Monthly Archives: July 2008

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Young Greens organize new caucus

July 19, 2008 in 2008 Spring

by David C. Schwab, Green Party of New York

The Green Party of the United States (GP-US) is full of dedicated, bright and hardworking people. Despite this, young Greens in the country have yet to organize themselves into an effective group for advancing the Green values of grassroots democracy, social justice, peace and ecological sustainability. This year, however, young activists in the Green Party are working hard to fill the need for an effective youth organization. To ensure that the organizing process is as democratic as possible, these young organizers are inviting all Party members, especially those between the ages of 16 and 30, to get involved.

Young Greens often have the time and energy to work at the grassroots as well as the fresh perspective that can win new voters to the party. Other Green Parties around the globe have benefited from youth wings, typically known as Young Greens in the English-speaking countries. Young Greens organizations have been vital to the recent success of Green Parties in Canada and the United Kingdom. These dynamic organizations give promising young leaders a chance to take responsibility and help their party grow. In the interests of greening our countryís future, work is under way to inaugurate a Young Greens of America, including a Youth Caucus to the GP-US.

The intention behind Young Greens is not to replace Campus Greens and other existing Green youth organizations, but rather to coordinate, expand and improve them. Early in the planning process, Greens who had been active in Campus Greens identified a number of areas for improvement. Young Greens need forums for communication and networking, such as periodicals and online communities like the new Greenchange.org. There should be greater coordination among chapters and with the state and national organizations, so that Green parties all across the country have a sense of belonging to a greater whole. Both students and graduates should be included, so that newcomers can learn from experienced organizers and vice versa. Most importantly, young Greens should always have the resources they need to get involved with Green campaigns, no matter where they are.

The structure that is currently being envisioned for Young Greens would consist of fifty state chapters, as well as an elected national leadership that would be responsible for coordinating organizational activities. On a local level, there would be Young Greens chapters centered around campuses, as well as regional chapters that would be integrated with existing Green Party locals. The elected state and national officers would comprise the Youth Caucus, which would have functions identical to current Green Party caucuses like the Womenís Caucus, Lavender Caucus, and Black Caucus. These functions include casting votes in the Green National Committee, voting as a delegate to the Presidential Nominating Convention, and having the authority to introduce proposals to the Green National Committee.

The organizers of Young Greens are doing everything they can to make youth Green organization more inclusive and effective without insulating young people from the rest of the party or creating arbitrary divisions. The upper age limit of 30 is based on the precedent of international organizations like Global Young Greens, and that 30-year old Americans are eligible to run for U.S. Congress. To this end, the people organizing Young Greens are eager for input and participation from their fellow Greens in order to ensure that any new organization represents a positive step forward for the Green Party.

If you would like to help make Young Greens and the Youth Caucus a reality, there are several ways to get involved:

Spread the word among your fellow Greens and start organizing state chapters by gathering contact information (name, address where registered to vote, phone, email, and date of birth).

Join the conversation about prospective bylaws for Young Greens. Come to the 2008 Green Party National Convention in Chicago, where Young Greens will be electing officers to finalize the bylaws and get the organization rolling in time for campaign season.

To become a part of this dynamic organizing team, please email Adrian Frost, euphoricpisces21@aol.com.

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‘Free Mumia’ rallies have strong Green presence

July 19, 2008 in 2008 Spring

All four Green Party presidential nomineesóCynthia McKinney, Kat Swift, Kent Mesplay, and Jesse Johnsonóparticipated along with many Greens at a rally in Philadelphia, PA. The rally called for Mumia Abu-Jamal to be exonerated and freed from prison, where he has been on death row for 26 years despite a substantial amount of evidence proving his innocence.

Thousands rallied in Philidelphia this past April and even more attended a similar event in San Francisco this past May. McKinney was a keynote speaker. She talked about the importance of a new politics.

Mumia Abo-Jamal has been on death row for 26 years. Photo by PeoplesVideo.tv

Mumia Abo-Jamal has been on death row for 26 years. Photo by PeoplesVideo.tv

ìWe know that emanating from Washington DC is a plan to destabilize the world,î said McKinney, ìto take and steal the worldís resources and to neutralize our power to stop them here at home. I left the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party left me. For the twelve years that I stood in Washington DC in the United States Congress, I stood for dignity for our workers, freedom for our people, security for our seniors, education for our children, opportunity for our community and peace in the rest of the world. But there was no room inside the Democratic Party, nor the Republican Party, nor the halls of power for people who want truth and peace and justice. And thank goodness, 20 years ago some people had the wisdom to create a new political party where people who share our values can call home, and that is the Green Party. We need substantive political change. It was Frederick Douglas who said that power concedes nothing without a demand and we need to organize ourselves to put that demand forward. We have to search out the truth, search out justice, to†stand for peace, think analytically, think critically,†and vote independently. Thank you very much.î

Cynthia McKinney, Kat Swift and Kent Mesplay, presidential candidates, at a rally in Philadelphia to free Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Cynthia McKinney, Kat Swift and Kent Mesplay, presidential candidates, at a rally in Philadelphia to free Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Green presidential candidates Kat Swift and Jesse Johnson stand under the main banner at a rally in Philadelphia which drew thousands of protesters. Photo courtesy of the Kat Swift campaign

Green presidential candidates Kat Swift and Jesse Johnson stand under the main banner at a rally in Philadelphia which drew thousands of protesters. Photo courtesy of the Kat Swift campaign

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The national ballot access effort needs your help!

July 19, 2008 in 2008 Spring

Steps towards success
By Brian Bittner

To create a sustainable framework for continued success, the Ballot Access Committee (BAC) needs all registered Greens and all who want the opportunity to legally register as Greens to make a commitment to winning ballot access.

Ballot access is an essential component of the success to which the Green Party strives. Without it Green ranks of elected officials will not grow, nor will the Green Party win higher offices in a number of states. Without it Green membership cannot increase nationwide to provide a real challenge to major-party rule. Without it it will be difficult to maintain strong local and state parties that work with organizations to create an influential peace, environmental, and social justice movement. Without it the Green candidate will not make a strong showing in this yearís presidential election.

None of these goals are possible without Greens across the country raising awareness and funds on behalf of ballot access drives.

Each of the state ballot access drives mentioned in the accompanying articleó
Arizona, Hawaii, Virginia, and Pennsylvaniaópoint out techniques for success which the BAC needs U.S. Greens to replicate throughout 2008.

Because of the early timeframe of its petition drive, the BAC was able to focus solely on assisting the Arizona Green Party. As Election Day nears, more and more states are beginning their ballot access drives. The support of state and local Green Party volunteersósome organized by the Ballot Access Committee, some arising independently from the grassrootsówas absolutely vital to Arizonaís success and will be the most important factor in getting more Green Parties on state ballots. Volunteers should alert the BAC by completing an on-line form at www.gp.org/committees/ballot/, but do not need to wait for instructions to organize fundraisers, contact neighboring states, and make plans to collect signatures as soon as possible.

In Hawaii, the Ballot Access Committee was able to once again help a state party by providing financial support for grassroots volunteers and a few paid professionals. Without being able to cover travel expenses, lodging expenses, and provide stipends for food and days off of work volunteered by supporters, it is highly unlikely that the Green Party of Hawaii would have been able to win the second drive of 2008.

Funds budgeted by the Green Party of the United States for the Ballot Access Committee are running low as the number of active ballot access drives is increasing. The national party has established an ambitious fund raising campaign to ensure that grants will be available to more states. In February, hundreds of Greens got involved in fund raising for the Arizona Green Party and the Ballot Access Committee. A similaróbut biggeróeffort is needed now. Make a financial donation at† our web page. More importantly, alert your local and state organization to the need for a major fund raising effort and ask friends and party members to contribute as well.

The Green Party of Virginia has taken time at the start of its ballot access drive to create an organizational structure that has netted benefits quickly. Important tasks it has completed include:

ï Understanding the law and how to meet state requirements.

ï Delegating responsibility to a responsible petition coordinator.

ï Maintaining contact with the BAC by seeking volunteers to join the committee.

ï Fundraising to support volunteers and paid petitioners, if necessary.

ï Holding meetings and outreach events to fund volunteers and distribute petitions.

ï Seeking volunteers from within and from outside the state to collect signatures.

The Virginia party has brought in volunteers from both nearby and faraway states for month-long stints petitioning, living with local hosts, and doing additional volunteer work with Greens in nearby Washington D.C.† Finding and utilizing the efforts of students, retired activists, and other Greens looking for the excitement of travel and building a new party is a powerful tool for states with less volunteer help. BAC is working to identify volunteers who are looking to travel and help neighbor states collect signatures.

After the exclusion of Green U.S. Senate candidate Carl Romanelli from the ballot in 2006, the Green Party in Pennsylvania is showing the importance of determination in winning ballot access even after bitter defeat. By pulling together volunteer resources to collect signatures and professional resources to defend the partyís action in court, all state Green Parties can be prepared to overcome any challenge.† To do this, all Greens must prioritize raising funds and efforts to ensure that all Americans have the legal right to register with the party of their choice.

Help by doing one or all of the following:

ï Donate to the Ballot Access Committee.† Visit www.gp.org/committees/ballot/ or send a contribution to the Green Party of the United States, Ballot Access Committee, P.O. Box 57065, Washington, DC 20037.

ï Donate directly to states that are currently petitioning for ballot access.† Contact them through the information in the back of Green Pages.

ï Volunteer to help BAC. On that committeeís webpage, an on-line form can be completed that indicates choices of activities to help achieve ballot access, including fundraising and phone calling, blogging and e-mailing, volunteering† legal assistance, experienced signature gathering and coordinating.

ï Make plans to take a carload (or more) Greens to a neighboring state for a day/ weekend to help them collect signatures. Most states do allow out-of-state petitioners, and there are still ways to help in states where there are laws against out-of-state petitioners.

ï Volunteer to be on the BAC if your state party has not filled its complement of members to be on the committee.

ï Post an appeal for help to all Green listserves, blogs, and web pages.† Include links to pages where party members can make donations, download petitions, and get contact information to petition drive organizers.

ï Download flyers and volunteer sign-up forms at the Ballot Access Committee web page.† Distribute them at your state and local Green Party meetings.† Let the BAC know about past or presence signature drives.

ï Ask state party delegates to the Green National Committee to prioritize funding and allocation of more resources for ballot access efforts.

ï Join a local ballot access coalition.† Many states have coalitions of minor party members; independent candidates and civil rights activists who work for more sensible state ballot access laws.† Work to start a ballot access coalition if one is not working in your state.

ï Write letters to the editor about oneís state ballot access laws and how they could be changed so they are fair to all parties and candidates.

Updated information about state ballot access drives, fundraising efforts, and the activities of BAC on the website. All the successes to come during the 2008 election season will result from the support of Greens from around the country taking the initiative to fundraise, spread the word, and volunteer in support of our national ballot access effort.

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Live Green, Vote Green!

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

Showing how itís done at the 2008 Nominating Convention and Annual Meeting

By Ruth Weill, Annual National Meeting Committee Coordinator

The convention and annual meeting promise to be a great time being held in the exciting downtown theater district of Chicago, Illinois from July 10-13. In addition to Green Party presidential nominations, there are many inspiring activities and it is also a great opportunity for Greens to come together to share ideas and plans.

A main part of the convention will be the nomination on Saturday of one of these fine presidential candidates:† Jessie Johnson (jessie08.org), Cynthia McKinney (www.runcynthiarun.org), Kent Mesplay (www.mesplay.org) and Kat Swift (www.voteswift.org).

But the weekend has much more to offer with amazing speakers such as Malik Rahim, former Black Panther and Green Party candidate who has been a long-time community activist on various social justice issues. Rahim also co-founded Common Ground Relief (commongroundrelief.org), an organization that provides short-term relief to victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf region. Also speaking at the convention is our own Steering Committee member Cliff Thornton Jr., an activist who has won awards for his efforts on drug policy reform (www.efficacy-online.org).

Another speaker is Kathy Kelly, a familiar name to many Greens. In 1996 Kelly co-founded Voices in the Wilderness, an organization trying to end sanctions on Iraq. Having visited Iraq and much of the Middle East many times, she has transformed the organization into Voices for Creative Non-Violence (www.vcnv.org).

Attendees at the convention will have many opportunities for learning, as the workshop selection will be top notch, with expert activists from across the country discussing an array of issues. Workshop topics will include foreign policy related to the Middle East and Iran, immigrant and LGBTQ rights, and campaigning on a shoestring budget.

Donít forget Green nightlife.† A wonderful international reception is planned for Thursday evening to welcome fellow Greens from across the seven continents.† In 2004 there were over 40 international guests representing at least 15 countries. Friday evening plans include hearing from our candidates, and Saturday evening will be more of a social party. The city of Chicago has a lot to offer as well, from live music, theater, and outdoor gardens to walks along Lake Michigan.

The main location of the convention is the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, a beautiful historic landmark built in 1871 (www.hiltonfamilychicago.com). The hotel is right around the corner from the location of the nominating convention, the Chicago Symphony Center (www.cso.org), which is another historic landmark built in 1904.

The meeting committee along with the Illinois Green Party is excited to host a world-class event, and The Green Party of the United States Presidential Nominating Convention and Annual Meeting promises to be an unforgettable event. We hope to see you in Chicago this July.

Please visit http://www.greenparty2008.org to register and for all information regarding the convention.

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Looking at the Party from the beginning

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

Spotlight on founder Dee Berry

Dee Berry is a founder and still-active member of the Green Party in the United States. She took some time to answer questions for Green Pages on how the Green Party evolved in this country and where she thinks it should go in the future.

Why have you joined the Green Party?

I was attracted to the Greens, like so many others, by its ecological, holistic view of the world and its ten key values. During the 60ís and 70ís, I had participated in the various movements that were springing up across the country and the planet in that exciting and pregnant timeóthe civil rights movement, the feminist movement, the environmental movement and the anti-war movement.

1972, I was very active in the McGovern campaign, organizing the 10th ward in Kansas City.†It was during that campaign I witnessed first hand how corrupt and unredeemable the Democratic Party really was. Soon after McGovernís devastating defeat, I left the Democratic Party for good.†I realized then how desperately our country needs a new third party. So I was very excited when I found the Greens and I threw my heart and soul into organizing a Green presence in this country.

I saw the Greens as a place where all of my interestsópeace, feminism, the environment, and civil rights came together.†By working in the Greens I could be involved in all of them.†But even more important, I believed that our society was in a deep crisis.†The modern, industrial society has reached its limits to growth and is breaking down.†All of the immense, seemingly unsolvable, worldwide problems are related and are symptoms of this dying order. Our very survival depends on our ability to transform the way we see the world and the way we live and play together, and of course, our politics.†For me, the Greens are the ones who truly understand this and are inventing the blue print for a new compassionate, connected, sustainable society.

I joined the Greens in 1984 long before it was a Green Party.†In August of í84, Charlene Spretnak and David Hanke invited people from across our country to come to St. Paul, Minnesota to organize a Green presence in the U.S.†Green parties were emerging in many countries in Europe, especially Germany and Sweden, and green ideas were capturing the imagination of people across the planet, people who realized there was a crisis of modernity and were looking for a new way.†Charlene had just published her book Green Politics: The Global Promise, and found there was a great deal of interest in Green ideas in the U.S. as well. From that first meeting came the name, the Committees of Correspondence (CoC), the ten key values, and the organizational structure.

The U.S. Greens would be organized into bioregional entities that would send delegates to an Interregional Committee (the IC)óand a clearinghouse was established in Minneapolis. The first IC meeting was held in the home of Fritjof Capra and the second was held in Boston, MA. At the third meeting held in Kansas City, it was decided to move the Clearinghouse there and I was named the coordinator, a position I held for over three years. Dur ing that time the Greens grew from a smattering of locals, no one really knew how many, to over 350.

Some were organized into well functioning regions such as California, New England, and the Prairie; while others were loosely organized into bioregions.†This organizational structure lasted for five years and was restructured in 1990.

What do you think are the pressing issues of the country?

I believe our country is on the verge of a collapse beyond anything we have seen before. The pressing issues are all interrelated and the result of the breakdown of industrial society.†Our best hope is that this crisis will awaken the American people to the need for fundamental change including a political realignment. Since both the Republicans and the Democrats are mired in the modern corporate culture, which is at the root of the crisis, they are unable to see beyond the tired solutions already proven to be inadequate. Greens have been talking about peak oil, alternative energy, food circles, single-payer health care, simple living, and community building for almost twenty years.†A desperate citizenry just might begin to listen and take the Greens seriously.†The Greens must be ready for the challenge.

What do you think the Green Party should focus on?

I believe Greens should focus on the grassroots, community level. This is where most of the workable, practical solutions that we have been proposing for years can be more easily put into effect.†Also, I doubt many of the huge institutions of centralized power will come through the crisis unscathed, be they† governmental, profit, or even not-for-profit. There will be a devolution of this concentrated power, not only because it is not working, but also because centralizing power and people is becoming prohibitively expensive with the end of the fossil fuel age.

How has the Green Party changed over time?

The Greens, in the larger sense, have changed a great deal over time. We started out in 1984 as a bio-regionally organized movement, called the Committees of Correspondence (CoC) and later changed our name to Green Committees of Correspondence (GCoC). In West Virginia in 1990 the GCoC was restructured into what was called the Green Party/Green Party USA. However, this was the result of a very contentious, heavy-handed process and many activists simply voted with their feet and walked away, I being one of them.†The GP/GPUSA continued, but lost much of the energy and exciting promise of the original CoC and slowly lost members.

Some of us who left did not want to lose contact with the many good Green friends we had enjoyed over the years so we organized the Green Politics Network.†This organization has been much maligned and little understood. But we never pretended to be more than what we said we were: a safe home where we could enjoy each other, meet together and discuss Green issues and ways to grow into a vibrant political party without being personally attacked.

Most of all we wanted to be the catalyst for a Green Party in the U.S. We succeeded in doing that. Through the work of our members with the Third Force Conferences, the Nader run for President in 1996, and the organizing meeting of the Association of State Green Parties in December of ë96, a new Green Party in the country was launched.

With the birth of the Green Party, the Green Networkís mission was accomplished and we disbanded. But there was another legacy of the Green Network, this was our organizing idea of connected, separate but autonomous working groups. At present there are many exciting and autonomous Green organizations doing fantastic work like the Green Horizon, Liberty Tree, Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, the Green Institute, and Mike Feinsteinís archival project.

These groups are composed of strong leaders in the Green Party,†but with the Green principle of turning over leadership, they have gone to other organizations. As a result, there are a plethora of organizations doing their bit to Green our planet.†I would like to see a way for these organizations to be more connected to the Green party while still remaining separate and autonomous. I think they could be a real asset to the party and could help other Green leaders find leadership roles in the larger Green movement. †As I see the evolution of the Greens in the U.S., they began as a movement, re formed almost exclusively into a party, and now I would like to see an integration of the two.

Could you please give a brief biography?

I am a wife of 58 years, mother of five, and grandmother of eight.†Finding a balance between my commitment to my family and my equally strong desire to be involved in my larger familyóthe earth community, has always been a challenge for me. I am a graduate of the University of Iowa and received an MBA from the University of Missouri. I taught at various area colleges and liked exploring green ideas in my classes long before there was a green movement.

My Green work includes: serving three and a half years as the coordinator of the national clearinghouse of the CoC, organizing along with Ben Kjelshus, the Kansas City Greens, which has been active for almost twenty-five years, helping to organize and coordinate the Prairie Region, participating in forming the Green Politics Network and editing its interactive newsletter ìThe Song of The Frog,î co-organizing the Missouri Green Party and later the Progressive Party of Mis souri. I just stepped down as co-chair of that party and as its delegate to the National Com mittee of the Green Party of the United States. I am presently secretary of the PPMo, alternate delegate to the National Committee and membership chair of the Kansas City Greens.†I serve on the Platform Com mittee and the Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies and Procedures of the US/GP.

One of my main concerns in the Greens has always been to make sure that womenís voices are heard. While I enjoy many things like sewing, reading, playing bridge, cooking for and entertaining my family and friends, my passion is the Green Party/Movement, which I fervently believe, is our best, if not only, hope for the future.

Dee Berry (on left) stands at a weekly peace rally with other Kansas City Greens, John Burris and Elise Kline

Dee Berry (on left) stands at a weekly peace rally with other Kansas City Greens, John Burris and Elise Kline

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U.S. Green history weekend

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

Early Party organizers gather to recall 1980s to early 1990s

By Mike Feinstein, Green Party of California

When and how did the U.S. Greens start? What were the early ìsalad daysî like, in terms of dreams, goals and challenges? What choices were made then that helped lead to where we are today?

These questions and others brought 11 Greens who were active in the 1980s and early 1990s together for a weekend of reminiscing, recalling, and writing U.S. Green history. With no single place where this early history is chronicled, they hoped the product of their weekend would provide an enduring account of the origins of the Greens in the United States.

They proceeded chronologically, year by year, from plans for the founding meeting of U.S. Greens in 1984, through the key meetings and events up to the summer of 1991.

Ben Kjelshus and Charlene Spretnak talked of how the call for a Green founding meeting in the U.S. occurred at the First North American Bioregional Congress in Excelsior Springs, MO, May 1984. Spretnak and Howie Hawkins then recounted the founding meeting itself, when approximately 60 people met at Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota and founded what later became known as the Green Com mit tees of Correspondance (GcoC).

Dee Berry spoke of being the first Coordinator of the GcoC Clearinghouse in Kansas City, MO and its operations after it was first established in 1985, and how after serving for four years, she asked the Interregional Council (IC) to appoint someone new because she believed in rotation of power.

The IC meetings that began in 1985 were also a prime discussion topic. These meetings brought together representatives from large regions of Green locals from across the country. It was at the IC meetings that decisions were made like where to locate the Kansas City Clearinghouse, and to launch the first national Green program processóthe Strategic Policy Approaches in Key Areas (SPAKA), which was spearheaded by John Rensenbrink and ran from 1988 to1990.

by former California Green Coordinating Committee member Tom Bolema, the discussions were videotaped and will be used for video production and as the basis for written text. A website has been established at www.studygreens.org/history/us that will chronicle this product.

On Sunday, independent filmmakers Julie Eisenberg and Babette Hogan from Polidoc Productions who are doing a documentary on the 2008 U.S. Green presidential nomination process and campaign called ìSeriously GREENî did interviews of attendees for the film.

Green History weekend participants plan to continue their work on-line, interactively recounting their history, and are involving other Greens active in the 1980s and early 1990s. They plan to meet next in spring 2009 in Kansas City, with the focus on the early 1990s through the 1996 election and the founding of the Association of State Green Parties.

This article is the first in a series exploring the history of the Green Party in the United States.

Danny Moses (CA), Charles Spretnak (CA).

Green History weekend participants. Front: Howie Hawkins (NY), Dee Berry (MO), Greg Jan (CA), Mike Feinstein (CA). Back: Ben Kjelshus (MO), Budd Dickinson (CA), John Rensenbrink (ME), Barbara Rodgers-Hendricks (FL), Betty Zisk (MA). Not pictured: Danny Moses (CA), Charles Spretnak (CA).

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Growing Campus Greens

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

By Brian Bittner, Maryland Green Party

The next generation of Green Party organizers is on thousands of high school and college campuses around the country.

Hundreds of groups are already organized and holding events, recruiting students, and offering hope for training future leaders of Green Party states and locals and the Green Party of the United States. They have spearheaded efforts for fair wages and labor standards for university employees, advocated for fair trade in university stores and dining halls, fought for improved environmental policies in residences, and resisted military recruitment on campus.

Yet there is no committee, caucus or working group within the structure of the GP-US whose purpose is to organize on their behalf. We have left the coordination of these hundreds of groups to an independent body called Campus Greensóan unaffiliated non-profit 501(c)(4) organization, which has provided some level of support, but is legally prohibited from partisan political organization.

Brian Bittner

Brian Bittner

Many students know they have an affinity with Green Party values and want to make an impact, but have no experience in setting agendas and leading campaigns. National organization can provide advice from experienced Campus Green leaders and contact with existing student groups who can serve as models for successful campaigns.†Campus Greens leaders can only contribute until they graduate.†A network of contacts of experienced individuals who can facilitate this turnover of leadership or revitalize a once-organized group is absolutely necessary.†National coordination can turn several separate projects into a regional or national success story.

Organizational support from the GPUS can help Campus Greens thrive. Campus Greens can also help organize support that our national and state Green Parties need. College campuses are a massive, mostly untapped pool of progressive, creative energy looking for options beyond the corporate alternatives.†Student groups can strengthen our local and state Green Parties by inviting candidates to campus, holding voter registration drives on campus, and sponsoring educational discussions, film screenings, and debates.†A few volunteers can collect several hundred ballot access signatures in an hour in a student union during lunch.

The GPUSís lack of campus organization is based partially on an idea that political groups are not allowed to organize on campus.†This is not true.†While hundreds of Campus Greens are organized across the country, thousands of college Democrat and college Republican groups have been working for decades. Karl Rove himself chaired the College Republicans as a student in the 1970s.†If Greens remove themselves from campus organization, politically minded students have no choice but to join the campus affiliates of corporate parties.

There are a few simple steps students, faculty members, parents, and local Green Party leaders can take to provide opportunities for Campus Greens.

1. Contact your state and local Green Party and the Green Party of the United States. They can provide contacts to existing groups and resources for getting others involved.

2. Contact school administrators about the policies regarding new student clubs.†Most universities have an office that coordinates student groups.†The main office at your local high school can provide guidelines for starting a student club. Many offices have written the requirements up as an easy-to-follow checklist.

3. Find students who are interested in joining a Campus Greens group. Admin istrations may require a number of students to sign a petition to form a group. Talk to friends or use social networking websites to organize a group of students.†Many members of a schoolís College Democrat club might be willing to join. Look for members at environmental clubs, service groups, Amnesty International chapters, philosophy clubs, and GBLT groups.†Most students who live on campus have their mail delivered to the same post office on campusóuse state and local contact lists to find groups of people who are registered to vote from this address.

4. Advertise. Hang fliers around campus.†Many schools allow groups to use university facilities to hold interest meetings.†If not, advertise interest meetings at a local coffee shop or bookstore.

5. Most groups will need a faculty advisor to sponsor a Campus Greens group. Call local Greens you know who teach at universities or high schools and ask them to sponsor a group. If you donít know anyone at your school, ask department heads or administrators to suggest someone who might be interested.

6. Ask your representatives to the Green National Committee to support efforts to organize Campus Greens under the framework of GPUS. If the Green Party works together to support the next generation of Green leaders and activists, no student will fall victim to Ralph Naderís warning to the youth of America: ìI hear you saying often that youíre not turned on to politics. The lessons of history are clear and portentous. If you do not turn on to politics, politics will turn on you.î

Brian Bittner was a faculty advisor to Towson University (Maryland) Campus Greens. He is Maryland Green Party membership coordinator and GPUS office assistant. brian@gp.org.

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Want to run for office?

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

Thinking of running for office but not sure how to start? Your Green Party support is right here!

For information on how to run a campaign visit: www.GP.org or contact the Green Party of the United States at 866-41GREEN.

Also campaign resources can be downloaded for free at: www.gp.org/committees/campaign/resources.shtml

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Wisconsin continues winning tradition

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

By Ron Hardy, Wisconsin Green Party

Wisconsin Greens were on the ballot in elections for County Board of Supervisors across the state April 1óten incumbents and four challengers. Ten of the 14 were elected. Wisconsin now has 17 Greens holding elected office.

Among the ten Wisconsin Green victories were two first-time candidates: Wyndham Manning, who won a landslide victory with 66 percent of the vote to take the Dane County Board of Supervisors seat vacated by retiring Green Party member Ashok Kumar, and Kathy Kienholz, who ran unopposed for a seat on the Polk County (Northwestern Wis consin) Board of Supervisors.

Manningís victory came in District 5, Madisonís ìStudent Districtî and a hotbed of political activity with an engaged electorate. Greens have traditionally done well thereóEchaton Vedder first won the seat in 1998. A University of Wisconsin senior majoring in Environmental Studies and Communication Arts, Manning opposed College Democrat Conor OíHagan, a freshmen Engineering student involved with student government. Manning campaigned on an overall environmental program, including specific focus on solutions to keep the many lakes surrounding Madison clean.

ìThe process of making our lakes and watersheds safer has begun by banning phosphorus and coal tar sealant. I will take the lead in the next step by exploring a system of anaerobic manure digesters that co-generate exhausted methane for heat and electricity, as well as evaluating the impact of other negligent runoffs such as pesticides,î said Manning.

Manning also championed the under-represented in Madison, including support for Domestic Partner benefits, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, and working with local area groups to expand the availability of homeless shelters.

Kathy Klienholz, Polk County Board of Supervisors

Kathy Klienholz, Polk County Board of Supervisors

Far north of Madison, Kienholz won her first seat and thereby kept at least one Green on the Polk County Board. An active member of the St. Croix Valley Green Party since 2003, Kienholz was first introduced to the Greens by one of her sons.

Kienholz believes she was unopposed because of the credibility that her environ mental platform gave her, combined with her financial background as a CPA and as Treasurer of the local Lake Association and the local Friends of the Library group. ìMy goals are local,î said Kienholz, ìOur county board has struggled in the past six to eight years, as anti-tax folks were elected to seats. Their agenda could be summed up in one wordóNo. No spending, no programs, no building, no nothing.î

Kienholz intends to continue the work that fellow Green and outgoing Polk County Supervisor Jeff Peterson began by making sustainability a focus for Polk County. ìI want to continue his efforts to keep that goal in the forefront. As a CPA I asked for and was elected to a seat on the Finance Committee, where I hope to be an influence for Green goals. My other committee assignment was to the Land and Water Committee, which is right up my street.î

Incumbents Re-elected at 80 Percent Rate

Eight incumbent Green County Board of Supervisors won re-election on April 1, including six unopposedóRobert Browne and David Conley (Douglas County), Greg David (Jefferson County), John Hardin (Barron County) and two from Dane CountyóKyle Richmond and Barbara Vedder, the mother of Echnaton Vedder.

Conley has been serving on the Doug las County Board of Supervisors in North west Wisconsin since 1986 and is the longest serving Green in office nationwide at 22 years and counting. His tenure in office predates the Wisconsin Green Party, which will be celebrating 20 years as a Party this October. Conleyís colleague on the Douglas County Board, Robert Browne, has been on the board since 1992, 16 years and counting.

David in Jefferson County (East Central Wisconsin) has been actively promoting the Natural Step for Communities, a movement that has been sweeping across Wisconsin. He spoke at the Wisconsin Green Partyís Summer Gathering in August 2007 at which the Party officially endorsed the Natural Step and the Eco-Municipality movement throughout Wisconsin.

Wyndham Manning, Dane County Board of Supervisors

Wyndham Manning, Dane County Board of Supervisors

In Dane County, Greens have had between two and four members on the 39-member County Board of Supervisor since 1998. Joining first-time candidate Manning this time were Richmond and Vedder, along with John Hendrick, who successfully fought off his challenger with 83 percent of the vote.

A member of the County Board for 14 years and a near east neighborhood community activist for even longer, Hendrick is considered an expert on local land use, planning and zoning issues and is someone other Board members turn to for advice. In recent years he has also championed drinking water quality and bringing living wage standards from Madison to a broader section of Dane County. His opponent Mark Schmitt, a print and mail coordinator for Bethel Lutheran Church, took a more conservative position than Hendrick on transportation, regulations, prisons and police, that clearly did not resonate well with the voters.

Richmond has served on the County Board since 2002, and Vedder since 2006, following six years (1995-2001) on the Madison Common Council. In 2007 the two of them, together with Richmond and Kumar, led a successful effort for the Board to pass a resolution calling for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, becoming the second county in the nation at the time to pass such a resolution. Richmond also had a role in the July 10, 2003 Dane County Board boycott of Tyson Foods in support of striking workers in neighboring Jefferson County. Vedder, in her past role on the Madison Common Council, was instrumental in passing Madisonís Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, a policy tool that relies on zoning laws to encourage or require developers to provide affordable units in their new housing developments.

Also re-elected in a competitive race was incumbent John Rendall, a member of the Portage County Board of Supervisors for 12 years, and before that a member of the Almond School Board for five years. Rendall supports substance abuse treatment and alternative sentencing as opposed to expanding prison populations. His opponentís issues were primarily ësaving the taxpayersí moneyí and opposing a proposed new Justice Center in the county. Rendall won re-election with 62 percent of the vote.

Two other incumbent County Board Supervisors were not so fortunate. Both Bob Ryan (Door County) and Jeff Peter son (Polk County) were defeated this year. Ironically, Peterson, elected just two years ago, had also been recently appointed vice chair of the Polk County Board and was being asked to consider chairing the new, post-election County Board before he was challenged three days before the election with a well organized, ìunder the radarî write-in campaign that caught him totally by surprise.

Petersonís last minute challenger officially filed as a ìwrite-inî candidate the Friday before the Tuesday election by a man who moved to the area in 2006. He and his supporters were ready to roll first thing Saturday morning with an efficiently coordinated literature drop throughout the district. In the literature, his opponent claimed that the county government was fleecing the tax payers, and that he would cap all taxes and slash county spending. He attacked Peterson for voting for the county budget (which raised property taxes by 13 percent) and for supporting the construction of a new environmentally conscious Highway Shop to replace the 75-year-old facility Polk County currently uses. Peterson, who didnít have time to adequately respond to his challengerís charges, lost 192 to 159, with 45 percent of the vote.

Ryan, who was first elected to the Door County Board of Supervisors in 2002, has been actively involved with Sustain Door, a group of citizens and public officials looking for ways to help make Door County a more sustainable community. He is also involved with the Door County Histor ical Society and is the co-facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Program, a domestic violence prevention group. ìOur countyís future, and the tax burden that its residents are asked to carry, are the two main reasons Iím running,î said Ryan during the campaign. ìTwo key issues are taxes and maintaining our rural environment.î

His opponent, a self-employed farmer who was elected to the Clay Banks Town Board in 2007, accused Ryan of being ìpressured by special interest groups.î He challenged Ryan in 2006 and lost by a mere handful of votes. This time he defeated Ryan by 56 votes, holding Ryan to 41 percent of the vote.

Two other first-time Green candidates had impressive results, despite not winning their races: Michael Slattery for the Manitowoc County Board, and Bobby Gifford for the Portage County Board. Both ran strong, issue-based campaigns against well funded opponents.

Slattery, who farms 370 acres in the predominantly rural Manitowoc County south of Green Bay, ran against the nephew of the incumbent, who outspent him ten to one. Although the district is rural, only 14 farms remain (including Slatteryís), while 25 percent of the population lives in $300,000-$400,000 homes and commute to jobs in Green Bay.

Against an opponent who didnít appear at candidate forums and whose primary message was that he would lower taxes, Slattery focused on the nationís ëbig pictureí, promoting non-violence, and opposition to the Iraq war. ìI listed issues that we need to deal with: rising energy and commodity prices†accompanying a pending recession,î said Slattery. De spite this, Michael Slattery took 37 percent of the vote.

Gifford, who moved to Stevens Point from Milwaukee several years ago, ran against a long-tenured and well known incumbent. He ran with little money and little organized assistance, but ran on the issues important to him and important to Wisconsin. He ran on issues of the Natural Step, promoting the Eco-Municipality movement in Stevens Point, community supported agriculture and preparing for a post-Peak Oil society. ìMy opponent actually adopted my own expression ëmake the eco-municipality effort county-wideí on his campaign literature, although the caveat was ëif it didnít impact the tax base.íî said Gifford. ìI donít feel beaten, I feel like the Board is now on notice from the citizens: †get with the program or step down.î Gifford lost with 28 percent of the vote.

The Wisconsin Green Party is continuing a history of running and winning in local races that goes back 22 years. Already the party is making plans for 2009 local common council races where seven incumbents will be up for re-election in Madison, Oshkosh, and Stevens Point.

ìWe have our greatest impact at the local level where we can apply Green values to local issues.î said Cindy Stimmler, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party. ìSeveral dozen communities in Wisconsin are actively working toward becoming ëeco-municipalitiesí through the Natural Step process and elected Wisconsin Greens are taking the lead in their local communities.î

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Ranked choice voting approved by Santa Fe voters

July 11, 2008 in 2008 Spring

By Rick Lass, Green Party of New Mexico

The Green Party of Santa Fe scored a major win on March 4 with the adoption of seven charter amendments, including both public financing of elections and ranked choice voting. This victory adds to the local Green Partyís string of policy reforms going back a dozen years, including creation of a local transit system, repeal of the gross receipts taxes on food and medical services and adoption of the nationís highest minimum wage.

Ranked Choice Voting, also known as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), is a proven reform that ensures majority winners and increases voter choice and participation. It has been an integral part of the Green Party election reform agenda for a long time, and in New Mexico there is a rich history of advocacy in its pursuit.

The original Santa Fe city charter, adopted in 1997, failed to include ranked choice on a 5-4 committee vote. Mean while Greens and others were working at the New Mexico state legislature, to get a constitutional amendment to require ranked choice for state elections. While the measure was introduced for six consecutive years, it passed the Senate only once, and failed to get through the House.

The efforts in the legislature focused on the ëspoilerí issue. Democrat State Senator Phil Maloof, who sponsored the measure the one year it passed the Senate in 1999, had just lost a three-way special election for Congress the preceding year. Many Democrats blamed Green Party candidate Bob Anderson, who received 14.9 percent, and saw the solution as ìcrush the Greens.î But some of the more enlightened ones realized it was the winner-take-all system that had to go.

In Santa Fe, municipal elections are non-partisan and require only plurality winners. Fifteen of the last 35 elected officials won with a minority of the vote, with one receiving a mere 32 percent. Greens are focusing on the undemocratic nature of plurality winners and are pointing out that, like other municipalities that have adopted ranked choice in recent years, there would no longer be expensive, low-turnout runoffs.

In 2006 a specially appointed Charter Review Commission (CRC) reviewed over thirty suggested improvements. After more than a year of meetings, the CRC settled on seven recommended amendments to the charter. Numbers one, two and three relax onerous provisions of existing laws for citizen initiative, referendum and recall. Amendment four requires the city council to come up with a ìmeaningfulî public funding system within two years. Amendment five adopts Ranked Choice Voting for municipal elections. Amendment six gives the mayor more voting power, and amendment seven requires the local judge be a member of the Bar. All in all, these amendments could be grouped as good government and direct democracy improvements.

This victory adds to the local Green Party's string of policy reforms going back a dozen years.

This victory adds to the local Green Party's string of policy reforms going back a dozen years.

After the CRC report was submitted to the city council in December of 2006, the council dragged its feet for almost a year, sending it first to the Ethics and Finance Committees before voting last September to send the package to the voters, to be included on the March 2008 regular election ballot.

At its October meeting, the Green Party of Santa Fe endorsed the full package. County Chair Emily Franklin announced that this was a critical issue for the local party, and pledged to make the ranked choice campaign her highest priority. Other Greens quickly followed suit, and the Green endorsement was prominent throughout the campaign. Many individual Greens also did a great deal of the campaign grunt work, including setup and upkeep of the website and list management.

Voting Matters was the lead organization on the Ranked Choice campaign, while Common Cause took the lead on the Public Funding amendment. Voting Matters is a 501(c)4 organization founded in August 2006 to work on electoral reforms in Santa Fe and New Mexico. Short term it focuses on measures to increase voter participation, and in the long term with the goal of implementing Ranked Choice Voting for single seat elections and proportional representation for legislature and city councils. Voting Matters was founded by three Green party members, John Otter, Sheila Sullivan, and Rick Lass [www.votingmatters.net].

The campaign relied mostly on word of mouth, direct voter contact and piggybacking on existing events with little door-to-door campaigning in the cold February weather. The campaign was supported by endorsersí organizational communications, some phoning and two direct mailings to about 20,000 targeted voters- those who had voted in one of the last three elections and those who registered since the previous elections.

Endorsements came from Peace and Justice groups, election reform organizations such as Verified Voting and Com mon Cause, and groups as diverse as the local independent business Alliance and the Living Wage Network. The campaign mentioned, but did not highlight, national endorsers like FairVote and John McCain, Howard Dean, and Barack Obama.

There was no organized opposition to the amendment, but there were a couple of negative letters to the editor. The media did a good job of explaining the amendments, and there were two poorly attended public forums.

The first† ìYesî campaign mailer went out three weeks before the election, timed to appear after the media spotlight was off the Democratic Party Presidential Caucus and the stateís legislative session. The mailing also went out first class bulk, so it could get returns of bad addresses in order to clean the database for a more targeted Get Out The Vote postcard, which arrived in votersí mailboxes the Saturday before the election. A volunteer sent cards to everyone who requested an absentee ballot.

No funds were used for print ads, because the cost effectiveness would not be very high in such a low turnout election. With some money left near the end, the campaign scheduled 36 thirty-second radio ads on the local bilingual station KSWV (!Que Suave!). There was some fear that the amendment might break along racial lines, but the results disprove that. The variation between precincts was less than three percent across the city.

The final results: Charter Amend ment 5 passed with 65 percent of the vote. Unfortunately, the city council inserted a clause that allows it to delay implementation until technology and software are available at a reasonable price. So there is still work to ensure implementation of both Ranked Choice and Public Finan cing. It may be that winning the election was the easy part, for now it is in the hands of elections administrators to implement the will of the people.

Privately-owned voting machine manufacturers and/or election administrators may be less than enthusiastic about enabling this reform.† IRV has been on the ballot 14 times since the San Franciscoís breakthrough victory for it in 2001 and it has passed 13 times. But in almost every case, this implementation issue has come up.† How it is resolved is one of the key next steps in electoral reform.

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