STREAMWOOD – Andrew U.D. Straw, an attorney recovering from broken legs and pelvis, is a Streamwood Republican that practices disability rights law. He is not happy that the Illinois State Board of Elections excluded his name from the March 15th GOP ballot after an objection was filed.
He wants back on.
Because of an accident and the injuries he has sustained, Straw is unable to walk normally. Those injuries hampered his efforts to run for Congress in the 8th CD GOP primary this year.
Straw argues that Democrat Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth – who lost her legs in military service - was provided unfair advantage in gathering petition signatures for her last two Congressional bids.
"I looked through the nomination papers of Tammy Duckworth in 2012 and 2014," Straw said. "Duckworth did not collect a single signature herself, but she got on the ballot and won her primary and the general election both years."
Straw says he collected about half of the signatures he obtained and experienced pain while doing so.
"I asked for an accommodation based on the pain in my legs I feel collecting signatures due to broken bones. Every accommodation I asked was denied. I should have been allowed on the ballot with 128 signatures even though the required number is 475. Collecting signatures hurt my broken legs," he said. "This isn't rocket science."
The problem is that early voting commenced February 4th and Straw's name is not on the GOP ballot in the 8th CD. With no alternative, he is now running as a write-in candidate.
"Please just let me back on the ballot," Straw said. "Was the pain I endured to get those signatures not enough for the Illinois State Board of Elections? My pain was more than Tammy Duckworth experienced getting on the ballot, since she did not collect one signature herself."
Straw says the ISBE's petition signature rejection was "irrational and spiteful."
"I am disabled and the Board saw how severely. My accommodation was reasonable and actually reduced the number of signatures the Board had to evaluate without increasing the number of candidates for this office," he said.
