| Randy Toler | |
| Birth Date: | (age)[1] |
| Birth Place: | Elgin, Illinois, United States |
| Known For: |
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| Party: | Green |
| Spouse: | Alicia Toler |
| Children: | 3 |
Randall "Randy" Toler (born) is an American anti-nuclear power activist, perennial candidate, computer technician, and environmentalist. He claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States when he was 17 years old,[2] but this is disputed by the Green Party's official account.[3] [4] Toler is a current co-chair of the Green Party of Florida.[5]
Toler ran for school board in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2014 and 2016, losing both elections.[6] He has filed paperwork to run in both the 2024 Green Party presidential primaries and the Green Party nomination for the 2024 United States Senate election in Florida.[7] [8] He has claimed to have run for many other offices, including Mayor of Chicago, Governor, and US Congress.[9]
Toler has claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States as a teenager in the 1970s while living in Niles, Michigan.[10] According to Toler, the party stuck mostly to the west coast for its first few years, with its largest branch in Chicago.[11] In 1983, the party went national, opting to endorse Walter Mondale's unsuccessful presidential run instead of supporting the proposed candidacy of John Anderson.[12] This led to a conflict with the Citizen's Party over which party would represent the US Green Party abroad. Toler's party was often in dispute with the Green Party of California.[13]
Toler's account has been disputed. The Green Party's official account credits Alan Philbrook and John Rensenbrink for founding the Maine Green Party in 1984, which led to the national party being organized several years later.[14] Howie Hawkins stated that Toler's Green Party was "just one guy" and that he had "conned the media many times."[15]
Toler has been described as an "anti-nuclear" activist. In 1987, he attempted to recall Rolling Meadows mayor William Ahrens, but was denounced by many local politicians as an extremist.[15] That same year he organized a protest against Amerika, 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 the Newport Beach police chief in 1983 for $700 due to a high police presence outside of a Green Party fundraiser. 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. The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge.[18]
In 1986, he sued a LaRouche movement-affiliated newspaper for $4 million dollars due to slanderous statements made about the Green Party and their policy positions on drug legalization.[19]
Toler declared his candidacy for California's 43rd congressional district on January 14, 1984 as a Democrat, having initially wanted to run against William Dannemeyer in the 39th district.[20] [21] Toler lost the primary.
Toler declared himself as a candidate for president in 1992,[22] he did not campaign and was not on any state's ballot. In 1996, he was a critical opponent of Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy.[23]
Toler ran for mayor of Rolling Meadows in 1997 and 2001, but failed to make the ballot in either election.[24]
Toler ran for school board for Hillsborough County Public Schools district on a platform calling for greater resources for special needs students.[25] He finished in 6th place.
Toler ran again for school board, calling for ending bureaucracy and the elimination of Common Core, in addition to increased resources for special needs kids.[26] His wife, Alica, also ran for a different school board seat.[27] He finished in 5th place, while his wife also lost her election.[28]
See also: 2024 Green Party presidential primaries. Toler filed paperwork to run for president in August 2021, but did not campaign for the office until July 2023.[29] His platform calls for "putting the green back in Green Party." He received only a half delegate vote during the convention roll call.[30] Toler appeared at a Green Party debate in Worcester, Massachusetts.[31]
He has also filed paperwork to run for US Senate in Florida.
Toler was born in Elgin, Illinois and grew up in Niles, Michigan. He attended the University of Missouri.[32] [33] He has three kids with his wife Alica. Toler married Alicia Kirk in 1999, when he was 43 and when she was 19. At the time, she was a retail clerk at a clothing store and wanted to become a model. Their marriage caused controversy, as Kirk had just turned 18 years old when they became engaged.[34]