Randy Toler
Randy Toler | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1965 (age c. 58)[1] |
| Known for |
|
| Political party | Green |
| Spouse | Alicia Toler |
| Children | 3 |
Randall "Randy" Toler (born c. 1965) is an American anti-nuclear power activist, perennial candidate, computer technician, and environmentalist. He claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States when he was 17 years old,[1] but this is disputed by the Green Party's official account.[2][3] Toler is a current co-chair of the Green Party of Florida.[4]
Toler ran for school board in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2014 and 2016, losing both elections.[5] He has filed paperwork to run in both the 2024 Green Party presidential primaries and the Green Party nomination for the 2024 United States Senate election in Florida.[6][7] He has claimed to have run for many other offices, including Mayor of Chicago, Governor, and US Congress.[8]
Founding of the Green Party of the United States
[edit]Toler has claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States as a teenager in the 1970s while living in Niles, Michigan.[9] According to Toler, the party stuck mostly to the west coast for its first few years, with its largest branch in Chicago.[2][10] In 1983, the party went national, opting to endorse Walter Mondale's unsuccessful presidential run instead of supporting the proposed candidacy of John Anderson.[1][11] This led to a conflict with the Citizen's Party over which party would represent the US Green Party abroad.[10] Toler's party was often in dispute with the Green Party of California.[12]
Toler's account has been disputed.[2][8] The Green Party's official account credits Alan Philbrook and John Rensenbrink for founding the Maine Green Party in 1984, which led to the national party being organized several years later.[13] Howie Hawkins stated that Toler's Green Party was "just one guy" and that he had "conned the media many times."[14]
Activism
[edit]Toler has been described as an "anti-nuclear" activist. In 1987, he attempted to recall Rolling Meadows mayor William Ahrens, but was denounced by many local politicians as an extremist.[15] That same year he organized a protest against Amerika, a television series.[16]
In the early 2000s, Toler and his faction of the Green Party led opposition to an Illinois toll law.[17]
Lawsuits
[edit]Toler sued the Newport Beach police chief in 1983 for $700 due to a high police presence outside of a Green Party fundraiser.[9] A spokesman for the police department denied any intention to monitor the group, instead citing concerns that alcohol would be served to minors at the event.[9] The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge.[18]
In 1986, he sued a LaRouche movement-affiliated newspaper for $4 million dollars due to slanderous statements made about the Green Party and their policy positions on drug legalization.[19]
Electoral history
[edit]1984 congressional campaign
[edit]Toler declared his candidacy for California's 43rd congressional district on January 14, 1984 as a Democrat, having initially wanted to run against William Dannemeyer in the 39th district.[20][21] Toler lost the primary.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lois E. Humphreys | 20,679 | 55.72% | |
| Democratic | Kevin Schmidt | 9,913 | 26.71 | |
| Democratic | Randy Toler | 6,519 | 17.57% | |
| Total votes | 37,111 | 100% | ||
1992 and 1996 presidential elections
[edit]Toler declared himself as a candidate for president in 1992,[23] he did not campaign and was not on any state's ballot. In 1996, he was a critical opponent of Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy.[24]
Illinois politics
[edit]Toler ran for mayor of Rolling Meadows in 1997 and 2001, but failed to make the ballot in either election.[25]
2014 school board
[edit]Toler ran for school board for Hillsborough County Public Schools district on a platform calling for greater resources for special needs students.[26] He finished in 6th place.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | April Griffen (incumbent) | 31,272 | 27% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Dipa Shah | 19,022 | 16.4% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Stacy Hahn | 18,214 | 15.7% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Paula P. Meckley | 17,050 | 14.7% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Allison McGillivray Fernandez | 14,441 | 12.5% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Toler | 7,587 | 6.5% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Lee Sierra | 5,044 | 4.4% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Asher D. Edelson | 3,302 | 2.8% | N/A | |
2016 school board
[edit]Toler ran again for school board, calling for ending bureaucracy and the elimination of Common Core, in addition to increased resources for special needs kids.[27] His wife, Alica, also ran for a different school board seat.[28] He finished in 5th place,[5] while his wife also lost her election.[29]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Catherine James | 31,436 | 23.08% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Lynn Gray | 26,795 | 19.67% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Stanley Gray | 18,716 | 13.74% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Alan Clendenin | 15,731 | 11.55% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Toler | 14,444 | 10.60% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Joseph Caetano | 10,800 | 7.93% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Carlos Frontela | 9,244 | 6.79% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Norene Miller | 9,051 | 6.64% | N/A | |
2024 presidential campaign
[edit]Toler filed paperwork to run for president in August 2021,[6] but did not campaign for the office until July 2023.[30] His platform calls for "putting the green back in Green Party."[8] He received only a half delegate vote during the convention roll call.[31] Toler appeared at a Green Party debate in Worcester, Massachusetts.[32]
He has also filed paperwork to run for US Senate in Florida.[7][30]
Personal life
[edit]Toler was born in Elgin, Illinois and grew up in Niles, Michigan. He attended the University of Missouri.[33][34] He has three kids with his wife Alica.[34] Toler married Alicia Kirk in 1999, when he was 43 and when she was 19.[25] At the time, she was a retail clerk at a clothing store and wanted to become a model.[25] Their marriage caused controversy, as Kirk had just turned 18 years old when they became engaged.[35]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Farrel, William (September 19, 1983). "U.S.A. GREEN PARTY COMES TO WASHINGTON AND BACKS MONDALE". New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c Fitzgerald, Alison (August 29, 1997). "Green Party attempts to quell infighting and gain influence". The News Herald. Associated Press – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Gaard, Greta (1998). Ecological Politics. Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-4399-0398-8.
- ^ "2023-2024 Green Party of Florida Representatives". Green Party of Florida. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Randy Toler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1533674". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1533671". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sokol, Markene (September 21, 2015). "Lifelong outsiders, married couple seek election to the Hillsborough School Board". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Jeanne, Wright (June 4, 1983). "Greens leader sues Newport police chief over fund-raiser". Santa Ana Orange County Register. Retrieved August 22, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ a b "Two factions fight to represent West German Green Party in U.S. - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Mondale Choice of Green Party" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald. UPI. October 8, 1983. Retrieved August 22, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Ross, Harold Wallace; White, Katharine Sergeant Angell (1996). The New Yorker. New Yorker Magazine.
- ^ "Early History of the United States Green Party, 1984-2001". www.gp.org. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Greens to convene in Sycaruse" (PDF). Syracuse Herald Journal. April 22, 1993 – via [NewspaperArchive]].
- ^ Rodriguez, Alex (April 30, 1987). "Man campaigns to dump mayor" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Gregory, Ted (September 8, 1987). "WLS hit for refusing to air anti-'Amerika' views" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Fusco, Chris (January 10, 2000). "Beware of a springtime tollway rebellion" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Court dismisses suit against police chief" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register. July 23, 1983.
- ^ "LaRouche paper sued" (PDF). Oak Forest Star. July 6, 1986 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Toler declares candidacy for 43rd district" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register. January 14, 1984. p. 33 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Olswang, John (May 20, 1984). "Candidates running quieter in 43rd US District race" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register.
- ^ "CA District 43 - D Primary". OurCampaigns. August 20, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ The Economist. Economist Newspaper Limited. 1992.
- ^ "Illinois says Nader presidential ballots shouldn't count" (PDF). Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. October 31, 1996 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ a b c Dardick, Hal (October 20, 1999). "TOLER, FIANCE RUNNING FOR OFFICE". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Perry, Mitch. "Green Party member vies for Hillsborough County School Board seat". Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Hillsborough County School Board District 6: Randy Toler". Plant City Observer. August 21, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Lifelong outsiders, married couple seek election to the Hillsborough School Board". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Alicia Toler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Cruz, Abby; Gersony, Laura. "'People are hungry for more choices': Inside the Green Party's push for 2024". ABC News. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Winger, Richard (August 18, 2024). "Green Party Convention Presidential Vote Tally". Ballot Access News. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Green Party candidates speak in Worcester Saturday". Spectrum News. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "About". Randy Toler for US President 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Comar, Wendy Rehm. "Randy Toler". Niles Class of 74. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "BRIDE-TO-BE PUTS DCFS IN A PARENT TRAP". Chicago Tribune. March 21, 1999. Retrieved October 15, 2024.