Randy Toler | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1965 (agec. 58)[1] |
| Known for |
|
| Political party | Green |
| Spouse | Alicia Toler |
| Children | 3 |
Randall "Randy" Toler (bornc. 1965) is an Americananti-nuclear power activist, perennial candidate, computer technician, and environmentalist. He claimed to have founded theGreen Party of the United States when he was 17 years old,[1] but this is disputed by the Green Party's official account.[2][3] Toler is a former co-chair of theGreen Party of Florida.[4]
Toler ran for school board inHillsborough County, Florida in 2014 and 2016, losing both elections.[5] He has filed paperwork to run in both the2024 Green Party presidential primaries and the Green Party nomination for the2024 United States Senate election in Florida.[6][7] He has claimed to have run for many other offices, includingMayor of Chicago, Governor, andUS Congress.[8]
Toler has claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States as a teenager in the 1970s while living inNiles, Michigan.[9] According to Toler, the party stuck mostly to the west coast for its first few years, with its largest branch inChicago.[2][10] In 1983, the party went national, opting to endorseWalter Mondale'sunsuccessful presidential run instead of supporting the proposed candidacy ofJohn Anderson.[1][11] This led to a conflict with theCitizen's Party over which party would represent the US Green Party abroad.[10] Toler's party was often in dispute with theGreen Party of California.[12]
Toler's account has been disputed.[2][8] The Green Party's official account credits Alan Philbrook and John Rensenbrink for founding theMaine Green Party in 1984, which led to the national party being organized several years later.[13]Howie Hawkins stated that Toler's Green Party was "just one guy" and that he had "conned the media many times."[14]
Toler has been described as an "anti-nuclear" activist. In 1987, he attempted to recallRolling Meadows mayor William Ahrens, but was denounced by many local politicians as an extremist.[15] That same year he organized a protest againstAmerika, a television series.[16]
In the early 2000s, Toler and his faction of the Green Party led opposition to an Illinois toll law.[17]
Toler sued theNewport Beach police chief in 1983 for $700 due to a high police presence outside of a Green Party fundraiser.[9] A spokesman for the police department denied any intention to monitor the group, instead citing concerns that alcohol would be served to minors at the event.[9] The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge.[18]
In 1986, he sued aLaRouche movement-affiliated newspaper for $4 million dollars due to slanderous statements made about the Green Party and their policy positions ondrug legalization.[19]
Toler declared his candidacy forCalifornia's 43rd congressional district on January 14, 1984 as aDemocrat, having initially wanted to run againstWilliam Dannemeyer in the 39th district.[20][21] Toler lost the primary.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lois E. Humphreys | 20,679 | 55.72% | |
| Democratic | Kevin Schmidt | 9,913 | 26.71 | |
| Democratic | Randy Toler | 6,519 | 17.57% | |
| Total votes | 37,111 | 100% | ||
Toler declared himself as a candidate for president in 1992,[23] he did not campaign and was not on any state's ballot. In 1996, he was a critical opponent ofRalph Nader'spresidential candidacy.[24]
Toler ran for mayor ofRolling Meadows in 1997 and 2001, but failed to make the ballot in either election.[25]
Toler ran for school board forHillsborough County Public Schools district on a platform calling for greater resources for special needs students.[26] He finished in 6th place.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | April Griffen (incumbent) | 31,272 | 27% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Dipa Shah | 19,022 | 16.4% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Stacy Hahn | 18,214 | 15.7% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Paula P. Meckley | 17,050 | 14.7% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Allison McGillivray Fernandez | 14,441 | 12.5% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Toler | 7,587 | 6.5% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Lee Sierra | 5,044 | 4.4% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Asher D. Edelson | 3,302 | 2.8% | N/A | |
Toler ran again for school board, calling for endingbureaucracy and the elimination ofCommon Core, in addition to increased resources for special needs kids.[27] His wife, Alica, also ran for a different school board seat.[28] He finished in 5th place,[5] while his wife also lost her election.[29]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Catherine James | 31,436 | 23.08% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Lynn Gray | 26,795 | 19.67% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Stanley Gray | 18,716 | 13.74% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Alan Clendenin | 15,731 | 11.55% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Toler | 14,444 | 10.60% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Joseph Caetano | 10,800 | 7.93% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Carlos Frontela | 9,244 | 6.79% | N/A | |
| Nonpartisan | Norene Miller | 9,051 | 6.64% | N/A | |
Toler filed paperwork to run for president in August 2021,[6] but did not campaign for the office until July 2023.[30] His platform calls for "putting the green back in Green Party."[8] He received only a half delegate vote during theconvention roll call.[31] Toler appeared at a Green Party debate inWorcester, Massachusetts.[32]
He has also filed paperwork torun forUS Senate inFlorida.[7][30]
Toler was born inElgin, Illinois and grew up inNiles, Michigan. He attended theUniversity of Missouri.[33][34] He has three kids with his wife Alica.[34] Toler married Alicia Kirk in 1999, when he was 43 and when she was 19.[25] At the time, she was a retail clerk at a clothing store and wanted to become a model.[25] Their marriage caused controversy, as Kirk had just turned 18 years old when they became engaged.[35]