Jewelie Ann Goeller, July 7, 1952 (Valley City, ND) - October 2, 2004 (Grand Forks, ND)
VP candidate for Natural People's League (1980)
Running mate with nominee: Harley J. McLain (1951-2014)
Popular vote: 296 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Harley McLain, an organic farmer in Eckelson, N.D. met Jewelie (aka Julie) Goeller at a Democratic convention and she became the love of his life. She was also his running mate in 1980 when they ran under the banner of the Natural People's League.
McLain began his quest for elective public office in 1978 running for the US House originally under the Chemical Farming Banned Party and quickly encountered the typical Byzantine obstacles designed to discourage any third party or independent bids for office. This began a series of legal challenges that went on for years and apparently did result in some improvements.
The media coverage during the McLain/Goeller campaign had a chief focus on the court battles for ballot access, but once in awhile little bits of the Natural People's League platform would be mentioned. The NPL seemed to be a single issue entity-- organic farming-- and McLain told the press the party's symbol was the earthworm in contrast to the donkey and the elephant.
He also had some party slogans: "I am a man 'out standing in my field'" and "Organic is more Orgasmic" and "The law of the land is love."
McLain was running for US Senator and was on the ballot as a member of the Chemical Farming Banned Party at the same time he was running for President and on the ballot as a member of the Natural People's League. North Dakota listed only the surname of the Presidential candidates with their political party alongside the full names of the Electors. VP nominees were totally ignored on the printed ballot, but in at least one article Goeller was mentioned as the running mate.
The McLain/Goeller ticket were also 2/3 of the Electors for themselves.
Both candidates were in their 20s which is below the Constitutional minimum age of 35 to be President and VP. In the event of their victory, the US House and US Senate would have been in a position to select different people for both offices.
On the ballot in North Dakota only, the McLain/Goeller ticket placed 6th out of 11 with 0.10% of the vote. That is actually, relatively speaking, quite an achievement. First, they made it to the ballot and that alone is pretty impressive. Second, they outpolled several veteran third parties who had more resources and larger organizations.
Election history: none
Other occupations: motel manager, farmer, plant nursery owner, writer, poet
Buried: Memory Gardens Cemetery (Valley City, ND)
Notes:
Married McLain in 1983 and was known as Julie Ann Goeller McLain.
