Scott Summers, you may remember, filed to run on the Green Party primary ballot for the 16th United States congressional race, but was knocked off by a challenge of one of Democratic Party Robert Abboud’s Barrington Hills neighbors.

Besides District 5 McHenry County Board candidate Frank Wedig and Summers, at least two other Greens ran for and were elected precinct committeeman in Don Manzullo’s district.

The Green Party 16th congressional district nominating committee would consist of a representative from McHenry County, one from Boone County and another from Winnebago County. (Had other counties had Green Party precinct committeemen elected, the committee would consist of one from each county.)

The local Greens could nominate a candidate to challenge either Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks or Republican State Senator Pam Althoff.

Since neither have ballot opponents, any challenger (even from a new party) would be assured of getting 5% of the vote, giving the Green Party “established” party status, as their gubernatorial candidate, Rich Whitney, did by obtaining 10% of the vote in the 2006 contest with Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka.

Summers is of the opinion that the Greens have that established party status through the 2010 election, because of Whitney’s showing. (I’m writing this on the weekend, so can’t check with the Illinois Board of Elections.)

If so, getting 5% of the vote in local legislative races would not be necessary to obtain the privilege of getting fewer signatures to get on the ballot in local partisan races.

At the Green Party organizing convention last Wednesday, McHenry County College Trustee Summers announced his intention to run for Congress:

“It is my intention to ask the various chairs of the (congressional) district to be appointed to that vacancy in nomination.”

The 16th congressional district nominating committee will consist of a representative from McHenry County, one from Boone County and another from Winnebago County. (Had other counties had Green Party precinct committeemen elected, the committee would consist of one from each county.)

And, based on what Summers said at the McHenry County Green Party convention, he will be on the ballot running against Republican Manzullo and Democrat Abboud.