Rep. Barbara Merrill, an independent candidate for governor, held a press conference last week to say she had more than enough signatures to get on the ballot, but needed people to send in $5 checks so she could qualify for public funds to run her campaign.
Merrill needs 2,500 $5-checks from registered voters by June 2 to run as a Clean Elections candidate to get public funds. On Tuesday she said she has half of what she needs and was making a direct appeal for help.
“I think we’ll make it, but my most honest answer is I don’t know,” said Merrill, a legislator from Appleton, who switched from the Democratic Party to independent at the start of this legislative session.
Asked if she would drop out of the race if she doesn’t qualify for public funding, Merrill said, “I’m not going to cross that bridge until we get there.”
Merrill made her plea for cash at a gathering in the Statehouse where she also announced she had collected 4,700 signatures in favor of her campaign. All candidates, whether they are running on public funds or not, must collect signatures to get on the ballot.
Party candidates running for governor are required to collect 2,000 signatures and independent candidates must collect 4,000. While independents have to collect more, they also have until June 1 to hand them in, versus March 15.
“This is an important accomplishment for the dedicated volunteers working in my campaign,” Merrill said of the 4,700 signatures gathered. “But it is only one of two hurdles we have to clear.”
Merrill said people don’t understand how the Clean Election system works, and how important the $5 check is or the need to sign an acknowledgement form. She said just this week she turned down a $50 contribution, explaining, “I need $5. I don’t need $50.”
There are seven candidates for governor who have said they are running as independents, and all but one is hoping to run on public funds.
Two Republicans, Sen. Peter Mills and Sen. Chandler Woodcock, and Pat LaMarche of the Green Party already have qualified for public funds.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
