Chicken John: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Chicken_John_at_Zombie_Mob.jpg|thumb|250px|Chicken John at a [[zombie mob]] after mayoral debate in 2007]]'''"Chicken" John Rinaldi''' was a mayoral candidate in the Fall 2007 [[San Francisco]] mayoral election. In the past, he has been associated with [[Burning Man]] and the now-closed [[Odeon Bar]].<ref name="Odeon Bar">{{Cite web|url=http://www.odeonbar.com/|title=Odeon Bar Homepage|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> As a mechanic, Rinaldi converted his 1975 GMC pickup truck to run off [[hydrogen]] recovered from [[Biomass gasification|gasifying]] pelletized biomass, such as coffee grounds.<ref name="Chicken John for Mayor - Innovations page">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chickenjohn.com/mayor/innovation.html|title=Chicken John for Mayor - Innovations page|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> |
[[File:Chicken_John_at_Zombie_Mob.jpg|thumb|250px|Chicken John at a [[zombie mob]] after mayoral debate in 2007]]'''"Chicken" John Rinaldi''' was a mayoral candidate in the Fall 2007 [[San Francisco]] mayoral election. In the past, he has been associated with [[Burning Man]] and the now-closed [[Odeon Bar]].<ref name="Odeon Bar">{{Cite web|url=http://www.odeonbar.com/|title=Odeon Bar Homepage|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> As a mechanic, Rinaldi converted his 1975 GMC pickup truck to run off [[hydrogen]] and [[carbon monoxide]] recovered from [[Biomass gasification|gasifying]] pelletized biomass, such as coffee grounds.<ref name="Chicken John for Mayor - Innovations page">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chickenjohn.com/mayor/innovation.html|title=Chicken John for Mayor - Innovations page|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> |
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Rinaldi announced his candidacy for [[mayor of San Francisco]] on July 9, 2007, challenging incumbent [[Gavin Newsom]]. He stated his campaign goal of being voted in for second place, based on San Francisco's new system of [[instant-runoff voting]]. He championed San Francisco as "the city of art and innovation." Among other issues, he wished to publicize those facing San Francisco artists and promote ecologically friendly fuel alternatives for municipal vehicles.<ref name="Chicken John for Mayor - Issues page">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chickenjohn.com/mayor/issues.html|title=Chicken John for Mayor - Issues|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> |
Rinaldi announced his candidacy for [[mayor of San Francisco]] on July 9, 2007, challenging incumbent [[Gavin Newsom]]. He stated his campaign goal of being voted in for second place, based on San Francisco's new system of [[instant-runoff voting]]. He championed San Francisco as "the city of art and innovation." Among other issues, he wished to publicize those facing San Francisco artists and promote ecologically friendly fuel alternatives for municipal vehicles.<ref name="Chicken John for Mayor - Issues page">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chickenjohn.com/mayor/issues.html|title=Chicken John for Mayor - Issues|accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 05:20, 27 September 2010
"Chicken" John Rinaldi was a mayoral candidate in the Fall 2007 San Francisco mayoral election. In the past, he has been associated with Burning Man and the now-closed Odeon Bar.[1] As a mechanic, Rinaldi converted his 1975 GMC pickup truck to run off hydrogen and carbon monoxide recovered from gasifying pelletized biomass, such as coffee grounds.[2]
Rinaldi announced his candidacy for mayor of San Francisco on July 9, 2007, challenging incumbent Gavin Newsom. He stated his campaign goal of being voted in for second place, based on San Francisco's new system of instant-runoff voting. He championed San Francisco as "the city of art and innovation." Among other issues, he wished to publicize those facing San Francisco artists and promote ecologically friendly fuel alternatives for municipal vehicles.[3]
Biography
Musician
Rinaldi has played on several punk rock albums, which include seven albums for the band Letch Patrol and one with Joe Christ & Bigger Than God. He is usually credited as "Chicken John" or simply "Chicken." [4]
Rinaldi was also the original guitarist of GG Allin's band Murder Junkies, but left the same year as its formation. He expressed his negative opinions of the experience in the documentary Hated: GG Allin And The Murder Junkies. [5]
Organizer
In 1995 he conceived, organized, and became the ringmaster of Circus Redickuless, a nationally touring "punk rock circus" which ran for four years. It consisted of many members of the Cacophony Society as well as Chicken John's pet, "Dammit the Amazing Wonder Dog." The circus was the subject of a 1997 documentary of the same name by Phillip Glau.[6] This film later won Best Documentary at the 1998 New York Underground Film Festival.[7]
Chicken established the Odeon Bar, a bar at 3223 Mission Street in San Francisco which was home to unusual performances.[verification needed] The building and bar was sold and is now called The Knockout. [verification needed]
He has tried to take over the Burning Man festival via his group "BORG2" and affect the San Francisco Burning Man community.[citation needed]
He was one of the community organizers responsible for rallying people against American Apparel's attempt to open a new store on Valencia Street in the Mission District of San Francisco.
San Francisco Mayoral Race
Rinaldi announced his intention to run for Mayor on his Web site on July 9, 2007. Incumbent Mayor Gavin Newsom was considered to have high popularity, raising over $1.5 million in private campaign donations, and Rinaldi never expected to win the election. Instead, Rinaldi repeatedly stated that his intention was to place second and focus attention on issues affecting the San Francisco arts community.[citation needed]
After submitting the required official declaration of candidacy on August 8, 2007, Rinaldi claimed to have raised $25,000 in campaign donations from San Francisco residents by August 28, qualifying him for public campaign matching funds. However, on September 13 he was denied public financing by the San Francisco Ethics Commission on the basis that around $20,000 was donated through online e-commerce site Paypal. As it was PayPal's policy to provide only a shipping address, while keeping billing information confidential, the commission ruled there was insufficient proof of residency. In 2003 another San Francisco mayoral candidate, Matt Gonzalez, had similar problems providing PayPal donor information and eventually paid a $3,300 settlement.[8]
The Chicken for Mayor campaign contacted Paypal and specially obtained internal verification that the addresses did indeed correspond, which was submitted September 19.[9] By October 2 the commission had approved many more contributions, accepted 272 residents for the required 250, but their qualified total of $20,500 still fell short. It stipulated some reasons for contributions being disqualified — any donation below $10, any in the name of a business (including a San Francisco business), or from an individual whose driver's license did not match their billing address were not counted.[10][11] The following day the campaign's lawyer submitted a request asking the commission to clarify which donations were ineligible, and a date by which to appeal them. The Commission's Executive Director John St. Croix responded with the pessimistic assertion that simply by requesting an appeal the campaign had lost its right to do so. Twelve days later, on October 15, a meeting of the full commission unanimously overturned this decision.[12] The campaign continued to seek some validation concerning public matching funds even after the election was concluded, as it was still unclear whether it ever qualified. Members of the Ethics Commission made comments to the effect that John Rinaldi's campaign could be seen as a test case, and that they themselves weren't very familiar with the city's public funding regulations.[13]
As expected, Chicken John did not win the Mayoral Election on November 6, 2007. He did garner 2508 first-choice votes, 4042 second-choice votes, and 5362 third-choice votes. In total, about 8% of the electorate voted for him as one of their choices.[14]
References
- ^ "Odeon Bar Homepage". Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ "Chicken John for Mayor - Innovations page". Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ "Chicken John for Mayor - Issues". Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ "BandToBand.com Appearances for "John Rinaldi"". Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ "BioAndLyrics.com Artist Info". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "Austin Chronicle review of Circus Redickuless". Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ "IMDB entry for 1998New York Underground Film Festival". Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ "SFGate Article - "Panel: Gonzalez broke city's campaign law"". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "SFWeekly Article: City to Chicken John: 'Pay your own way, pal'". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "SFWeekly Article - "Chicken John Campaign Funds Denied by City of SF"". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "SFWeekly Article - "Chicken John Pissed At Ethics Commission"". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "SFWeekly Article - "Chicken John Campaign's Net Worth: A Timeline"". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "SFWeekly Article: Ed Jew Opens for Chicken John at Ethics Commission Nov. 30 -- Is That Kosher?". Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ "San Francisco Department of Elections Results - Election Results 2007". Retrieved 2008-12-13.