Charles E. Collins
Encyclopedia
Charles Edwin Collins was an independent
candidate for President of the United States
in the 1996 presidential election
and sought unsuccessfully to run again in 2000
.
school board official, challenged the use of I Am the Cheese
and other books at the Mowat Junior High School his granddaughter attended. He wrote letters to the parents of all the students, and placed an advertisement in the Panama City News-Herald
. At a school board meeting Collins submitted what he claimed was about 9,000 signatures petitioning the use of the book, though a television reporter later found the number to be 3,549.
The case's first national coverage came from The Washington Post
, which in the cover story of the Sunday magazine section reported on the case and the death threats that had been received by the teachers and parents defending the book and by the television reporter, Hill. Hill's apartment was attacked by arson and a bomb threat placed on her car required the summoning of a police bomb squad, though the device proved to be a fake one. Commenting on the attacks, Collins dismissed the dummy bomb as a "joke" and the fire as "a good way to get your apartment painted by the landlord."
, a political magazine, called Collins the "consummate internet candidate," in their opinion appealing to an online population of "isolationists, alarmists, and conspiracy theorists." His campaign advocated abolishing the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service
and other pledges noted to be similar to that of the U.S. Taxpayers Party ticket of Howard Phillips and Herbert Titus.
He initially sought the Republican Party
nomination, qualifying for and receiving some votes in the Republican presidential primaries
. He received a mere forty-two votes in the New Hampshire
primary and still fell far behind the other candidates in other states where he did better; e.g. 628 votes in Texas
and 451 in Oklahoma
Collins withdrew from the Colorado
primary after the ballots were printed. The Republican National Committee
barred him from debates.
Collins also sought, and failed to receive, the nomination of the United States Taxpayers Party. Collins decided to run as an independent, receiving the endorsement of a group called C.U.R.E. led by the former Republican governor of Arizona Evan Mecham
. C.U.R.E. endorsed Collins over other potential choices including former California
State Assemblyman and State Senator Don Rogers, who would later be the Presidential candidate of the American Party
in the 2000 presidential election
and John Yiamouyiannas, formerly a candidate of Take Back America who had won 2,199 votes in the 1992 presidential election
.
On August 21, 1996 Collins attempted to have the United States Supreme Court declare all state ballot access laws to be unconstitutional. They declined his motion.
Continuing to run as an independent candidate, Collins chose as his Vice Presidential running mate Rosemary Giumarra of Porterville, California
. Collins and Giumarra won 8,952 votes in the election.
. He fell far behind the frontrunner Pat Buchanan
in the party's important Missouri
primary with 295 votes versus 2,214, though he beat John Hagelin
. In California, Collins fell in last place with 1,681 votes. He thereafter attempted to win the party's nomination for Vice President. The convention split into two factions: Buchanan and Hagelin. In the Buchanan convention, Collins won 23 votes versus the winner of the nomination Ezola B. Foster
.
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 1996 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
and sought unsuccessfully to run again in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
.
Bay County, Florida book censorship
In 1986, Collins, who was a former Bay County, FloridaBay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
school board official, challenged the use of I Am the Cheese
I Am the Cheese
I Am the Cheese is a novel written by American author Robert Cormier and first published in 1977. It is categorized as young adult literature.- Plot summary :...
and other books at the Mowat Junior High School his granddaughter attended. He wrote letters to the parents of all the students, and placed an advertisement in the Panama City News-Herald
The News Herald (Panama City)
The News Herald is a daily newspaper serving the city of Panama City, Florida in the United States. It is located at 501 W. 11th St. in Panama City and is owned by Freedom Communications...
. At a school board meeting Collins submitted what he claimed was about 9,000 signatures petitioning the use of the book, though a television reporter later found the number to be 3,549.
The case's first national coverage came from The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, which in the cover story of the Sunday magazine section reported on the case and the death threats that had been received by the teachers and parents defending the book and by the television reporter, Hill. Hill's apartment was attacked by arson and a bomb threat placed on her car required the summoning of a police bomb squad, though the device proved to be a fake one. Commenting on the attacks, Collins dismissed the dummy bomb as a "joke" and the fire as "a good way to get your apartment painted by the landlord."
1996 Presidential election
Mother JonesMother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
, a political magazine, called Collins the "consummate internet candidate," in their opinion appealing to an online population of "isolationists, alarmists, and conspiracy theorists." His campaign advocated abolishing the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
and other pledges noted to be similar to that of the U.S. Taxpayers Party ticket of Howard Phillips and Herbert Titus.
He initially sought the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination, qualifying for and receiving some votes in the Republican presidential primaries
United States presidential primary
The series of presidential primary elections and caucuses is one of the first steps in the process of electing the President of the United States of America. The primary elections are run by state and local governments, while caucuses are private events run by the political parties...
. He received a mere forty-two votes in the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
primary and still fell far behind the other candidates in other states where he did better; e.g. 628 votes in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and 451 in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Collins withdrew from the Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
primary after the ballots were printed. The Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
barred him from debates.
Collins also sought, and failed to receive, the nomination of the United States Taxpayers Party. Collins decided to run as an independent, receiving the endorsement of a group called C.U.R.E. led by the former Republican governor of Arizona Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
. C.U.R.E. endorsed Collins over other potential choices including former California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
State Assemblyman and State Senator Don Rogers, who would later be the Presidential candidate of the American Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
in the 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
and John Yiamouyiannas, formerly a candidate of Take Back America who had won 2,199 votes in the 1992 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
.
On August 21, 1996 Collins attempted to have the United States Supreme Court declare all state ballot access laws to be unconstitutional. They declined his motion.
Continuing to run as an independent candidate, Collins chose as his Vice Presidential running mate Rosemary Giumarra of Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
. Collins and Giumarra won 8,952 votes in the election.
2000 Presidential election
In 2000, Collins attempted to win the nomination of the Reform PartyReform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
. He fell far behind the frontrunner Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
in the party's important Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
primary with 295 votes versus 2,214, though he beat John Hagelin
John Hagelin
John Samuel Hagelin is an American particle physicist, three-time candidate of the Natural Law Party for President of the United States , and the director of the Transcendental Meditation movement for the US....
. In California, Collins fell in last place with 1,681 votes. He thereafter attempted to win the party's nomination for Vice President. The convention split into two factions: Buchanan and Hagelin. In the Buchanan convention, Collins won 23 votes versus the winner of the nomination Ezola B. Foster
Ezola B. Foster
Ezola Broussard Foster is an American activist, writer, and politician. She is president of Black Americans for Family Values, authored the book What's Right for All Americans, and was the Reform Party candidate for Vice President in the U.S. presidential election of 2000...
.
Further reading
- "Charles E. Collins for President," The Gordon Hall and Grace Hoag Collection of Dissenting and Extremist Printed Propaganda, Brown University Library. OCLC 46319142.