Former death row inmate running for Illinois Legislature, pledging to change laws

[mrsdragoness]

RYAN KEITH, Associated Press Writer
Monday, December 15, 2003
©2003 Associated Press

(12-15) 16:07 PST SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) --

Less than a year after being released from death row, Aaron Patterson is running for the Legislature with a pledge to change some of the laws he says wrongly put him behind bars.

Patterson filed Monday to run in the March primary. He'll face Rep. Patricia Bailey, a fellow Democrat in her first term serving Chicago's southwest side.

Patterson was one of four men pardoned in January as part of then-Gov. George Ryan's historic clearing of death row in his final days in office. Patterson, who was convicted of killing an elderly Chicago couple in 1986, spent 17 years on death row, despite his claims police tortured him into confessing to the crime.

"I feel like the very laws that put me on death row, I want to go down there and change them," Patterson said in a telephone interview.

He received a $161,500 settlement from the state for his faulty conviction and has filed a $30 million federal lawsuit against police officers and others involved in his case.

Patterson, 39, is a former gang leader with a prior record for gang activities. Illinois law allows former criminals to run for state office once they've served their sentence.

Patterson's agenda includes abolishing the death penalty, cracking down on police misconduct and investigating the cases of other inmates who claim they were wrongfully convicted.

Bailey did not return a telephone message Monday afternoon.

Patterson worries that his candidacy may be challenged because state law requires candidates to live in the district for at least two years before running for office. The prison is in Pontiac.

Dan White of the State Board of Elections said he's unaware of any similar case coming before the board and any challenges would first be handled by local election authorities.

©2003 Associated Press

[deb]

He may very well be someone capable of changing the system if he gets elected.. He'd certainly have the determination and conviction. Thanks for sharing Mrs..

Deb

[Rostonhall]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm printing it off to send to Tony as Aaron was on the Row with him.

Rose

[KRIS_NC]

THANKS FOR SHARING I TOO THINK HE WOULD BE THE BEST ONE TO CHANGE THINGS...GOOD LUCK TO HIM

[jimsenglishgeek]

Fabulous! He'd get my vote! My 13-year-old son says he'll get his law degree and run for Governor of Illinois if Jim has not been released by then!!

Everyone out there should make a concerted effort to vote in candidates who will make a difference. Get thee to a polling place when the time comes!! Too bad Dennis Kucinich doesn't stand a chance to get the dem. nomination for pres. He's against the death penalty, indeterminate sentences, and NLWOP. He's FOR national health care, a woman's right to choose, and taking care of the people who need it -- NOT big business. Check him out on the web.

j

[louise1120]

Thanks for the news

[Rostonhall]

For obvious reasons I can't vote for Aaron but he's always said, both before he got pardoned and since, that he's going to throw a rope back for those other innocents still locked up within the system. So, for those of you who can make a difference PLEASE try to get him elected. So many of us oin the outside need the likes of Aaron to help us get our men exonerated.

Rose