The Most Cold-Blooded Candidates in Hissssstory

CHICAGO â€”  The slate is filled with slimy political candidates.

Illinois is urging its residents to go onto the Internet to elect the official state reptile and amphibian.

“Finally, an election where there’s no mudslinging,� said Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. “Maybe our human candidates should try living in the mud for a while.�

Quinn and state Rep. Bob Biggins -- who worked with the Chicago Herpetological Society and the Brookfield Zoo -- thought holding a mock election might help highlight the role these creatures play in Illinois’ ecosystem.

So far, the Eastern tiger salamander is leading the amphibian pack, followed by the gray tree frog and the American toad. Zoo officials say the race is close among the reptiles, with the painted turtle and the garden-variety garter snake coming in neck-and-neck, followed by the Eastern box turtle.

“It’s sort of appropriate that we’d have an official reptile, given how much corruption happens in this state,� said Kelly Killian, 32, a graduate student who was told about the runoff while she was buying a cup of coffee. “At least this is something to do with snakes that we can all support.�

The Illinois Board of Elections said it would not certify the results because this was a mock election: Voters don’t have to show any proof of residency -- they only have to type in a home ZIP Code -- and theoretically could vote more than once. Election officials, however, say they support any effort to get the public to vote.

Since the ballots were posted on the lieutenant governor’s and the zoo’s websites this fall, more than 56,000 people have cast their virtual ballots.

When the voting ends at midnight Friday, the ballots will be tallied and the winning species will be brought before the state Legislature when it convenes in January.

The legislators will then decide whether to add the creatures to a list of the state’s existing 17 symbols, which includes the official snack food (popcorn), flower (native violet) and prairie grass (Blue Bigstem).

Many states have selected their own local slick creatures for such honors. California named the desert tortoise as its official reptile in 1972, and Louisiana tapped the green tree frog as its amphibian in 1993.

The two classes are often mistaken for each other, said Dr. Chris Phillips, an assistant professional scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, which helps record biological resources in the state.

“Reptiles have scales, and they generally don’t have to be right around water,� Phillips said. “Amphibians don’t have scales, but they need a moist environment. Even if you can’t tell the difference, getting people to vote on this helps bring awareness to their existence.�

To figure out which creature would make it onto the runoff ballot, the zoo set up an exhibit at the state fair this past summer to simulate a primary election.

The booth provided a description of the 42 amphibian species and 62 reptile species that are native to Illinois. Fairgoers selected their favorites, jotting down their choice on a paper ballot.

By early fall, the various frogs, snakes and turtles were thinned to six candidates, three in each category. This week, students from Jackson Middle School in Villa Park, who had volunteered to serve as campaign managers for the different species, gathered in Chicago to present their position.

But the candidates grew nervous under the spotlight.

As seventh-grader Patrick Hannon extolled the virtues of the tree frog -- “They get rid of pesky insects!� -- the gray-green warty critter climbed out of his hand and hop, hop, hopped across the microphone stand.

Hannon and fellow political activists caught the frog before it could disappear.

“We’re not sure yet whether the actual creatures, like every other elected candidate, will have to present themselves and testify before the Legislature,� said Eric K. Schuller, a senior policy advisor to Quinn.

“I’m guessing that they can do without seeing an actual snake.�