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The Man: South Side native LeAlan Jones is best known for being the youngest journalist to win a Peabody Award, which he received at 13 for his documentary "Ghetto Life 101".
Jones is a political yeoman, but a veteran of social activism. He began his career as a national spokesperson for No Dope Express Foundation, a youth education and anti-drug organization, then served seven years as board member with Sargent Shriver National Center for Poverty Law, an organization that works towards achieving social and economic justice for low-income people and communities.
As a candidate for Senate, Jones supports creating single-payer universal health care, creating jobs and a sustainable economy, taxing the wealthy, and free education from preschool to post graduate.
The Knock: The Green party lacks funding to support Jones against mainstream party candidates Kirk and Giannoulias. Jones also supports unpopular policies, including the legalization and taxation of marijuana for anyone over the age of 21 and releasing non-violent drug offenders to unburden the penal system.
The Strategy: During the summer months, Jones was polling at 14 percent, perhaps due to opponent Mark Kirk's well-publicized "misremembering" episodes. But with his poll numbers now in the low single digits, Jones is a long shot candiate. His best hope now is to raise his profile by scoring upsets in a few highly liberal districts.
The Buzz:
- WSJ says Jones may turn blue seat into a red seat
- WBEZ hosts debate for Jones and Libertarian Candidate, Mike Labno
- NBCChicago declares Jones the winner of the Kirk and Giannoulias debate
- Rasmussen Reports puts Jones with four percent of the votes
- Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
- SunTimes Questionnaire
- NBCChicago interviews Jones
