"The choice between Democrats and Republicans is no longer about issues or styles of government," Shilepsky said. "It's a negative thing--picking the lessor of the two electable evils. The public now chooses the candidate who offers to take less from their wallets or individual freedoms. "
According to Shilepsky, voter frustration with "stacked-deck," winner-take-all elections in one-party dominated districts is making citizens either apathetic, angry, or anxious for third choices.
"As Secretary of State, I will propose 'Instant Runoff Ballots' so voters can rank their choices for an office, 1, 2, 3, so they can vote for a third party candidate and not worry about throwing away their vote. Many people want to vote for a Barkley, Nader, Perot or Browne, but are afraid that it will help their least favorite candidate win. So they hold their noses and vote Democrat or Republican. Instant runoff ballots will let them vote their hopes, not their fears."
Shilepsky is a founding member of Fair Vote Minnesota, a group educating the public on electoral reforms like preference voting and proportional representation. He pledges to promote fair voting reforms if elected Secretary of State. The Secretary of State oversees the administration of elections in Minnesota.
"The central issue is that people have a right to be represented. Currently the 65 percent of Minneapolis voters who are Democrats get 100 percent of the city's representation at the Legislature. Minneapolis Republicans, Greens, Libertarians, Grassrooters and Reformers get zero percent. General election competition is nil. In other parts of Minnesota the deck is stacked as well, but in favor of Republicans.
Although Shilepsky is seeking the Reform Party endorsement at its June 6 State Convention, he says his election will benefit all third parties and all voters seeking more viable election choices.
Shilepsky, 55, lives and owns a computer consulting business in Minneapolis. Before joining the then-Independence Party, now-Reform Party in 1995 he was a life-long Democrat. Trained in physics, public policy analysis, and economics he has worked for both the federal (US EPA and US General Accounting Office) and Minnesota governments (State Planning Agency and Waste Management Board). He has served as Reform Party Public Relations Chair and 5th Congressional District Chair. In 1996 he ran for State Legislature in District 59B (P Kahn-DFL) as the Reform Party candidate, and got 13 percent in a three way race.
Shilepsky Campaign Committee 115 Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis MN 55401-1802 612-333-5181 FAX 612-333-8122 ashilep@bitstream.net www2.bitstream.net/~ashilep