SPRINGFIELD - Green Party candidates have filed for all the statewide offices in Illinois, and gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney said Monday that Republicans and Democrats are "intellectually bankrupt alternatives."

Whitney, a Carbondale attorney, is taking his second shot at the state's highest office from the Green Party after riding a wave of discontent among voters in 2006. He won 10 percent of the vote that time.

This time, Whitney said, "mass discontent" has grown after ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest on corruption charges and legislative wrangling that left the state budget in a shambles.

"If people aren't fed up with the Democrats and Republicans now, I don't know what it'll take," Whitney said.

Greens have filed nominating petitions to run for all the statewide elected offices. That includes Chicago journalist LeAlan Jones' candidacy for U.S. Senate.

Richard Mayers of Chicago filed Monday to run against Whitney for governor, creating the only statewide primary race for the Green Party. All other Green Party candidates slated for statewide office are unopposed in the Feb. 2. primary.

It's easier for Green Party candidates to get onto the ballot because of Whitney's performance in 2006. In 2010, he has to get at least 5 percent of the vote again to keep the party's established status.

Party Chairman Phil Huckleberry said it could help that the party has more candidates running at other levels to promote the party brand.

On the issues, Whitney supports an increase in the state income tax rate to help close a budget gap. It would come with a reduction in property taxes for many people.

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Slate of candidates

The Illinois Green Party has filed a full slate of candidates for statewide offices. They are:

Rich Whitney of Carbondale, governor

LeAlan Jones of Chicago, U.S. Senate

Don Crawford of St. Elmo, lieutenant governor

David Black of Belvidere, attorney general

Adrian Frost of Plano, secretary of state

Erika Schafer of Chicago, comptroller

Scott Summers of Harvard, treasurer