Disrupter for governor

Talk about being unfriended.

If State Senator Sam McCann from the Macoupin County community of Plainview was unpopular with the powers that be in Springfield before, he became a virtual pariah following his April 19 announcement that he would form the Conservative Party and become the third candidate for Illinois governor. The reaction from those in his current Republican Party was immediate and vicious.

Added to that seething GOP response is the daunting task that lies before McCann and running mate Aaron Merreighn, a state requirement that they must gather a minimum of 25,000 petition signatures to be on the ballot in November. That is five times the required number of signatures that any statewide Democratic or Republican candidate needs, and it’s certain that any signatures they obtain will be challenged.

Why would anyone voluntarily subject himself to that kind of political vitriol and seemingly insurmountable odds to enter a race that few think he has a prayer of winning?

“I was a Republican because of the platform and I think that platform is a beautiful thing,” said the 48-year-old McCann. “Unfortunately in Illinois, the people who purport to be the Republican leadership either don’t know what the platform says or certainly don’t care if they do.”

Read more: http://illinoistimes.com/article-19992-disrupter-for-governor.html