2008 Woodie Awards
Independent party members participate in primary voting, election process
Taylor Muller
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
On May 13, Nebraskans registered for a political party will be able to participate in selecting that party's candidate for the national presidential election.
According to papers filed with the Nebraska secretary of state, there are five candidates running for president under the Democratic and Republican parties. With Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton still dueling for the Democratic Party nomination, the fact that there are seven candidates running as independents is often overlooked.
Both the Nebraska and Green Party have several candidates on the ballot in May, with three for the Nebraska Party and four for the Green Party.
"It's an uphill struggle, no question about that," said Steve Larrick, Green Party chair and candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska. "I feel that as much as it is important to win, it's also important to get the message out there so people see there are alternative policies that could be helping our society move in a much more positive direction."
Paul Rossberg, with the Nebraska Party, agreed, expressing concern over a political process where two parties dominate the elections.
"If it gets bad enough, people will pay attention," Rossberg said. "I don't know how bad it's going to get. There've been cases where third party candidates have won, but big money interests control most things. People seem to be satisfied as long as they've got a car to make payments on, a can of beer and they've got their credit cards."
He said money had influenced the political process to the point where independents are rarely elected.
"The money power is right down there in Omaha and Lincoln," Rossberg said. "More and more, people on the other side of Grand Island and Norfolk, those people don't have much representation. They're fed up."
The key, for many voters, will be to remember that there are more choices than just red or blue, said Larrick.
After May's primary, the top recipient of votes in each party will advance to the national election on Nov. 4.
According to papers filed with the Nebraska secretary of state, there are five candidates running for president under the Democratic and Republican parties. With Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton still dueling for the Democratic Party nomination, the fact that there are seven candidates running as independents is often overlooked.
Both the Nebraska and Green Party have several candidates on the ballot in May, with three for the Nebraska Party and four for the Green Party.
"It's an uphill struggle, no question about that," said Steve Larrick, Green Party chair and candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska. "I feel that as much as it is important to win, it's also important to get the message out there so people see there are alternative policies that could be helping our society move in a much more positive direction."
Paul Rossberg, with the Nebraska Party, agreed, expressing concern over a political process where two parties dominate the elections.
"If it gets bad enough, people will pay attention," Rossberg said. "I don't know how bad it's going to get. There've been cases where third party candidates have won, but big money interests control most things. People seem to be satisfied as long as they've got a car to make payments on, a can of beer and they've got their credit cards."
He said money had influenced the political process to the point where independents are rarely elected.
"The money power is right down there in Omaha and Lincoln," Rossberg said. "More and more, people on the other side of Grand Island and Norfolk, those people don't have much representation. They're fed up."
The key, for many voters, will be to remember that there are more choices than just red or blue, said Larrick.
After May's primary, the top recipient of votes in each party will advance to the national election on Nov. 4.
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