On December 13, John Eastman and his mother, Billie, submitted 8,186 signatures on petitions to the Secretary of State’s Office in order for John to be certified an independent candidate for Ohio Secretary of State in the November 7, 2006 statewide general election. 5,000 valid signatures are necessary to be certified as an independent candidate so these signatures represent over 60 percent more than needed.

What is truly remarkable about this event is that it culminates a yearlong process conducted entirely by a band of dedicated and unpaid volunteers, the first time in many years that a petition campaign for statewide office has been done without paying professional signature gathers. These signatures were gathered from several fairs and festivals from northern, southern and central Ohio. Over 5,000 signatures were gathered at the Ohio State Fair alone representing all 88 counties.

Wherever John went he and his messages of fair and honest elections, full participation, and the end of corporate personhood were well received, not only by independents, but also by open-minded republicans and democrats who believe that Ohio voters deserve more choices at the poles.

Now that our major goal for 2005 of collecting enough signatures for certification for the ballot has been accomplished, it is time for the public campaign to begin in earnest with two primary goals:

• First, that our elections process is fair and transparent, removed from partisan manipulation or corporate influence.

• Second, that we re-establish people – human beings - as the source of political legitimacy, in charge of creating all institutions in service of a world that works for each and every person.