Randy White is candidate for Lt. Governor

PASTOR RANDY WHITE

Pastor Randy White of Hamilton has declared his candidacy for Illinois lieutenant governor as an independent, joining the campaign of Randy Stufflebeam for governor.

Stufflebeam is associated with the Constitution Party, but is running as an independent with a write-in campaign in the Nov. 7 election.

White has worked locally with the Republican committee. He made his announcement following, but not in connection with, the annual Republican Committee dinner in Warsaw Saturday.

“I totally, whole-heartedly, and without reservation support John Jefferson, Kris Pilkington, Andrea Zinga and Rich Myers. I stand 100 percent behind them,” White said Monday. In the governor's race he breaks from the party.

“As a Christian, I had no other choice. Blagojevich and Topinka represent less than honest politics. They do not represent a pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family platform.”

White said he first became aware of Stufflebeam's candidacy for governor in May. He began to hear more during the summer and was “intrigued.” At the same time, he was being urged by several people locally to get into the gubernatorial race.

“(Stufflebeam's) designated lieutenant governor said he would run if no one else did, but (Stufflebeam) felt there was another candidate. We talked, we prayed about it and he thought I was that candidate,” White said.

“My wife and I prayed about it for three days, and then I called him back. We are alligned on the issues. We are two Christian men pledging to govern the state according to Biblical principles.”

They plan a grassroots campaign using email and cell phones in the next 48 days until the election.

“I'm guessing we have 10,000 emails sent out and people working right now. I send you an email with our position. If you like what you read, you send it on to people you know. Something has to change. We will do it if we get elected,” White said.

The Stufflebeam/White platform makes the following pledges:

- End corruption in Illinois.

- Keep taxes down, while paying our obligations and bringing down the Illinois deficit.

- Support our second amendment rights.

- Settle the illegal immigrant issue, while being fair to legal immigrants.

- Defend the family (Marriage equals one man and one woman).

- Protect innocent life.

- Bring jobs (businesses) back to Illinois.

- Reform our education system to ensure school choice; fair and adequate funding.

- Take care of our veterans and continue to support our troops.

- Adhere to our state and federal constitutions.

White was pastor of the Golden's Point Christian Church from January of 1998 until last December. He is chaplain for the Hamilton police, Hancock County Sheriff's Department and Illinois State Police Districts 14 and 20. He serves on the Hancock County board and is Montebello Township tax assessor.

He offers crisis intervention and trauma counseling with several national organizations such as Green Cross and NOVA and has helped in New York City after Sept. 11, 2001, in Sri Lanka after the tsumani, and in California. He is part of the Iowa National Guard Enduring Families giving support to the families of guardsmen called to active duty.

White grew up in Camp Point and Liberty, graduating from Liberty High School and earning a bachelor of science from St. Louis Christian College. He has been a self-employed contractor and pastored the Augusta Christian Church and St. Francisville Church before coming to Hamilton. He and his wife, Vickie, have two children, Randy White, Jr., of Hamilton, and Lisa Cofer of Latimer, Iowa.

Stufflebeam is a career Marine, who grew up in Greenville. He and his wife live in Bellville. They have four children.

In Illinois a vote for the governor is a vote for both governor and lt. governor. If Randy Stufflebeam is elected as governor, Randy White will also be elected as lt. governor.

To cast a write-in ballot, ask the election judge to see a list of write-in candidates to be sure Stufflebeam is listed. Go to the write-in block of the ballot, write-in “Randy Stufflebeam” in the spaces and check the box under governor.

More information is on the web site www.runrandyrun.com. Contact White through rwhite@adams.net or call 309/221-1452.