Politics1: Presidency 2000 - Joe Bellis (America's Party

PRESIDENCY 2000:

JOSEPH K. "JOE" BELLIS III of Kansas
America's Party Presidential Nominee

JOE BELLIS BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS:

POLITICAL: Founder of America's Party, 1998. Former Republican. Volunteer experience in various federal, state and local campaigns.

PROFESSIONAL: Software company account manager, currently. Ordained minister, formerly.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Divinity & Masters of Church Administration, Word of Christ Bible College & Seminary (California). Doctorate of Theology, American Theological Seminary (California).

PERSONAL: Born 1956. Married to Lorraine K. Bellis. Four children.

DERRICK C. JOHNSON of Washington
America's Party Vice Presidential Nominee

Johnson, 35, is a former US Army officer and was an Oregon Congressional candidate in the 1994 GOP primary. Subsequently divorced, Johnson now lives in Washington State. He is currently a graduate student at George Fox University, and expects to receive double master's degrees in psychology and divinity in Fall 2000. On issues, Johnson is generally a Religious Right conservative and expresses strong support for states' rights and a stricter interpretation of the US Constitution. Johnson was initially a little-known candidate for the GOP Presidential nomination, but withdrew from the race in December 1999 to become Bellis' VP runningmate.

LINKS:

Joe Bellis for President - Official Campaign Site.
Derrick Johnson for President - Johnson's Former GOP Campaign Site.
America's Party - Official Party Site.

ANALYSIS:

Bellis, a computer software project manager and former evangelical minister, founded America's Party in 1998 because he was disillusioned by the existing choice presented to the American people. A self-proclaimed "average American" who drives a used 1979 Chyrsler LeBaron and buys his clothes at garage sales, his amusing campaign slogan is "Not a Lawyer! Not a Washington Insider! Not a Politician! Just an American, like you." Bellis ended his campaign -- and the America's Party Presidential run -- on July 3, 2000. He subsequently endorsed Pat Buchanan for President.

This page was last updated on July 11, 2000