July 2, 2003

Rescued Chicken to Run for California Governor

Will File if Davis Recall Petition Successful

Amelia the Chicken said today that she plans to run for governor of California in the event that enough voters sign petitions to force a recall vote on the current governor, Gray Davis.

"It's time to let some other species have a go at the governor's job," said Horace Jamison, Amelia's campaign manager. "Humans have a disastrous track record running California -- electricity shortages, deficit spending, collapse of high tech firms, too many freeways, urban sprawl, crime, excessive egg consumption."

Amelia gained fame as the ballooning chicken when a prankster, aping a television commercial, tied enough helium-filled balloons to her to send her aloft over San Francisco. Amelia and her balloons eventually got tangled in a power line and a police marksman used a pellet gun to puncture enough balloons to bring her safely to earth.

After her rescue, Amelia was taken to the San Francisco city animal shelter and it was there, while resting in a cage and contemplating her close call, that she decided to run for governor.
"It was a defining moment for Amelia and history will come to see it as a defining moment for California," Jamison said.

Jamision is an experienced animal political operative who has helped elect a half dozen dogs to city and county positions around California and has at least two cats and a parrot in elected city government posts to his credit. Amelia's campaign is his first foray into statewide politics.

"Campaign funds are already pouring in," Jamison said. "Supporters were lined up all day yesterday waiting to walk past Amelia's cage at the animal shelter and express their support."
He said coming up with the $3,500 governor's race filing fee would be no problem. "I can see us eventually raising $10 million," he predicted. "She's very appealing."

Under California law, if enough voters sign a petition to force an election to recall Gray Davis, anyone who has the filing fee can get on the ballot to replace him. When the recall election is held, a voter says yes or no on the recall and at the same time votes for a gubernatorial candidate should the recall of the governor be approved.

"The field of candidates will be very crowded," Jamison said. "I think Amelia will have tremendous name recognition among voters and will stand out as a unique and very compelling choice for governor."

Jamison said several campaign slogans are being test marketed. They include:

Cross the Road to a Better California
Only a Chicken Can Straighten Out This Mess
Find Out What's on the Other Side
Tired of the Same Old, Same Old? Try Chicken
Don't Lay an Egg! Vote Amelia

Copyright William Stockton & Smithtown Creek Productions