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[[File:EricZornLes.jpg|thumb|125px|<small>Featured column on Les Golden in Chicago Tribune.</small>]]

[[File:EricZornLes.jpg|thumb|125px|<small>Featured column on Les Golden in Chicago Tribune.</small>]]

Golden began his political career with the non-partisan CARE Party (Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate) in Oak Park, Illinois.  He later formed the TURF Party (Taxpayers United of River Forest) in the adjacent community.  He was the president of UTOP (United Taxpayers of Oak Park) from 1991 through 2005.<ref>http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>  As CARE party president he has been responsible for slating more than 70 candidates for local political office, achieving the election of eight on tax-accountability and environmental issues.<ref>see, for example, (1989) CARE joins school board fray, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , July 31, page 1; (1989) CARE tries to seek new identity, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  October 11, page 7; (1990) CARE endorsements have defeat the "incumbent" goal, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , October 31, page 21; (1991) CARE challenges shake up village races, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i>, February 6, page 1;  

Golden began his political career with the non-partisan CARE Party (Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate) in Oak Park, Illinois.  He later formed the TURF Party (Taxpayers United of River Forest) in the adjacent community.  He was the president of UTOP (United Taxpayers of Oak Park) from 1991 through 2005.<ref>http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>  As CARE party president he has been responsible for slating more than 70 candidates for local political office, achieving the election of eight on tax-accountability and environmental issues.<ref>see, for example, (1989) CARE joins school board fray, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , July 31, page 1; (1989) CARE tries to seek new identity, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  October 11, page 7; (1990) CARE endorsements have defeat the "incumbent" goal, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , October 31, page 21; (1991) CARE challenges shake up village races, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i>, February 6, page 1;  

(1991) CARE: a party in search of an image, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  August 14, page 8; Thomas, Sherry (1995) “Is Runningbear really ‘Cut the Taxes’?”, ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), August 23, p. 13; Linden, Eric (1995) “New OPRF ‘slate’ reads like a hoax,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', August 9, p. 7</ref> He has sponsored and moderated numerous taxpayer information forums.<ref>see, for example,(2006) “Oak Park tax griped to be discussed”, September 26, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-26/news/0609260292_1_property-tax-property-owners-steep-hike;  (1987) 200 turn out at CARE tax forum, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 7; CARE tax forum adds speakers, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', September 9, 9; http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>

(1991) CARE: a party in search of an image, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  August 14, page 8; Thomas, Sherry (1995) “Is Runningbear really ‘Cut the Taxes’?”, ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), August 23, p. 13; Linden, Eric (1995) “New OPRF ‘slate’ reads like a hoax,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', August 9, p. 7</ref> He has sponsored and moderated numerous taxpayer information forums.<ref>see, for example,(2006) “Oak Park tax gripes to be discussed”, September 26, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-26/news/0609260292_1_property-tax-property-owners-steep-hike;  (1987) 200 turn out at CARE tax forum, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 7; CARE tax forum adds speakers, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', September 9, 9; http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>

 

 

His interest in tax relief has led to a leadership role in large-scale commercial development as principal of Holley Court Partners.<ref>http://www.oak-park.us/public/pdfs/Planning/Harlem_South/2006%20RFP%20Responses/09.26.06_Holley%20Court%20Partners.pdf</ref>

His notoriety as a sponsor of political candidates led to his namesake, "Moe Silver," Chairman of the "LOVE Party," being a lead character in the locally-drawn "Shrubtown" comic strip and theatrical play by the same name by artist and writer Marc Stopeck.<ref>see, for example, Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 24, p. 17; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 14, p. 22; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 21, p. 23; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 28, p. 21; Stopeck, Marc (1992), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 12, p. 24; Stopeck, Marc (1993), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 11, p. 22</ref>

His notoriety as a sponsor of political candidates led to his namesake, "Moe Silver," Chairman of the "LOVE Party," being a lead character in the locally-drawn "Shrubtown" comic strip and theatrical play by the same name by artist and writer Marc Stopeck.<ref>see, for example, Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 24, p. 17; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 14, p. 22; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 21, p. 23; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 28, p. 21; Stopeck, Marc (1992), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 12, p. 24; Stopeck, Marc (1993), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 11, p. 22</ref>

===Statewide and National===

===Statewide and National===

His political candidacies for U.S. Congress<ref>(1996) Kass, John, “Nothing dull about 7th race – U.S. House contest full of controversy,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 8, Section 2, p. 1</ref> and State Representative<ref>(1992) Zorn, Eric, “But Yakov seems so, so . . . judicial,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 10, Section 2, p. 1</ref><ref>(1996) Montgomery, Susan, “GOP slates Golden to run for state rep,” ''Oak Leaves'', July 3, p. 10</ref><ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=16936&WhenStart=2011-08-06+12%3A51%3A32</ref> using the nickname "Cut the Taxes" have led to court actions,<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773242/posts</ref><ref>(2002), Mission:  Fool voters (editorial), ''Chicago Tribune'', January 18, p. 18 </ref><ref> (1996) “Cut taxing districts,” ''Berwyn Life'' October 9, p. 22 </ref><ref> http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1446</ref><ref>http://ddd-hph.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/newshph?a=d&d=HPH19980107.2.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=00-00-0000-99-99-9999--20--1----Sen.+Obama-all</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-18/news/0209180186_1_ballots-fractional-jagielski </ref><ref> http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-30-2002/Golden_wins_Cut-The-Taxes_suit,_sues_again_</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-16/news/0210160202_1_blagojevich-spokesman-doug-scofield-illinois-state-board </ref><ref>Zorn, Eric. (1995) This candidate is a Cut the Taxes above the rest,  ''Chicago Tribune'' (Metrowest), October 3,  p. 1; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-10-03/news/9510030038_1_wallace-gator-bradley-candidates-taxes </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-23/news/0210230072_1_golden-ballot-orr </ref><ref>http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?p=136091</ref><ref>www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1110F700ED5B9A50.html</ref><ref> (1996) Hevrkejs, Judy and Conklin, Mike, “Cutting Les,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 12, p. 2</ref><ref> (1996) “ ‘Cut the Taxes’ cut from GOP ballot,” ''West Suburban Post'', March 8, p. 5</ref> a re-writing of Illinois election law concerning allowable names on the ballot<ref>http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300SB0428ham005&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=&DocNum=0428&GAID=3&Session= </ref><ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (e)</ref> <ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district</ref><ref> Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37 </ref> propagated throughout the state of Illinois in election guides for candidates,<ref>www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2012/2012CanGuide.pdf</ref><ref>www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformationcourth/pdf/2011canguide.pdf </ref>  lengthy discussions in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) handbook on election law<ref> www.iicle.com </ref>  which is on display in courthouses in the state of Illinois, scholarly studies on election law and ballot access, <ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/illinois.pdf</ref>  and rewriting of election law in other states. <ref>law.onecle.com/texas/election/52.031.00.html</ref> In addition, in another part of the revised election law, the Golden Rule, for the first time in Illinois history, allows any election official whatsoever, state as well as local, to extend their previous ministerial powers beyond mere  printing of the ballot to actually removing slogans from ballot names.<ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (f)</ref>  These cases in election law and the revised Illinois election law statutes have been cited repeatedly in jurisdictions throughout the country.

His political candidacies for U.S. Congress<ref>(1996) Kass, John, “Nothing dull about 7th race – U.S. House contest full of controversy,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 8, Section 2, p. 1</ref> and State Representative<ref>(1992) Zorn, Eric, “But Yakov seems so, so . . . judicial,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 10, Section 2, p. 1</ref><ref>(1996) Montgomery, Susan, “GOP slates Golden to run for state rep,” ''Oak Leaves'', July 3, p. 10</ref><ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=16936&WhenStart=2011-08-06+12%3A51%3A32</ref> using the nickname "Cut the Taxes" have led to court actions,<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773242/posts</ref><ref>(2002), Mission:  Fool voters (editorial), ''Chicago Tribune'', January 18, p. 18 </ref><ref> (1996) “Cut taxing districts,” ''Berwyn Life'' October 9, p. 22 </ref><ref> http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1446</ref><ref>http://ddd-hph.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/newshph?a=d&d=HPH19980107.2.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=00-00-0000-99-99-9999--20--1----Sen.+Obama-all</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-18/news/0209180186_1_ballots-fractional-jagielski </ref><ref> http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-30-2002/Golden_wins_Cut-The-Taxes_suit,_sues_again_</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-16/news/0210160202_1_blagojevich-spokesman-doug-scofield-illinois-state-board </ref><ref>Zorn, Eric. (1995) This candidate is a Cut the Taxes above the rest,  ''Chicago Tribune'' (Metrowest), October 3,  p. 1; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-10-03/news/9510030038_1_wallace-gator-bradley-candidates-taxes </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-23/news/0210230072_1_golden-ballot-orr </ref><ref>http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?p=136091</ref><ref>www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1110F700ED5B9A50.html</ref><ref> (1996) Hevrkejs, Judy and Conklin, Mike, “Cutting Les,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 12, p. 2</ref><ref> (1996) “ ‘Cut the Taxes’ cut from GOP ballot,” ''West Suburban Post'', March 8, p. 5</ref><ref>http://forums.gunbroker.com/pop_printer_friendly.asp?TOPIC_ID=34426</ref> a re-writing of Illinois election law concerning allowable names on the ballot<ref>http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300SB0428ham005&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=&DocNum=0428&GAID=3&Session= </ref><ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (e)</ref> <ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district</ref><ref> Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37 </ref> propagated throughout the state of Illinois in election guides for candidates,<ref>www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2012/2012CanGuide.pdf</ref><ref>www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformationcourth/pdf/2011canguide.pdf </ref>  lengthy discussions in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) handbook on election law<ref> www.iicle.com </ref>  which is on display in courthouses in the state of Illinois, scholarly studies on election law and ballot access, <ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/illinois.pdf</ref>  and rewriting of election law in other states. <ref>law.onecle.com/texas/election/52.031.00.html</ref> In addition, in another part of the revised election law, the Golden Rule, for the first time in Illinois history, allows any election official whatsoever, state as well as local, to extend their previous ministerial powers beyond mere  printing of the ballot to actually removing slogans from ballot names.<ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (f)</ref>  These cases in election law and the revised Illinois election law statutes have been cited repeatedly in jurisdictions throughout the country.

In 2008, he was the statewide spokesman and one of three state-wide coordinators for the group seeking to convene an Illinois Constitutional Convention.<ref>(2008) Sweeney, Chuck, Constitutional convention? Here's a pro-con, <i>Rockford Register Star</i>, June 18; http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1713643550/Constitutional-convention-Heres-a-pro-con</ref><ref>(2008) Wilson, Doug, Business group says constitutional convention would be too costly, risky, <i>Quincy Herald-Whig</i>, July 15</ref><ref>www.chicagogop.com/home/blogger/drlesmgolden/</ref>  He wrote the field guide for campaign workers which was used in other states also seeking to convene constitutional conventions.  He has consistently fought legislation removing property tax caps in Illinois.<ref> (1995) Schory, Brenda, “Loud protest trails quiet passage of tax cap bill,” <i>Kane County Chronicle</i>, July 7, p. 1</ref> He was selected to be a charter member of the board of the Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation (ITEF) in 1994.

In 2008, he was the statewide spokesman and one of three state-wide coordinators for the group seeking to convene an Illinois Constitutional Convention.<ref>(2008) Sweeney, Chuck, Constitutional convention? Here's a pro-con, <i>Rockford Register Star</i>, June 18; http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1713643550/Constitutional-convention-Heres-a-pro-con</ref><ref>(2008) Wilson, Doug, Business group says constitutional convention would be too costly, risky, <i>Quincy Herald-Whig</i>, July 15</ref><ref>www.chicagogop.com/home/blogger/drlesmgolden/</ref>  He wrote the field guide for campaign workers which was used in other states also seeking to convene constitutional conventions.  He has consistently fought legislation removing property tax caps in Illinois.<ref> (1995) Schory, Brenda, “Loud protest trails quiet passage of tax cap bill,” <i>Kane County Chronicle</i>, July 7, p. 1</ref> He was selected to be a charter member of the board of the Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation (ITEF) in 1994.