Randall "Randy" Toler (born c. 1965) 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,[1] but this is disputed by the Green Party's official account.[2][3] Toler is a current co-chair of the Green Party of Florida.[4]
Toler has claimed to have founded the Green Party of the United States as a teenager in the 1970s while living in Niles, Michigan.[9] According to Toler, the party stuck mostly to the west coast for its first few years, with its largest branch in Chicago.[2][10] In 1983, the party went national, opting to endorse Walter Mondale's unsuccessful presidential run instead of supporting the proposed candidacy of John Anderson.[1][11] This led to a conflict with the Citizen's Party over which party would represent the US Green Party abroad.[10] Toler's party was often in dispute with the Green 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 the Maine 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]
Activism
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]
Lawsuits
Toler sued the Newport 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 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 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 of Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy.[24]
Illinois politics
Toler ran for mayor of Rolling Meadows in 1997 and 2001, but failed to make the ballot in either election.[25]
2014 school board
Toler ran for school board for Hillsborough County Public Schools district on a platform calling for greater resources for special needs students.[26] He finished in 6th place.[5]
2014 Hillsborough County Public Schools District 6
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
2016 school board
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.[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]
2016 Hillsborough County Public Schools District 7
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 the convention roll call.[31] Toler appeared at a Green Party debate in Worcester, Massachusetts.[32]
Toler was born in Elgin, Illinois and grew up in Niles, Michigan. He attended the University 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]