Gill Appeals To the U.S. Supreme Court

Independent candidate David Gill is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to get his name on the ballot in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. He’s asking that justices vacate the stay entered by a federal appeals court removing him from the November ballot. The Bloomington physician says this effort "isn't just a fight for this election - this is also for the future."

Gill, who has run four times prior for the 13th Congressional District as a Democrat, contends it’s not fair that independents have to gather nearly 15 times as many petition signatures as major party candidates, who are each required less than 740 signatures.

He's hopeful Justice Elena Kagan, who's responsible for matters in Illinois, will reverse the decision of the State Board of Elections. Gill's campaign manager Don Necessary says he hopes county clerks will wait on mailing out ballots without Gill's name.

"I would hope that they'd hold off until Justice Kagan has the chance today (Friday) or next week," he said. "She could make a decision favorable for us."

However, McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael says her office is obligated by law to have military ballots in the mail today. She says those are being sent -- and polling place ballots are being printed -- without Gill's name.

His 8,000 valid signatures ran short of the requirement, but last month, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough ruled that he should be on the ballot anyway. Then the appeals court judges overturned that order, which led to the Illinois State of Elections formally removing his name from the ballot.

Photo Credit: David Gill campaign

“We live within a rigged political system, and our inability to obtain a fair hearing before the Court of Appeals is not surprising,” said Gill in a statement.  “We turn now to the Supreme Court, with hopes that our case receives the same level of intellectual honesty that we received in U.S. District Court.  The voters of IL-13 deserve a real choice on November 8.”

Republican 13th District incumbent Rodney Davis of Taylorville is seeking his third term, opposed by Democrat Mark Wicklund of Decatur.