so it’s not like Peorians are being mislead about his past. And I rather doubt the guy is out stealing cars. He’s no threat to anybody.
Frankly, I find the idea of a council candidate selling $5,000 “platinum sponsorships” far more offensive and a much better threat to good government than having a former juvenile delinquent running for mayor.
And I have a libertarian disdain for the idea of kicking underdog candidates off the ballot. Early voting has started, and kicking Parker off the ballot would nullify votes already cast.
Gov. Quinn can be contacted here.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:56 am
I hardly think describing Mr. Parker as a “juvenile delinquent” was appropriate. He was convicted of two felony counts apparantly at the age of 21. That doesn’t qualify for being classified as a delinquent.
While I typically agree that having a choice is good, I’m not sure this is the best way to accomplish it. I have serious reservations about voting for anyone that wasn’t even aware in advance that he wasn’t eligible to serve – or if he did know, that he didn’t take action earlier to erase the obstacle to serving.
Your diversion regarding “nullify votes already cast” is funny. He legally can’t serve so they are meaningless votes anyways. Why encourage more people to throw their votes away. My concern is that you can’t undertake a write-in effort at this point since the deadline has passed. That would give the citizens at least the ability to have another choice.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 am
I agree with Peo Proud, I don’t think a pardon is warranted just so Peorians can have a choice. He either willfully disregarded the question of elgibility or was complacent in his filing. Either way, all the blame falls squarely on his shoulders, for the improper filing, for the crimes he committed, and for his inability to serve in office. If he really wanted a pardon why wait 20 years? Why not puruse it at an earlier time when it wasn’t politically necessary?
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
Good post. Thanks for Quinn link.
Parker knew he needed to get this matter taken care of. He has been working on it for a while.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Emerge, was he working on it prior to running for office? That’s what I want to know.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Early Voting doesn’t start until March 16. No one has voted yet in the election. We will start mailing out absentee applications later this week after we finalize the primary.
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I will be voting for Mayor Ardis, he has been taking care of this community for yrs. He has done a great job and about [the General ] he knew thia would come back to bite him.We have the best now , why would you want anything less for our community
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
You are frakkin kidding, right Bill?
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Then again, Gordon didn’t need a pardon.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Why should Gov Quinn pardon the General? I mean, what kind of real argument can be presented in support of such a request? It seems like it ought to be something more than so the General can serve if ( and that is a big IF) he even gets elected.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Don’t forget about his felony conviction in Michigan.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Why? oh why is the SAO getting involved in this matter, you may ask. It’s a waste of time and taxpayer money, is it not? Ardis cannot possibly lose to this nut, right?
It is a waste and Ardis will win. BUT, Parker might bring out some voters, voters that may not visit the polls otherwise, and these voters might make a difference in other races (2nd district?) or on other issues (Amazeum, anyone?)
Problem is, the current heavy-handed tactics of the SAO are inciting and energizing the Parker contingent. Just letting him run and lose quietly would have been the better route for those wanting to keep certain voters home.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I have a compromise: pardon him but demote him to colonel.
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 am
I do not think having Mr. Parker on the ballot offers much of a choice. I am not necessarily an Ardis fan but . . .
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
From the Illinois Constitution:
“SECTION 11. LIMITATION OF PENALTIES AFTER CONVICTION
All penalties shall be determined both according to the
seriousness of the offense and with the objective of
restoring the offender to useful citizenship. ….”
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Mr. Parker should be allowed to run for mayor in Peoria and the voters should be allowed to make that choice, not the state’s attorney because of some obscure legal excuse over an arrest 25 yrs ago. The time has come for an African American to lead the city and the voters must show everyone that “discrimination doesn’t play in Peoria”. Mr. Lyons’ technical legal nonsense is little more than a political lynching in order to keep the black man down. I’d love to hear someone ask Mr. Lyons if he’d support Parker’s efforts to petition the governor to pardon his 1984 conviction so that he can run in the mayoral race. I wonder what his response would be. It’s time the city government reflects the face of he community and elect Mr. General Parker.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Uh Johnson, Parker committed the crime and isn’t disputing it. If I remember correctly he has committed more than one felony. It isn’t some obscure legal excuse being used to keep CONVICTED FELONS out of political office. You’re right about showing that discrimination doesn’t play in Peoria, and by holding up the law of the land in a situation where Lyons was surely going to be criticized by people like you for “keeping the black man down” (which is just so ignorant, but that’s another post). The only one keeping Parker down is Parker no one put a gun to his head and forced him to become a criminal. You are the only one discriminating by advocating that we break the law just for the sake of allowing a minority run for mayor. I am sure there are other more qualified minority candidates who could have run, why didn’t they and why is Parker your only hope Mr. Johnson?
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I don’t think General Parker has any plans or desire to turn this into a racist issue.
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
DV: It already is. Would there be this call for a white candidate??
March 4th, 2009 at 1:34 am
Mr. Parker has paid his debt to society. People change and grow. I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Parker on the development of national domestic violence policies to assist male and female domestic violence victims. Mr. Parker is geniunely interested in improving the lives of the citizenry. He has donated his time and resources to travel across the nation to empower domestic violence victims and others. This citizens of Peoria are fortunate to have such a candidate. Mr. General John Parker will be an effective mayor.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Liz – IT’S THE LAW!
March 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Folks: get real about things; I hear Mr. Parker is a good man and wants to do good things; but, let’s not make a joke about the law- he is inelgible to serve if elected. Don’t make a farce of the elective process, do things the right way. General, get your pardon and run again sometime or go for an office where you can be elgible for, there are plenty of them.