Stevenson Independent Candidacy Barred

Adlai E. Stevenson III’s attempt to run for governor of Illinois as an independent candidate was banned Friday by a federal judge who upheld state election laws challenged by the former U.S. senator.

But Stevenson, who withdrew as the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nominee to distance himself from two candidates backed by Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr., vowed to remain in the race.

“I’m disappointed, but the only question that remains is where on the (general election) ballot we’ll be,” Stevenson said.

Challenge Rejected

U.S. District Judge James Parsons rejected Stevenson’s challenge to a state election law that required independent candidates to have filed nominating petitions for the March 18 primary by last Dec. 16.

“I had to put on a double, extra robe to be sure I was totally impersonal,” said Parsons, who acknowledged that he was an acquaintance of the Stevenson family. “But that is the way the chips fall.”

Stevenson indicated that he would appeal Parsons’ ruling even while preparing petitions for a third-party candidacy, which must be filed by Aug. 4.

Resigned as Nominee

Stevenson resigned as the Democratic nominee in April after LaRouche supporters Mark Fairchild and Janice Hart won the party’s nominations for lieutenant governor and secretary of state in the March 18 primary.

“We will continue to protect the integrity of the political process and put these LaRouchites down in the bargain,” Stevenson said.

Sheila Jones, a LaRouche spokeswoman in Chicago, said that Stevenson was “a laughingstock all over the world at this point. This is clearly an indication to those true Democrats across the nation that the law can work in the midst of very heightened political fire.”

Stevenson is seeking to unseat Republican Gov. James R. Thompson, who is running for an unprecedented fourth term. Stevenson lost to Thompson in the bitterly fought 1982 governor’s race, the closest in Illinois history.

Lost by 5,074 Votes

He was defeated in that contest by 5,074 votes.

Stevenson was asked whether the combination of Friday’s court ruling and the surprise victories by LaRouche backers had left him feeling that this campaign was “snake-bit.”

“I’ve been kicked by a horse,” Stevenson replied, referring to an accident at his farm in Hanover recently in which he fell from a horse. “But I haven’t been bit by any snakes.”