Wikipedia

Randy Toler

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]

Randy Toler
Bornc. 1965 (age c. 58)[1]
Elgin, Illinois, United States
Known for
Political partyGreen
SpouseAlicia Toler
Children3

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

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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

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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

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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

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1984 congressional campaign

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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.

1984 California's 43rd District Democratic Primary[22]
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

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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

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Toler ran for mayor of Rolling Meadows in 1997 and 2001, but failed to make the ballot in either election.[25]

2014 school board

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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]

2014 Hillsborough County Public Schools District 6
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

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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]

2016 Hillsborough County Public Schools District 7
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

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See also: 2024 Green Party presidential primaries

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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c Fitzgerald, Alison (August 29, 1997). "Green Party attempts to quell infighting and gain influence". The News Herald. Associated Press – via NewspaperArchive.
  3. ^ Gaard, Greta (1998). Ecological Politics. Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-4399-0398-8.
  4. ^ "2023-2024 Green Party of Florida Representatives". Green Party of Florida. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Randy Toler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1533674". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1533671". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b "Two factions fight to represent West German Green Party in U.S. - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mondale Choice of Green Party" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald. UPI. October 8, 1983. Retrieved August 22, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  12. ^ Ross, Harold Wallace; White, Katharine Sergeant Angell (1996). The New Yorker. New Yorker Magazine.
  13. ^ "Early History of the United States Green Party, 1984-2001". www.gp.org. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Greens to convene in Sycaruse" (PDF). Syracuse Herald Journal. April 22, 1993 – via [NewspaperArchive]].
  15. ^ Rodriguez, Alex (April 30, 1987). "Man campaigns to dump mayor" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
  16. ^ Gregory, Ted (September 8, 1987). "WLS hit for refusing to air anti-'Amerika' views" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
  17. ^ Fusco, Chris (January 10, 2000). "Beware of a springtime tollway rebellion" (PDF). Arlington Heights Daily Herald – via NewspaperArchive.
  18. ^ "Court dismisses suit against police chief" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register. July 23, 1983.
  19. ^ "LaRouche paper sued" (PDF). Oak Forest Star. July 6, 1986 – via NewspaperArchive.
  20. ^ "Toler declares candidacy for 43rd district" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register. January 14, 1984. p. 33 – via NewspaperArchive.
  21. ^ Olswang, John (May 20, 1984). "Candidates running quieter in 43rd US District race" (PDF). Santa Ana Orange County Register.
  22. ^ "CA District 43 - D Primary". OurCampaigns. August 20, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  23. ^ The Economist. Economist Newspaper Limited. 1992.
  24. ^ "Illinois says Nader presidential ballots shouldn't count" (PDF). Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. October 31, 1996 – via NewspaperArchive.
  25. ^ a b c Dardick, Hal (October 20, 1999). "TOLER, FIANCE RUNNING FOR OFFICE". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Perry, Mitch. "Green Party member vies for Hillsborough County School Board seat". Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "Hillsborough County School Board District 6: Randy Toler". Plant City Observer. August 21, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  28. ^ "Lifelong outsiders, married couple seek election to the Hillsborough School Board". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "Alicia Toler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ Winger, Richard (August 18, 2024). "Green Party Convention Presidential Vote Tally". Ballot Access News. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  32. ^ "Green Party candidates speak in Worcester Saturday". Spectrum News. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  33. ^ "About". Randy Toler for US President 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Comar, Wendy Rehm. "Randy Toler". Niles Class of 74. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "BRIDE-TO-BE PUTS DCFS IN A PARENT TRAP". Chicago Tribune. March 21, 1999. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
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