Assisted Suicide Crusader Jack Kevorkian’s Congressional Bid Certified

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 7, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Assisted Suicide Crusader Jack Kevorkian’s Congressional Bid Certified

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 7
, 2008

Royal Oak, MI (LifeNews.com) — Elections officials in Oakland County have certified that assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian has submitted enough signatures on petitions to qualify for the November ballot as an independent candidate. The certification comes on the heels of a victim’s son confronting him.

Joe Rozell, the elections director in Oakland County, said on Monday that her office verified 3,200 signatures on petitions requesting his candidacy to appear on the November ballot.

Kevorkian needed at least 3,000 to qualify to take on pro-life Rep. Joe Knollenberg and his main opponent, former Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters, a Democrat.

All three are seeking Michigan’s 9th Congressional district seat in the November election.

Kevorkian has admitted to killing more than 130 people, including the televised death of Thomas Youk, netting him a 25-year prison sentence.

Democrats have targeted Knollenberg and Kevorkian’s candidacy may have the effect of peeling some Democratic votes away.

During his race, Kevorkian will have to watch what he says because the terms of his parole, after serving just seven years of the sentence, prohibit him from advising people how to kill themselves. His parole officer will be monitoring the content of his speeches.

Michigan law doesn’t prevent ex-convicts from running for office or from voting as is the case in some other states. Once their incarceration is complete, their legal rights, including becoming a candidate, are restored. However, Kevorkian is still on parole until June 2009.

Last month, Kevorkian claimed he was harassed by someone who appeared to be a family member of two of his assisted suicide victims.

A man Kevorkian approached reportedly indicated he would sign Kevorkian’s petition and then drew a large "X" across the entire page.

The man is said to have told Kevorkian that he killed his parents and that he could kill Kevorkian.

The retired pathologist, known as "Doctor Death" reported the incident to Royal Oak police.

Kevorkian was released from prison last year on parole after spending eight years behind bars in the intentional killing of Thomas Youk in 1998. Youk’s euthanasia death was shown on national television and Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder.

Kevorkian hasn’t said much about assisted suicide during his campaign, but has instead focused on his anti-government views.

”You’ve been trained to obey it, not fight it because the tyrant doesn’t like that,” Kevorkian said, according to an AP report.

"I have no ties, no fetters. I am free," the former pathologist added, saying he is beholden to no so-called special interests.

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