1 Vol. 5, Issue 1 • Winter/Spring 2001 GreenPages is a publication of the Association of State Green Parties

Green Party enjoys record growth & success in 2000, from local elections to the presidency

2000 WAS A YEAR of spectacular part of the nation’s political lexicon. And Much more than in 1996, Greens electoral reform. Everything from voting growth for the Green Party in the United among the nation’s young, Greens are also worked together nationally on a machines to voting systems is now on States. increasingly a preferred choice. common electoral project, building the table for consideration, including Greens ran more candidates, re- In addition to electoral growth, increased cohesiveness and professional- Green goals of Instant Run-off Voting (IRV) ceived more votes, elected more people, the Green Party grew organizationally ism in their grassroots structure. This and proportional representation. registered more Green voters, and in 2000, enjoying an enormous leap in proved to be an invaluable, maturing ex- In sum, the Greens’ mixed achieved ballot status in more states skills, experience and contacts. This perience for the growing movement. strategy - of an emphasis on municipal than ever before. came from within, as internal leadership On the presidential level, the races, combined with selected state and The Green Party’s growth was has developed. It also came from Ralph Nader/Winona LaDuke campaign federal races, along with pursuing also about more than just numbers. without, as new talent - attracted by the helped make history – not only by proportional representation and IRV – is Public consciousness about the Greens party’s values, growth and potential – accelerating the growth of the Green succeeding. The party continues to grow increased many fold - from the board- has joined the party, deciding for them- Party - but also by helping create one of on all levels. With the nation a genera- rooms of the New York Times and Wash- selves that it was finally time to do the most narrow and controversial tional/demographic shift away from ington Post, to the classrooms of high independent third party politics. Many presidential elections in U.S. history. The a very different electorate – one without schools and universities across the Greens even earned a living as activists closeness of that election - and the contro- deep historical ties to the traditional nation. In just a few short years, the in 2000, and some will not be going versy it generated - has unexpectedly major parties – the Greens’ prospects only Green Party has become a meaningful back to conventional careers as a result. opened a door for potentially historic continue to look better with time. Electoral Success • Greens are winning in larger cities. tiple terms in office, in keeping with their office and 120 for municipal and county. Matt Gonzalez was elected to the San philosophy of not being ‘career politicians’. On the local level, where the costs Francisco Board of Supervisors in a This means there is a continual influx of are lower, the scale imore manageable • The number of Green candidates in- breakthrough race for the Green Party, new Greens being elected with each cycle. and face-to-face ‘retail politics’ more vi- creased to 274 in 2000, more than double winning in a Democratic Party strong- Greens are winning in a variety of able, Greens won 26% of all city and town the previous high of 131 in1998. The hold in one of the nation’s major cities. communities, demonstrating a potentially council races and 29% of all municipal number of states in which Greens ran also At 750,000 people, the city/county of broad appeal. Greens are winning in lib- and county races they contested overall. increased, from 20 in 1998 to 32 (plus the San Francisco becomes the largest U.S. eral coastal California and the Pacific On the state and federal level, District of Columbia and American Sa- city or county jurisdiction with an Northwest, in conservative Wyoming and while still running to win, Greens have moa) in 2000. elected Green, surpassing Madison, WI Florida, in small villages in Alaska, the used these races to highlight the differ- Nine states – AK, AZ, CA, MI, (210,000) and Dane County, WI Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas; ence on issues and approach between the MO, NJ, NM, NY and WI - ran ten or more (430,000) as the largest of each. in the Hawaiian Islands, along Lake Supe- Greens and the status quo parties. This candidates. They were topped by CA, Before 1999, the largest cities to rior, in poor urban neighborhoods and of affects the level of debate and attracts new which ran a record high 58. The previous elect Greens were Berkeley 110,000 and course, in college towns across the nation. people into the Green Party, after they high was 49 by NY in 1999 and 46 by CA Santa Monica 93,000. Today there are realize that there is a positive alternative in 1992. Six states – DE, KY, LA, TN, TX, five cities with 130,000 or more (San • Elected officials from other parties are to the Democrats and Republicans. WY - ran candidates for the first time, as Francisco, Madison, Modesto, CA , Hart- joining the Greens. Just as more Greens did the Greens in the U.S. territory of ford, CT and Salem, OR ) continue to be elected, the number of • In many state legislative races, American Samoa. Originally the Green Party was people in office from other parties switch- Greens provide the only opposition to Not only is the growth in the cast as a rural party that could not win ing to Green also continues to grow. In the incumbents. As for providing a real number of Greens candidates coming in urban areas, on urban issues. Experi- 2000, three sitting city councilmembers alternative, criticizing the ‘winner-take- from within the party, but as conscious- ence in recent elections is beginning switched to the Green Party - Larry Barnett, all’ electoral system, Greens have long ness of the Green Party grows, green- to demonstrate otherwise. Mayor, Sonoma, CA, Brian Laverty, Bor- maintained that gerrymandered single- thinking people who had been consider- member districts lead to mostly ough Council, Blossburg, PA and Katie ing running for office, are now realizing • Voters believe Greens can govern. uncompetitive races, in which there is Scheib, Borough Council, Lewisburg, PA. they should be doing so as a Green. Green incumbents for city council and little incentive sometimes, even for the county supervisor continue to be Two more switched in the midst opposition major party to run. • The number of victories also went to re-elected at a high rate. Since 1992, 38 of their campaigns, before they elected - The November 2000 bore this out, a record high. Greens won a record high out of the 43 Green incumbents have won Anna Braun, City Council, Salem, OR and as either the Democrats or the Republi- 35 races in 2000, eclipsing by far the previ- re-election. Green officeholders and Matt Gonzalez, Board of Supervisors, San cans failed to run a candidate in 40.6% of ous high of 21 in 1998. Included among organizing are also having a coattail Francisco, CA. Still one more switched all state legislative contests nationwide. the 35 victories was a record 16 city effect. There are now been eight U.S. to Green after being elected, but before This was not atypical In 1998, there was no council seats and 9 county supervisors. cities in which Greens have at least two being sworn in - Marc Sanchez, Board of Democrat or no Republican in 41.1% of What Green officeholders have city councilmembers, as well as two Education, San Francisco. the state legislative races; in 1996, 32.7%; in common is a commitment to sustain- counties that have at least two Greens in 1994, 35.8%; in 1992, 32.8%. able development (including affordable on their board of supervisors. • Greens ran for a range of offices, The Green Party stepped into this housing and public transportation), social Six Greens also became mayors impacting the political dialogue on all void, running 22 candidates in such state justice in their communities and in California in 2000, where the law in levels. Among the 274 candidates in legislative races, in IA, ME, MO, NM, increasing peoples’ voice in the decisions many cities has the city council 2000, four were for president, 13 for NY, OR, PA and RI, providing an oppor- that affect them. choosing the mayor from within the U.S. Senate, 48 for the House of Represen- tunity to more clearly differentiate the California won the most races council - Kerry Arnett (Nevada City), tatives, 78 for State Legislature, and 62 for Greens from other parties and to develop overall – 14, tying their record set in 1998. Larry Barnett (Sonoma), Mike Feinstein city and town councils. Overall there the Greens as the main opposition force Wisconsin, which had the second most (Santa Monica), Tim Fitzmaurice (Santa were 154 candidates for state and federal in those areas. (continued back page) victories, impressively won all seven races Cruz), Suza Francina (Ojai) and Larry it five races, and New Mexico and Oregon Robinson (Sebastopol). These choices won twice each. Greens also won for the demonstrate the respect that Green of- first time in four states - FL, MI, WA and ficeholders are generating from their col- WY – that are very different from each leagues. At 93,000 Santa Monica is now PO Box 5631 other, geographically and demographi- the largest U.S. city with a Green mayor. Santa Monica, CA 90409 cally, suggesting the base for Green poli- tics in the U.S. is potentially very broad. • The number of Greens holding elected office continues to increase. • Greens win second-ever City Since 1996, the numbers of Greens in of- Council majority In Sebastopol, CA vot- fice has nearly doubled. In 1996, after ers elected Greens Craig Litwin and Sam the November general election, there were Spooner to the city council. Joining in- 43 Greens holding elected office in 12 cumbent Larry Robinson, they now make states. In 1998 there were 63 in 15 states. up the second-ever-Green Party city coun- There are now 79 in 19 states. This cil majority in the US, giving the Greens a growth is occurring despite the fact many chance to show how they can govern. Green officeholders elect not to seek mul- Green victories in fall 2000 - an analysis Greens win second-ever city council majority in U.S., in Sebastopol, CA

Craig Litwin and Sam and services to residents without having to To accomplish affordable hous- In the Green trio’s first meeting, send our investment capital to Santa Rosa. ing goals and at the same time maintain they voted to appoint Robinson – who Spooner This will empower citizens and give more Sebastopol’s Urban Growth Boundary was the top voter getter two years ago - as City Council people the option of working at home, which (UGB) (that was passed with 72% by vot- mayor for the next two years. In his first will help to alleviate traffic problems.” ers in 1996), Spooner advocated develop- address as mayor, Robinson vowed to On November 7th voters in the As a companion strategy, Litwin ments with higher density through make Sebastopol a model of sustainabili- northern California town of Sebastopol proposed an educational campaign to ‘thoughtful infill’ and mixed-use projects. ty. Calling this a pivotal time in the com- elected Green Party members Craig Litwin teach residents the value of buying lo- “We must preserve our greenbelt for fu- munity, he said, “It is time to move be- and Sam Spooner to the city council. Join- yond the two-dimensional spectrum of ing incumbent Green Larry Robinson, left or right, of jobs or the environment. It they now make up the second-ever-Green is at the local level, in communities like Party city council majority in the US, an- Sebastopol, that we will make our choice.” other milestone for Green organizing in Just as in Arcata, California – the this country. first city to have a Green majority – some With three candidates running in Sebastopol have questioned whether for two seats, Litwin and Spooner both the Greens’ “global perspective” might defeated an incumbent Democrat as well take them away from addressing basic as a write-in candidate to win their seats city needs. Robinson responds by saying in this progressive town, 50 miles north of that “our primary focus will continue to San Francisco. The other incumbent – be on ‘pothole issues’, like any other city clearly the most conservative member of council. The major difference is that we the prior council – chose not to run at all, hope to look at all our decisions through sensing the Green shift in voters’ prefer- the lens of sustainability. We must al- ences. ways ask ‘how will this decision impact “I’ve knocked on virtually every the lives of our grandchildren and their door in town,” said Litwin. “I’ve heard grandchildren?’ What sets the Greens the concerns of Sebastopol, and am com- apart is our willingness to consider the mitted to making the council more inclu- Sitting Green city councilmember Larry Robinson, right, speaks at press larger picture, both temporally and eco- sive, more accessible to the public.” conference announcing new Green majority, flanked by newly-elected logically, and to remember that the fore- Greens Sam Spooner (center) and Craig Litwin (left). In December, A teacher and organic gardener, most responsibility of government is to Robinson became Sebastopol’s new Mayor, one of five current Green mayors Litwin, 24, has a Bachelors of Arts degree ensure the health and well-being of the in ‘ecology and sustainability’ (New Col- land and of all its inhabitants.” lege of CA, North Bay campus) with a cally, in order to produce more sales tax ture sustainability, and to accommodate a Now that the new Council is focus on the local food movement. He co- revenue for their fiscally challenged com- modest population growth, we must ac- seated, Robinson wants to start with the founded Planting Earth Activation (PEA), munity. Sebastopol suffers from an an- cept density close to our existing infra- traffic congestion along State Roads 12 a volunteer organization of young activ- nual budget shortfall equivalent to 10% of structure.” and 116, which intersect at the ists who have planted nearly 100 free, its general fund, resulting in many basic, It was Robinson in 1996 who Sebastopol town center and lead to U.S. organic gardens in the community. The critical community needs going unmet. chaired the UGB effort, which included 101, the main north-south highway from connections made and grassroots orga- Spooner, 43, runs his own engi- drafting the UGB ordinance with the help San Francisco. He supports replacing nizing experience he gained in that effort neering business and designs television of a legal firm, circulating a petition to traffic lights at both ends of a busy helped Litwin greatly in his campaign, studios. A newcomer to politics, he felt qualify it for the ballot, then going door- stretch of State Road 116 with traffic particularly in involving young voters. that Sebastopol was at a crossroads, and to-door campaigning in favor of it. The circles and narrowing the highway to “Tying generation gaps is an ongoing that a new vision was needed in city hall. UGB established that the then current two lanes from three and widen the project of mine.” “This city of 9,000 is faced with escalating sphere of influence (which has recently sidewalks, in order to slow drivers and Like fellow Greens Spooner and housing costs and development pressures been shrunken further ) would be the encourage people to walk or ride bi- Robinson, Litwin seeks to change which threaten the small-town identity limits of any annexation – or extension of cycles. Spooner agrees with this ap- Sebastopol’s role from a bedroom com- and economic diversity most residents city services - for a 20-year period, unless proach: “We are not going to move more munity that is linked to nearby Santa cherish. The voters have made a clear amended by a popular vote. There were cars through town, but we can make the Rosa, to a more self-sustaining, self-reli- choice for a future based on ecological some limited exceptions made for afford- trip more pleasant and make the roads ant one. “Our city should encourage values and a livable community for every- able housing, parks and municipal facili- friendly to pedestrians and bicycles.” more cottage industry and mom and pop one. A walkable downtown and afford- ties. The Sonoma County Greens local owned businesses, to supply diverse goods able housing are priorities here.” group donated $500 each to Litwin and Spooner, phonebanked every Sebastopol Green on their behalf and knocked on a The first Green city council majority in the U.S. also took place in large number of doors citywide to hand out their flyers. Northern California, in the town of Arcata (population 17,000) In addition to Litwin and Spooner’s election, Sonoma County was a hotbed of between 1996 and 1998. Jennifer Hanan, Jason Kirkpatrick and Green organizing in 2000. The county had the most municipal Green candidates in the Bob Ornelas made up the majority there. nation running in one county – seven. Nader/LaDuke got 7.3% in Sonoma County, the fifth highest county percentage Eight U.S. Cities have had at least two Greens on the City Council in California. Sonoma County Green voter registrations also rose 40% from February at the same time - Arcata, CA 1996-2000; Fayetteville, AR 1996-1998, to October 2000, to 6,500. Across the entire state, California Madison, WI 2000-2001, Point Arena, CA 1995-96, 1997-2002; Greens hold 33 elected offices as of March, 2001 and have won over 70 elected offices Salem, OR 2000-2002, Santa Monica, CA 1998-2002, Sebastopol, CA since 1990. State Green registration has also risen to an all time high of 141,637 as of 2000-2002; and Santa Fe, NM 2000-2002. February, 2001. Green victories in fall 2000 - an analysis

Greens win historic Board of Supervisor seat in San Francisco - largest U.S. city ever to elect a Green

candidates who support the death pen- managed a successful DA campaign him- Nonetheless, he has a certain star quality Matt Gonzalez alty or oppose gay marriage. I’m not self, and had worked on a variety of combined with a supple intelligence and Board of Supervisors going to vote for candidates who oppose progressives issues and ballot initiatives concern for the underdog. He’ll judge campaign-finance reform or value the in the Bay Area over the preceding 15 San Francisco, California things on their merits - and not as a reflec- corporation over the individual. Nor years. But Mirkarimi, a resident of the tion of someone else’s political agenda.” will I give the local machine party any same district as Gonzalez, had decided Gonzalez’s campaign energized IN A BREAKTHROUGH legitimacy by remaining a part of it.” earlier in the year to take a position with San Francisco Greens who were also VICTORY for the Green Party, Matt Gonzalez became the first Green elected in the city of San Francisco, winning a I'm not going to vote for candidates seat on the powerful San Francisco Board of Supervisors. San Francisco became who support the death penalty or the largest U.S. city yet to elect a Green and Gonzalez became the first Latino oppose gay marriage. I’m not going to Green elected in a major U.S. city. vote for candidates who oppose Gonzalez swept to victory in a December run-off election by a 66.1% to campaign-finance reform or value the 33.9% margin, despite being overwhelmingly outspent by his oppo- corporation over the individual. Nor nent, who was backed by San Francisco Democratic Mayor Willie Brown’s will I give the local machine party any legendary political machine, and who legitimacy by remaining a part of it”. benefited from over $200,000 in soft money expenditures from San Francisco’s development community. Some urged Gonzalez to wait to the Nader campaign, rather than run active in the Nader for President and With the election of Gonzalez, change parties until after the election. In against Gonzalez and possibly split the Medea Benjamin for Senate campaigns, San Francisco overwhelmingly becomes his editorial, Gonzalez responded. “Why progressive vote, so that neither of them and drew Greens from around the state the largest U.S. city to elect a Green should I wait? Shouldn’t the voters in made the run-off. Then Gonzalez re- to San Francisco to work for Gonzalez (750,000), followed by Madison, WI District Five have the opportunity to registered Green anyway. The result was as well. Gonzalez and his volunteers (210,000), Hartford, CT (130,000), Salem, vote against me because I’m Green? And that the Greens got a seasoned campaign walked the entire district, visiting almost OR (130,000) and Berkeley, CA (110,000).. what kind of impression would I be manager for Nader and a newly elected every residence at least once, and ran Gonzalez’s victory came in San making on folks whom I’m asking to official at the same time. an effective ‘get out the vote’ operation Francisco’s liberal 5th District, which trust me if The Bay Guardian endorsed Gon- on election day. stretches I can’t zalez, saying: “his positions on the Gonzalez’ victory was more than from the even be district’s most pressing issues - just a progressive victory. It suggests Western honest gentrification, homelessness, tenants’ something very profound about progres- Addition about my rights - are solidly progressive and par- sive voters - that on the municipal level, and own ticularly well reasoned. A highly re- they will vote for progressive Greens over Haight- party af- garded lawyer, he’s fluent in policy centrist Democrats - even in Democratic Asbury to filiation?” matters but never loses sight of the hu- strongholds. Whatever grudges Demo- Japantown, The lo- man consequences of political decisions. crats may hold over the Nader candidacy, and which cal Demo- And he has brought a unique and it doesn’t appear to prevent them from contains cratic thoughtful style to the stump, treating voting Green on the municipal level. many Party at- campaign events and debates not as It also does not seem to prevent- young, politically active voters, renters tacked Gonzalez with an ill-conceived occasions for sloganeering but as ing more Democrats from converting to and a significant poor black population. direct mail campaign attempting to as- opportunities for discussion. He’d be Green. Emboldened by Gonzalez’s deci- A public defender and affordable sociate Gonzalez with the presidential an open, accountable, and engaged sion. San Francisco Board of Education housing advocate, Gonzalez joined the vote situation in Florida - “it's about the member of the board.” member-elect Mark Sanchez that he too Green Party in mid-campaign in October, Supreme Court, stupid” and “doesn’t this The mainstream San Francisco Ex- was going Green. “I’m a little disenchanted after having been a Democrat for many guy get that Nader may have caused aminer also endorsed Gonzalez, saying with the Democratic Party,” Sanchez said. years. He attended a rally for Green U.S. Gore to lose in Florida.” They included a “his politics match those of his district: so “It’s not progressive enough, and I agree Senate candidate Medea Benjamin and be- photo of Gonzalez’ opponent with Tip- far left he almost falls off the horizon. with the values of the Green Party.” came focused on the differences between per Gore - as if being seen with Ms. Gore the progressive Greens and centrist were an asset in liberal Haight Asbury. Democrats. He then realized he was in Long-time San Francisco Green Largest U.S. Cities to Elect a Green the wrong party. In an editorial “Why I organizer Ross Mirkarimi responded with Turned Green” that he wrote for the an op/ed of his own - “Who’s afraid of the San Francisco, CA 750,000 progressive weekly The San Francisco Bay Greens?” – also in the Bay Guardian. The Guardian, Gonzalez addressed whether his California coordinator for Nader 2000, Madison, WI 210,000 switch would hurt his chances in a district Mirkarimi defended Gonzalez and at- with 33,519 Democrats and 2,735 Greens. tacked his opponent for instigating a fear Modesto, CA 180,000 “The Democratic Party in San campaign similar to that used against Francisco includes sanctioned Demo- Nader in the waning days of the presi- Hartford, CT 130,000 cratic clubs that engage in massive soft- dential campaign. money campaigns against good progres- Ironically it was Mirkarimi who Salem, OR 130,000 sive candidates. What do I have in com- earlier in 2000 was thought to be the most mon with these clubs and the tactics they likely San Francisco Green to win a Su- Berkeley, CA 110,000 employ? I don’t have much in common pervisorial seat. He had experience work- with them at all. So I joined the Green ing in the District Attorney’s office, had Santa Monica, CA 93,000 Party. I decided I am not going to vote for 4 Green victories in fall 2000 - an analysis

Julie Jacobson want a few big industries and the alliance Greens, as redistricting along with new Goodtimes, and several properties in con- County Council of Hawaiians and activist newcomers who non-partisan county elections, may make servative Norwood sprouted green-col- are working for a Green economy. it harder for Greens to get elected on the ored ‘More Goodtimes’ lawn signs along- Island of Hawai’i With the biggest town (Volcano) Big Island. Democrats hope to redraw side their Bush/Cheney ones. At the same only about 2,000 people, and with most districts in 2002 to eliminate the Greens time, Green presidential candidates Ralph One of ten Green incumbents to people living in agricultural subdivisions, entirely from office. At the same time Nader received 17% in San Miguel be re-elected nationally in 2000, Julie “going to where the people are” was the non-partisan elections were approved by County, the highest county in the U.S Jacobson won her second term on the cornerstone of Jacobson’s campaign. Just island-wide County Council of Hawaii’s as she had practiced in office, Jacobson ‘Big Island’, representing District 6. One Despite the low socio-economic level, many showed up at numerous community gath- of only a handful of US Greens to have erings, gaining respect from the district’s ever been elected in a partisan race, district residents prefer a clean, pristine island to residents as a true representative of the Jacobson was elected first in 1998 by a slim people. She appeared at farmers markets, the promised prosperity held out by large corpo- 200-vote margin against a Republican in- rodeos, parades, reggae concerts, hula cumbent in a three-way race. This time - events and bake sales, and even got rate development. Many people trade fish, fruit, running against the same former incum- dunked in water at several events. She bent - she won more handily 51.7% to 43%. vegetables, labor, tools and housing, and many also spent hours ‘talking story’ with Jacobson campaigned on ‘respect people at potlucks across the district. for the environment and people’, with a other skills and resources...A schism exists be- Backed by a dedicated core of theme of ‘honest planning for the future’. volunteers, Jacobson also staged her own tween those who want a few big industries and the She fundamentally disagreed with her events, featuring various local artists and opponent on the key issues of the district. musicians. She spent approximately alliance of Hawaiians and activist newcomers who Unlike her opponent, Jacobson opposed $18,000 overall, including mailing two further high-end resorts and residential district wide literature pieces to house- are working for a Green economy. developments - and their oceanfront im- holds of registered voters, plus one mailer pacts. She continued opposing new pris- to union employees touting her union the voters in November. Jacobson op- Environmental stewardship was ons on the Big Island - something her endorsement. She did radio and print posed this change, arguing that it would another Green value Goodtimes cam- opponent promoted behind the scenes, ads, and had 500 yard signs posted across lessen voter choice, increase the influence paigned upon. He pointed to his success- but would not admit to publicly - particu- the district. With a well-organized phone of big money on elections and make it fully championing a Purchase of Devel- larly after Jacobson’s efforts helped lead operation she reaced voters where they even harder for progressives to compete. opment Rights conservation easement Hawaii’s Governor to reverse his previ- lived. She also reached them when they But with change inevitable, she remains program, which both preserved open ously pro-prison stance after the election. travelled, standing by the side of the only optimistic, seeing the realignment “as an- space and protected local agricultural Jacobson opposed any further road that goes through the district to- other organizing opportunity for envi- lands from encroaching development shopping malls in her district, and worked gether with her husband Bob and volun- ronmentalists and Greens.” pressures. He and his fellow commission- to protect endangered species and their teers in rain or shine for weeks, displaying ers also received an award from the EPA habitat (although in some groups this was beautiful silk-screened campaign signs. for helping implement model High Al- perceived as an anti-local issue). In the Art Goodtimes Jacobson’s funding came from pine Water Quality Protection regulations, face of the significant development pres- County Commissioner small contributions from the district’s resi- which the county commission conceived sures, she promoted increased public in- dents. Her opponent’s funding was com- San Miguel County, CO of together with the EPA. put into the new Hawaii County General parable in amount, but came largely from Goodtimes insists on demonstrat- Plan. Faced with a flood of developers' corporations not individuals, and only In mostly rural, 800 square-mile ing that a sustainable economy, one of cash coming to councilmembers before one contribution coming from within the wide San Miguel county, Green incum- Greens Ten Key Values, has to be the goal voting on their projects, she pushed for district. Her opponent ran numerous large bent Art Goodtimes, 55, was re-elected of local businesses. In office, he’s sup- enforceable conflict of interest legislation newspaper ads. He also wrapped his County Commissioner in a partisan race, ported imposing impact fees on new de- to guide future decision-making and deci- campaign literature within official charter burying his Democratic opponent with velopment, believing “development sion-makers. commission handouts – a questionable 69% of the vote . A journalist, Latin teacher should pay its own way”. On a critical The 6th District comprises about practice, given that he had just recently and performance poet, Goodtimes car- community ski expansion project, he ne- 16,000 residents, and is the poorest and left the charter commission as a member. ried every precinct in the county, despite gotiated significant off-site impact miti- most rural of the Big Island’s nine council Jacobson was endorsed by both it being a mixed county politically, with gations of r affordable housing and public districts, with the highest rate of unem- of the island’s major mainstream papers – the liberal mountain resort of Telluride in transportation. He also lobbied hard for ployment in the state. Culturally diverse, the Hawai’i Tribune-Herald out of Hilo in the east and the more conservative rural and achieved stringent eco-concessions the population is comparable parts Asian, the east and the West Hawai’i Today from open lands and small towns in the west. from the local ski operator {Telluride Ski Hawaiian, and Caucasian. The local Kailua-Kona, as well as the Hawaii Island After the election Telluride Watch & Golf Co.} to fund a Fen Oversight Com- economy is largely based on agriculture, Journal, an island-wide bimonthly alter- concluded, “Goodtimes…can plausibly mittee to hire one of the nation’s leading home businesses and professional skills. native publication. claim a mandate. His election is notable experts on peat wetlands, and to include Despite the low socio-economic She was also endorsed by the Si- not only for its size over a former (Demo- monitoring of ski run development in the level, many district residents prefer a clean, erra Club and the League of Conservation cratic) County Commissioner, but also in eco-sensitive Prospect Basin expansion pristine island to the promised prosperity voters, as well as one of the major public that he is the only commissioner candi- area. That process has resulted in reloca- held out by large corporate development. employee unions – the Hawaii Govern- date in memory to win every precinct.” tion of one of the lifts and removal of one Many people trade fish, fruit, vegetables, ment Employees Association – a 48,000 Protecting fast-growing Telluride of the steep service roads in the interests of labor, tools and housing, and many other member white collar labor union, which is from rapacious development was certainly protecting 10,000 year old fens. skills and resources. This kind of economy the also local branch of AFSCME. a priority for Goodtimes. But so was rep- For his second term in office, has been a strong island cultural tradition, As part of the state of Hawaii - resenting ranchers and working class Goodtimes hopes to concentrate on struc- as well as a practical accommodation to named by National Geographic magazine people in the rural communities of tural issues, like reshaping local county the subdivisions’ lack of infrastructure. as the endangered species capital of the Norwood and Egnar (range spelled back- government around the concept of or- Still, a schism exists between those who world – the island of Hawaii’s Sixth Dis- wards), who often feel outvoted and mis- ganic city-regions, bioregions, ecosystems trict is one of the more topographi- understood by the county's more popu- and watersheds. He’d like to see “if we cally interesting districts a U.S. lous, prosperous and liberal eastern side. could structure a combined city-county Green has represented. It com- Towards this end, Goodtimes con- government that could utilize the liberal prises the southern 1/3 of the is- centrated on removing ‘one-size-fits-all’ homerule charter opportunities for mu- land – 1,200 sq. miles of desert, building codes, setting up specialized, nicipalities that aren’t open to Colorado mountains, rainforests, lava tubes, less regulatory zone districts for the rural counties. We have an active San Miguel an erupting volcano, hundreds two-thirds of the county in their place. He Watershed group working on basin-wide miles of coastline and two national also removed uniform building code issues. I’d like to extend that kind of parks. The altitude varies from sea (UBC) inspection requirements for the far bioregional approach to county gover- level to 13,000 ft. Most people live western end, (where 100 people populate nance as well.” on individual household rainwa- 400 square miles of the Colorado Plateau, Goodtimes hopes to become a re- ter catchment water systems. Many but where 98 of them signed a petition to gional and state voice for Green values, depend upon photovoltaic and dump the UBC). In this way, Goodtimes building upon his current role as officer in wind power and solar hot water. combined grassroots democracy with ef- Colorado’s statewide commissioner Jacobson successfully promoted fective, locally fitting regulation. group and member of the National Asso- biodiesel made from used cooking “I worked hard to prove to Demo- ciation of Counties’ Public Lands Steering oil to power local cars, trucks and crats and Republicans alike that a Green Committee. boats – the Hawaii Volcanoes Na- candidate could support environmental Elected in 1996 as a Democrat, tional Park vehicles now use it - regulations that made good sense, while Goodtimes switched to Green in 1998 while at the same time stopping getting rid of big government regulations after a change in state law gave ballot the illegal dumping of cooking oil that made no sense,” said Goodtimes. status to minor parties. He's helped form in her district. The result? Republicans, the a Green chapter in Telluride, helped start The future will be chal- dominant party in the state as a whole, four others, and attended the 2000 Green lenging for Jacobson and the didn’t even run a candidate against convention as a Colorado delegate. Green victories in fall5 2000 - an analysis

Anna Braun In opposition to 'big box sprawl', Braun Green Party Election History 1990-2000 City Council seeks to encourage vitality in the city’s downtown - while retaining its character Candidates States Victories Salem, Oregon – by advocating an approach similar to 2000 274 3 4 35 Boulder, Colorado’s Community Vitality 1999 95 1 4 11 Facing unhealthy growth pres- Act, which distinguishes between local 1998 131 2 0 21 sures as well as a financial crisis, Salem and 'formula' businesses or chains. To 1997 75 1 4 14 became the eighth U.S. city to have at least promote livability, she also favors more 1996 82 1 5 19 two Greens on its city council, electing parks, public transit and library hours. 1995 12 6 1 Anna Braun in November, 2000. Braun A professional land use planner 1994 76 1 4 14 joins Green Bill Smaldone, who was and policy analyst, Braun has been active 1993 14 8 3 elected to the council in 1998. in community affairs for several years - as 1992 99 1 4 15 Salem has projected $11 million chair of her neighborhood organization 1991 8 4 4 in annual budget shortfalls over the next and as a member of several city advisory 1990 15 6 6 five years, and is already falling short on committees and task forces, around issues basic services, including parks and librar- of housing, land use, community devel- Braun’s election was part of a lo- Braun was attracted to the ies. In response, Braun vowed to elimi- opment and livability. cal sea change towards a first-time-ever Greens by their attempt to deal with is- nate public subsidies that have promoted Braun’s opponent was a well- 'slow-growth' majority - a 6 to 3 majority sues in a systematic manner. “I’m con- sprawl. liked accountant put forward by the Cham- at that - in a city that consistently supports cerned by the huge income disparities Her message was simple and di- ber of Commerce together with the city’s Republicans for state legislature and and lack of basic necessities for so many rect - “it’s the little things that really mat- predominant pro-growth lobbyist (under where developer and real estate interests people. I see other national governments ter like sidewalks, libraries, parks, clean the guise of several different PACs). Braun have always controlled the city council. doing better on so many issues. We have drinking water etc... and we can’t pay for raised $8000 in mostly from $50 donations Smaldone said residents should a lot more resources and are doing worse. them because we subsidize sprawl.” Braun from Salem's progressive community (OR expect a less divisive, faster-acting coun- Then I see the Democrats afraid to say seeks to restructure taxes to lower the has a tax credit to help fundraising). cil, along with a slew of groundbreaking “universal health care”, afraid to reduce burden on middle and lower income resi- Among her endorsers and active policy proposals. “This is going to be a our defense budget to fund basic services dents while requiring those who live out- supporters were the Oregon League of council more open to looking at new rev- and unwilling to discuss the way we treat side the city to pay for city services they Conservation Voters, the city employees enue, land use regulations and environ- the poor , and I get impatient and upset. benefit from. “New development must be union, the firefighters, and the local anti- mental protections.” In Braun’s first meet- I see hope in the WTO protests, that there environmentally sensitive, neighborhood growth group, as well as the county Green ing, she voted to doom a Blockbuster video are a lot of people ready to work on these friendly and pay for its fair share for Party. Braun’s stance on greater public store by denying it two variances, sending issues and who get the basic unfairness schools, parks and other city services.” involvement also won her support among joy to the neighborhood residents who of our economic system. conservatives. She won with 56%. had fought the project for a year.

Randy Zurcher endorses Greens in partisan state and fed- Eric Fricker 30,000 people, overwhelming local ser- eral races, Zurcher did receive the local vices and infrastructure. Even though the Board of Alderman Ozark Headwaters Sierra Club's chapter City Commission city charter calls for keeping Cocoa Beach Fayetteville, Arkansas endorsement, becoming part of a grow- Cocoa Beach, Florida a “low-density, residential, resort com- ing number of municipal and county Green munity”, high rise condominiums, time shares, and motels increasingly dominate For the fifth time in eight years, at candidates receiving such endorsements. Do we want to live in a high-rise “ its 6.5 miles of beach front. The city’s one least one Green was elected to the Walking door-to-door was a key jungle? Do we want more traffic pouring main traffic artery – A1A – is increasingly Fayetteville City Council, as Randy part of Zurcher’s campaign. During the into our city? Do we want to spend our th congested. Years ago residents voted to Zurcher won a November 27 run-off elec- three weeks of the run-off alone, Zurcher taxes to attract even more tourists? Do we prevent it from changing from 4 to 6 lanes. tion, recapturing a Ward 2 seat he once and volunteers visited to over 3,000 homes. want our quality of life to deteriorate? “Unfortunately,” according to Fricker, “de- held . Although his margin of victory was They also phone-banked over 2,000 people How much is enough?” velopers are still building as if the road a mere 100 votes out of almost 2,700 cast, who signed a petition to save the 51 trees. Those were the questions Eric had been widened.” it brought about a shift from Fayetteville’s Such outreach was critical in reaching Fricker asked Cocoa Beach residents last As a first-time candidate, Fricker’s outgoing conservative council majority to Ward Two’s diverse student, professor, fall, as he successfully became the first election was evidence of a residents’ back- a new 5-3 pro-environmental one. artist and business people population. elected Green in the state of Florida. In a lash against toverdevelopment and tour- Zurcher made environment his In the November 7th primary elec- city that is 80% registered Republican, ism. Fricker walked door-to-door to every personal focus, with responsible develop- tion, Zurcher faced a pro-development Fricker found common ground with resi- home in the entire city and found his mes- ment, traffic and uncontrolled sprawl at and a pro-environmental candidate. Vot- dents on a quality of life, slow-growth, sage resonated with residents. Even the forefront in this city of 56,000. To ers chose Zurcker and the other environ- low density, pro-family agenda. though he was outspent four to one by his address the city’s unsustainable growth mentalist to advance to the run-off. Al- Located on a barrier island just pro-development opponent, Fricker won patterns, he advocated a comprehensive, though Zurcher’s was an environmental- south of Cape Canaveral (Orlando is an all five of the city’s precincts and finished interconnected system of trails and desig- ist, he had not been active on issues in a hour inland), Cocoa Beach has tradition- with 56% of the vote. nated protected lanes, to promote safe public way. Zurcher on the other hand, ally been home to a large senior popula- A 17-year Cocoa Beach resident, surfer pedestrian and bicycle travel. has been active and vocal long before he tion, and is now home to a growing num- and former lifeguard, with a B.S. in Elec- He also advocated a cleaner, safer was even first elected in 1996. Zurcher ber of young families. trical Engineering from the University of bus system, with more routes and greater had also long taken consistent stands on With 12,500 year round residents Central Florida, Fricker supported two frequency, particularly on neighborhood gay rights, freedom of speech, and other in a city of only 3.5 square miles, the city referendum proposals to give residents routes, instead of just around the Univer- progressive causes. swells by 250% during tourist season to sity of Arkansas campus, which is mostly Zurcher spent close to $9,000 to- the right to vote to control development. contained in Zurcher’s Ward. wards 450 yard signs and newspaper ads wise, Zurcher felt. The editor of the re- Both were challenged in court.. One of the Perhaps the campaign’s pivotal (in both the local weekly and bi-weekly porter most critical of Zurcher happened two – the right to control density - made it issue was the cutting down of 51 rare, independent papers) a 5,000 direct mail also to be the wife of his opponent. to the ballot while still on appeal, passing landmark trees, in the face of considerable and grassroots (‘friends writing friends’) Zurcher believes that it was the Police with 72% aof the vote. Fricker also sup- community protest, as part of a sprawling postcards, as well as 5,000 handbills which Chief and not the rank-and-file officers ported a third referendum, requiring a parking lot-type development on a were distributed door-to-door. His oppo- behind the smear campaign. Zurcher had unanimous vote of the Commission to greenfield on the northern edge of town. nents spent $8,000 and $5,000 respectively. been very vocal against the previous dispose of city property. This passed with Even though the out-of-state developer Zurcher’s biggest challenge - per- mayor, who has since been defeated. The 75% and is not being challenged. Prior (Argus from North Carolina, acting for haps even more than his opponents - was Chief answered directly to that mayor. City Commissions had sold public beach Kohl’s Dept. Stores) could have redesigned a smear campaign conducted by local and “There were some real dirty tricks access land to private hotels for very little the project to save the trees, the pleas of state law enforcement, accusing Zurcher and I don’t want to dwell on them, but compensation - and with even less public the public were not heeded. of downloading inappropriate material they happened,” Zurcher said on election debate “The mayor had his mind made from the internet while at work at the night. “It just shows that the voters of Fricker sought construction of up that short term profit from sales taxes Arkansas Department of Human Services. Ward 2 and the voters of Fayetteville are new, safe bike paths; maintaining and were worth the loss of 50+ rare trees,” said After a three day search (with the smart people and discerning individuals. improving the community’s athletic fields; Zurcher. The four members of the council state’s consent) of his state-owned com- With the amount of mud I’ve been drug and “beautifying all parts of our city, not were just supporting him, knowing they puter at work found nothing illegal, the through over the last few months, it’s a just the tourist oriented business sections.” had enough votes to do as they pleased.”. Fayetteville Police Chief nevertheless particularly sweet brand of justice.” A founder of the local EarthSave Zurcher was instrumental in the filed a search warrant for the same com- This is Zurcher’s second term on chapter and active with his neighborhood fight to save the trees, hosting a television puter. He then held a press conference the Council. He served in the same ward food-coop, Fricker has long been an in- show detailing the struggle on local Com- announcing that, even though nothing between 1996-98, then moved into a more volved community member. In 2000 he munity Access. He also got arrested for illegal had been found, an investigation conservative part of the city and lost was asked to run by the slow-growth Citi- trespassing in attempting to interview would go forward. This went on for four against a well-known conservative incum- zens’ Action Committee. Now in office, Mary Lightheart, a local grandmother who months, with the State Police conducting bent who had lived there for twenty years. Fricker finds himself on the short end of a lived in one of the largest trees for three their own investigation as well. Both ar- Soon afterwards Zurcher moved back to 3-2 Commission split on development. weeks until she was arrested. rived at no conclusion of guilt. Ward 2 and stayed involved, hosting a Yet he remains hopeful he can shift policy, One of Zurcher's goals will also Unfortunately for Zurcher, the Community Access TV program and hoping to begin by taking advantage of be to improve communications between media neglected other campaign issues, speaking out at City Council meetings. the city's new zoning code designation to residents and City Hall. “We need to bring refusing to cover anything but the allega- Between 1996-98, Zurcher was establish buffer zones between residents back Ward meetings, where we can sit tions, until Zurcher was cleared a few one of two Greens on the council, along and large hotels, by rezoning part of the down and prioritize a citizens’ agenda.” weeks before the election. This made his with Stephan Miller, who served three hotel districts as small-scale, neighbor- Although the Sierra Club rarely race closer than it would have been other- terms between 1992 and 1998 hood-serving commerical areas. Green victories in fall 2000 - an analysis

Mike Feinstein becomes Mayor of Santa Monica SMRR, union workers phone-banked, pre- cinct-walked and ran an effective get- Santa Monica becomes the largest city with a Green Mayor out-the-vote operation. The following year, flying in the With support from a broad com- the Green platform to refine his message In a sweet victory, Feinstein became a face of the hotel’s union-busting campaign, munity coalition, Mike Feinstein swept to and direct his campaign. They designed linchpin in the city’s decision to buy most Feinstein and other councilmembers victory for a second term on the Santa lawn signs, crafted the fliers he walked of the land at the Civic Center site that had joined in solidarity with hotel workers, a Monica City Council in November. with door-to-door, and targeted his di- been lost in the 1994 referendum. The movement that also drew local clergy and In the first meeting of the newly rect-mail campaign. 11.3-acre purchase was the most signifi- community leaders. The coalition, known seated council, Feinstein's six council col- Feinstein also bought ad space in cant land acquisition in the city's history. as ‘Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible leagues, one of them a fellow Green, then local papers as well as on their websites Current plans Tourism’, helped force the chose Feinstein to serve as Mayor for the (which then linked to his own campaign for the site anticipate sale of the hotel to a new next two years. That makes Santa Monica website www.feinstein.org/2000) parks and open space, company, which has nego- the largest U.S. city (pop: 93,000) with a Evolving from neighborhood ac- affordable housing tiated a fair deal with the Green mayor. tivist to elected official, Feinstein’s politi- units, childcare facilities union. Today, there are two Tenants, labor rights activists, cal path has been bottom-up. It began and the whole area an al union hotels in Santa environmentalists, slow and smart growth when he was appointed to a citizens’ task ternative energy, con Monica — the result of a development advocates, parks and open force in 1989 that took on the task of up- servation and effi ciency community-labor coalition space supporters - along with the police dating the neighboring Main Street Gen- district. working with a progressive and fire unions - all came out in support of eral Plan. He helped create dedicated bike Feinstein’s elec- council. Feinstein. He finished first out of 13 candi- lanes along the city’s busy commercial tion in 1996 marked a SMRR, HERE Lo- dates for four seats, and his 21,084 votes strip and narrowed the number of traffic shift in Santa Monica cal 814, Greens and neigh- were the second highest total for any city lanes - changes that brought a more pe- politics, a transforma- borhood activists have council candidate in the city’s history. destrian feel to Main Street. tion that has aligned the formed a broad and pro- Feinstein’s strong finish reflected his From there, Feinstein became ac- local slow-growth gressive coaltion in Santa achievements and progressive agenda tive with his neighborhood organization, movement more closely Monica. The groups phone- during his first four-year term: tenant pro- and then applied his political energy with the tenants’ rights banked and identified tection and affordable housing, environ- citywide. In 1993 and 1994, he opposed a movement. And the city has also seen a 13,000 likely voters for their progressive ment and sustainable development, and proposal to increase commerical devel- new emphasis on workers’ rights in the slate last November. And even more so civil liberties and workers' rights. opment in the city’s Civic Center, located past five years, focusing on the low-pay- than in 1996, they helped turn out those Meanwhile he ranscended the in an already-congested area a block ing jobs and working conditions that are voters on election day, by dispatching city’s traditional political lines that have from the beach. Ultimately Feinstein and the backbone of this beachfront city’s suc- dozens of volunteers into Santa Monica’s historically divided over rent control by other local Greens, aligning with then- cessful tourism industry. neighborhoods and visiting voters at also championing issues of wide appeal - State Sen. Tom Hayden, gathered petition Santa Monicans for Renters Rights home. SMRR also ran its own extensive like more parks and open space, livable signatures and forced the Civic Center (SMRR) has been the local progressive direct mail campaign to complement the neighborhoods, support for youth and project onto the ballot for a public vote. electoral force since 1979 when SMRR get-out-the-vote operation.. schools and increased resident voice in The developer drastically pushed through the charter amendment The same local progressive coali- local decision-making. outspent residents – laying out $250,000 ballot measure that established rent con- tion helped elect McKeown in 1998. Two Feinstein ran a positive, issues-based compared to their $5,000 — in a campaign trol. In the early days, SMRR elected left- years later, it also propelled Green Jeff campaign, emphasizing his record in of- that successfully recast the issue as ‘pro- leaning members to the City Council and Sklar to the Rent Control Board — making fice. He appeared in three televised candi- public safety, anti-homeless’, instead of Rent Control Board to protect tenants and Santa Monica one of four cities (Madison, date debates, submitted a free 200-word about development. Feinstein and allies keep a legally-imposed ceiling on rents. WI, Santa Fe, NM Sebastopol, CA are the ballot statement that the city mailed to lost that vote 60% to 40%. But fate smiled These efforts, combined with the exten- others) that can boast of electing at least residents, and taped a free, televised five- on them, as five years later, the developer sive network of social service programs three Green officials. minute statement that ran on the citywide was still not able to finance the project, established by the new SMRR Council The City Council has also ap- government channel (the later a program leaving a window open for change. majority, left Santa Monica in the early pointed six Greens to Santa Monica’s city that he campaigned on in 1996 and imple- The experience of “losing to city 1980’S with the nickname ‘the Peoples’ boards and commissions: Jan Williamson mented once in office.) hall” in 1994 led Feinstein to consider a Republic’. (Arts Commission), Sandy Grant (Envi- Leveraging one of his strengths as a different tack. Instead of trying to change In 1995, SMRR joined forces with ronmental Task Force), Kathleen Masser candidate and elected official - personal- the minds of council members, he con- the rejuvenated Hotel Employees and Res- (Housing Commission), Josefina Santiago ity - Feinstein walked door to door to meet cluded it was better to get elected and taurant Employees Union (HERE), Local (Recreation & Parks Board) and Linda thousands of local residents. This mir- make change himself. In 1996, he won as a 814 to successfully oppose a union decer- Sullivan (Pier Restoration Corporation.) rored his style in office, a public official first-time candidate, finishing second out tification campaign driven by the man- seen at most community meetings and of 13 candidates vying for four seats. agement of the city’s only unionized ho- open to hearing from all sides of an issue. By 1999, Feinstein had a five-to- tel. LOCAL 814 made its debut into city Feinstein raised $30,000 and hired two progressive majority on the council, council politics in 1996 by endorsing Standard Communications - political con- including one other Green Party member, Feinstein and two others running on sultants familiar with Santa Monica and Kevin McKeown, who was elected in 1998. SMRR’s slate. Working closely with Feinstein's campaign sign dotted yards and fences across Santa monica

Amy Moon, City Council, Laramie ported the 7-ward, 2 at-large system, and devoid of decent affordable housing. With this choice won a plurality of votes. Prior a housing market that is second only to to new Council members taking office, Jackson statewide, and no codes to protect First Wyoming Green elected however, the sitting Council took advan- tenants from unscrupulous landlords, the tage of an ambiguity in the state elections health and safety of the public are at stake. The November 2000 election saw University of Wyoming. code as to whether a plurality or absolute There are people living in rentals with Wyoming Greens elect their first office- Moon criticized the Council’s ne- majority was needed for approval The dirt floors and in cellars.” holder, as Amy Moon won a seat on the glect of working-class neighborhoods in old council had formerly Moon has worked Laramie City Council. Riding a wave of Laramie, as well as for its poor handling supported a 3 ward sys- with the Green Party since public discontent that saw three incum- of zoning in a major development case. tem (elected at large), and 1996, when she joined to bents defeated (a fourth chose to leave She joined neighborhood activ- made a proclamation that work on the first Nader the council rather than face uncertain re- ists in opposing the Council’s plan for a this system was a fair com- campaign as the Greens election), Moon won a narrow victory, proposed large ice rink in an historic park promise to no ward sys- were founded in Wyoming. coming in fifth out of ten candidates for and neighborhood, a plan that was op- tem (which they viewed At 27, she is the seventh five seats on the nine-member Council. posed by the city’s neighborhood organi- as a possibility if the case youngest Green to win a Moon ran because she felt the City zations. The questionable structure will was taken to court) thus city council seat in the U.S. Council was unresponsive and not repre- be placed over the recharge area of the ignoring the will of the people The 3 ward She will graduate from the University of sentative of the people of Laramie. “Many city’s aquifer. system has not been implemented at Wyoming with a Bachelor’s Degrees in of the former council members were busi- Another example of what Moon present, and the petitioners have taken Geography and Psychology in the fall. ness owners that had private interests felt was arrogance on the part of conser- their case to court. Many of the new Laramie Coun- which influenced policy,” she said. “This vative Council, was their treatment of resi- Aside from the issues above, plan- cil members are progressives and Moon is created problems for the community in- dents movement to institute a ward sys- ning for growth in this city of 28,000 will excited to be a part of an awakening pro- cluding unjust apportionment of resources tem of districts in the city This movement be a high priority for the new Council gressive movement in Laramie, as well as in different parts of the city, and the was motivated by the neglect of some of Laramie is for the first time establishing a being part of the Greens statewide coali- placement of undesirable businesses in Laramie's neighborhoods. The initiative housing commission and commissioning tion with the Labor Party. Greens in Wyo- the city’s least powerful areas. provided 3 options for voters - 9 single a housing study and conducting a com- ming are heartened by her victory in their She also pointed to the Council’s member districts, 7 single-member dis- prehensive land use plan. conservative state and are looking at other unwillingness to confront the brutal hate tricts with 2 elected at large, or the Sprawl, minimum wage jobs, and seats they can run for and win. They ex- crime murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21 status quo at-large system. substandard housing are all issues of con- pect Moon's position will set a good ex- year-old gay college student from the During the election, Moon sup- cern for Moon. “Laramie is practically ample of elected Greens in Wyoming. Green victories in fall2 2000 - an analysis

Arcata Greens hold onto seat, but council majority is a distant memory

In fourth place, just 70 votes be- the independent challenger who ulti- Arcata Eye “Goforth’s support for a no- hind Ornelas, was Green Dwain Goforth, mately finished second. The result was madic campground for transients is being 47, a former Arcata Planning Commis- that different Greens backed different blamed by way of morning-after wisdom sioner and a member of the 1994 Arcata slates. For good measure, Brinton sup- for his loss, with some including Goforth Budget Task Force. Goforth also served ported Goforth and Hagg supported himself, believing it had tipped the bal- Jennifer Hanan, Bob Ornelas and Jason Kirkpatrick in Arcata's on the committee that established the city’s Ornelas. ance in favor of Ornelas.” municipal forest after being elected the first Green majority in 1996 skate board park. He described his politi- The lack of a Green slate made it cal philosophy as “progressive and popu- difficult to organize the Nader volunteers, Were there scenarios in which Ornelas Bob Ornelas list,: while maintaining that good ideas because there was nothing specific to tell and Goforth could both won? City Council can come from across the political spec- them, nor could any recommendation be trum. placed on the Nader/LaDuke literature. A large number of voters - 52% Arcata, California The Arcata Eye’s editor endorsed Thus there was ‘vote-splitting’ according to the Eureka Times Standard – Goforth, calling him a smart, friendly fel- among Green candidates as well as a lack “bullet voted” - choosing only one or two Becoming the first California low with good values and a “400-pound of prioritization among them because of candidates, forgoing their third choice. Green to be elected to three 4-year terms, brain.” They were “highly impressed by the lack of a party endorsement. Add to This meant there were many uncommit- Bob Ornelas won re-election to the Arcata his methodical approach to issues before this the support for two non-Greens in the ted votes that could be had with the right City Council in November, finishing third the planning commission, thinking five party’s newsletter and this all meant a strategy. What was that strategy? out of seven candidates for three seats. steps ahead to predict the subtle interplay great loss of synergy among local Greens. First, a clear Green endorsement The 47-year-old business owner and ramifications of future events.” As to why Ornelas himself ulti- for both Ornelas and Goforth was neces- of a local brewery, Ornelas stated his rea- Goforth was also endorsed by the mately beat Goforth, a numbers of factors sary. This would have led to better sup- sons for running for a third term in his Humboldt State University Lumberjack, the may account for the narrow 70 votes dif- port by the entire Green local, including official ballot statement. Citing his love of North Coast Journal, and the Eureka Times ference - less than 1/2 of 1% of the vote. those working on Nader. the community, Ornelas detailed “a long Standard. As an incumbent, Ornelas had Second, cooperation between the history of successful efforts to provide for Finishing fifth were Greens Su- name recognition and a record to run on. Ornelas and Goforth campaigns them- affordable housing, senior housing, sup- san Brinton - 867 votes behind Ornelas - He also received the most financial sup- selves was essential, as well as coordina- port for the creation of new businesses, and Ron Hagg, 1,320 votes behind. port he’d ever had in his three city council tion with the mayor’s campaign. Third, environmental protection, sustainable for- campaigns - nearly $5,000 - enough to pay the factor of Brinton and/or Hagg’s pres- estry, educational opportunities, a low Did the presence of four Green candi- for lawn signs all over town, a citywide ence in the race has to be considered crime rate and safe parks and great recre- dates running for three seats cost the mailer and a campaign staffmember. This Ornelas finished 373 votes out of second ational programs.” Greens a second seat? compared to $800, hand-made signs and place and Goforth 443. Brinton and Hagg Ornelas was the first California no direct mail or staff for Goforth. picked up 3,721 votes between them. Green ever elected to a city council, back Ornelas pointed out that with the Although Goforth’s campaign What is the future of Arcata’s in 1990. He stepped down after one term incumbent popular mayor virtually as- was gaining momentum at the end, it Greens? There were certainly bright spots ,and fellow Green Jason Kirkpatrick ran sured of re-election, this left the four simply got started later - and reached in 2000. In addition to holding onto and took his place in 1994. Then in 1996, Greens – including Ornelas - to essentially fewer voters - than it needed to win. By Ornelas’ seat, Nader/LaDuke received Ornelas and Green Jennifer Hanan were run for two seats, competing against them- contrast, Ornelas walked door-to-door 23% in the city of Arcata and 12.7% in both elected, joining Kirkpatrick to form selves as well as two additional candi- more than he had in 1996. The local Demo- Humboldt County overall, and numer- the first Green Party city council majority dates in a zero sum game. cratic Central Committee also endorsed ous new volunteers came in as a result of in U.S history. The three received national Ornelas himself was a point of Ornelas, while not inviting Goforth to the campaign. and even global attention over the next departure, with some local Greens strongly speak. Goforth suggested his vocal sup- Green registration also jumped two years, providing an exceptional op- supporting him and others just as strongly port for Nader was a reason why. 29% countywide in just nine months, from portunity to publicize Green approaches in opposition. His advocates praised his Ornelas was endorsed by the two 3,742 on January 10th to 5,259 as of October to governance. The pinnacle of local Green record. His opponents pointed to what largest county newspapers - the Times- 10th, 2000. The 6.8% of all county voters electoral success, it has been an uneven they termed Ornelas’ penchant for irrev- Standard and the Humboldt Beacon. Ornelas that this made up is the highest percent- ride ever since. erent remarks, as well as his confrontation also enjoyed the support of the building age of registered Green voters for any In 1998 Kirkpatrick stepped of speakers during city council meetings. trades and the operating engineers union. county in the U.S. down, then Jennifer Rice – the Green Local Greens were ultimately split Ornelas received significant ex- The major city council campaign most thought would win if she ran - de- on election strategy and there was no con- posure the Sunday before the election, issues were housing, economic develop- cided not to run, preferring to remain a sensus plan to organize around. Part of appearing on National Public Radio’s ment, the growth of Humboldt State Uni- sustainable community development ac- this was the candidates. Part of it was the Weekend Edition (NPR). NPR came to versity (and the lack of planning and coor- tivist rather than serve in elected office. local group itself, which was in transition town to walk door to door with Ornelas, dination with the city), and the popula- Without a ready replacement, Green Brad with a mix of old and new Greens, includ- meeting residents and hearing him cam- tion of street people in the forest and on Freeman stepped in and lost by 182 votes ing many who came in as a result of the paign. Hoping he would give them outra- the town’s plaza. These are issues upon in what many felt was a very winnable Nader campaign and had a minimal con- geous quotes, instead Ornelas was – in his which Greens have a clear perspective, race. Freeman ran an extremely low-key nection to city council politics. own words – “laid-back and sensible, pas- that could find sympathy among Arcata’s campaign, choosing to spend less than After a very difficult endorsement sionate, informed, and ever supportive of voters. $100 overall and running with the theme meeting, the Humboldt County Green the Green Party and grassroots democ- But it appears the answer to the of “no cash, no trash, and no splash.” newsletter was sent out with a ‘no en- racy.” Greens’ prospects will lie more in the or- In 2000, Hanan stepped down dorsement’, recommending only a “closer Despite all of this, it may have ganization of Arcata’s Greens, than in their herself, and four Greens ran for the three look” at four candidates – the incumbent been Goforth’s stand on homeless that philosophy. When focused, they have won seats, finishing third through sixth. Democratic mayor, Goforth, Ornelas, and cost him the election. According to The seats. When scattered they have not.

Things are not business as usual. More 60’s. She started with civil rights, op- Michigan elects its first Green - JoAnne Beemon important than corporate profit are fair position to the Vietnam War and wages and family well being. More im- Women’s Issues and received support The Green Party of Michigan won code requires. “Water, ours to protect” portant than the gross national product in the campaign from an active group its first victory ever last November, with was Beemon’s campaign slogan. “Poorly is clean water and air. These are the of local Greens in a grassroots effort JoAnne Beemon’s election as Charlevoix managed drains have led to pollution things the Green Party stands for, a new that focused on door-to-door walking, County Drain Commissioner . The vote problems in the past,” she said, and hope that I'm proud to be part of.” mailers, interviews and public forums. was 5,349 votes or 85.7% for Beemon to vowed to use the office to actively pur- Charlevoix County is located in She was Michigan United Conserva- 892 for her opponent, a Republican candi- sue conservation and water the Northwestern part of the tion Club’s Conservationist of the Year date running as a write-in. quality. southern peninsula of Michi- in 1998 and is a church leader, teacher, In Michigan, a Drain Commis- Her opponent op- gan – Traverse City is the volunteers for several local water-qual- sioner is responsible for establishing posed any additional fund- County seat. The entire ity organization and worked on a and maintaining drain facilities and ing and said he would run county is Republican coun- project that raised $200,000 to pur- resolving drain-related problems. In the office using existing staff try. The Democrats didn’t chase 200 acres of land next to a river. Charlevoix County the position had within the county building contest a single county of- “We need a sense of place, fallen into disuse, after the county department, where he works fice in 2000, except one sher- and our place is uniquely ours to care voted in 1992 to change the salary full-time. At a debate with iff candidate not backed by for, heal and protect.” from $5,000 a year to $1 a year plus a Beemon, he defined the role of the the party. Michigan Greens qualified for per diem. The office had been moved office more narrowly, saying that water Even so, the Republicans ended the ballot by ‘pulling out all the stops’ to the basement of the county build- quality was not even part of the drain up with only a write-in candidacy in to gather 52,000 signatures in the ing and left without a phone or com- job, and that environmental issues Beemon's race, because their expected spring/summer of 2000. . Nader re- puter. should be left to state government. candidate waited until the last day to ceived 84,165 votes (2%) in Michigan. Beemon promised an active The Charlevoix Courier quoted qualify and then failed. With the dead- Of Michigan’s 83 counties, Charlevoix’s Drain Office, in line with Green phi- an ecstatic Beemon the day after her line passed, they were forced to pursue was 8th highest in its Nader vote with losophy promoting “ecological wis- victory on page one : “As a Green Party a write-in candidacy. 3.4%. Fifteen Michigan Greens ran for dom.” She also lobbied for a funded candidate I dared to challenge the po- Beemon has been an activist office overall in 2000, more than in all office, with a real salary as the drain litical machine of Charlevoix County. since her junior high school days in the previous years in Michigan combined. Greens in the 2000 elections - highlights

Medea Benjamin for Senate breaks new ground

Boosting the Green Party to new unions, too, with AFSCME Locals 1108 heights and attracting new constituen- and 444 and more than 30 union officials. cies, human rights activist Medea Ben- These local unions supported Benjamin jamin ran a spirited and groundbreaking despite pressure to stick with the Califor- Medea Benjamin spoke with Ralph Nader about the need for political reform at Berkeley Earth Day 2000. campaign for U.S. Senate in California. nia Federation of Labor’s endorsement of They joined Julia Butterfly Hill before an enthusiastic crowd Co-founder and co-director of Feinstein (see box). Global Exchange, Benjamin finished with During the D2K Democratic Con- Benjamin and GOP candidate Campbell. California when it was formed in 1990. 3.1% of the vote, the highest percentage vention protests in Los Angeles, Benjamin They debated three times and organized Party leaders understood then, that a for a third party U.S. Senate candidate in was in full stride. She gave a rousing two press conferences together, denounc- strong Green movement already existed California in 62 years.. Her 326,848 votes speech from atop a truck to a cheering ing the war on drugs in Colombia, blast- in the state, comprised of various non- were also the most that any U.S. Green crowd of thousands at The March against ing the use of political action committee profits and community organizations. candidate won in a non-presidential race Sweatshops and For Immigrants Rights, money in political campaign and criticiz- Turning the Green Party into the electoral against a Democratic and Republican. one of the week’s major marches that went ing Feinstein’s refusal to debate. extension of that movement would be key Benjamin raised $250,000, a record from the downtown garment district to Without reliable access to the me- to the party’s future. Drawing in some of amount for Greens, in mainly small con- the Staples Center, the convention site. dia, Benjamin found alternative ways to the movement leaders as candidates was tributions from thousands of people across She also was a featured speaker at the spread her message through well orga- crucial to this task. the state. Her fundraising success proved Shadow Convention. nized protests, highlighting the collusion Enter Benjamin - an economist that potential Green Party donors do in- At the Convergence Center — a between the mainstream media and the and nutritionist in Latin America, Africa, deed exist, and that Greens are capable of four story building that served as home two main political parties to exclude third and Europe, and a senior analyst with the reaching them. base for D2K — Benjamin's name could be parties. She also published and distrib- Institute for Food and Development Benjamin opened six campaign seen throughout as many, particularly uted thousands of copies of the booklet “I, Policy. She worked for the United Na- offices across the state and recruited more young people - sported ‘Medea for Sen- Senator” outlining the positive transfor- tions Food and Agriculture Organization, than 400 volunteers. She spoke on more ate’ T-shirts, stickers and posters. mation that would come if Greens held the World Health Organization, and the than 50 college campuses, helping Greens On D2K's final night, Benjamin more positions of power in the U.S. Swedish International Development start 20 new campus chapters. appeared on a dramatic live two-hour Since the election, Benjamin has Agency - not to mention Global Exchange. An architect of the Seattle and DC national radio broadcast hosted by De- focused on building a statewide coalition Then, as a Green Party candi- protests against the WTO, World Bank mocracy Now’s Amy Goodman. Activists interested in serious electoral reform. Her date, Benjamin enjoyed one of the most and International Monetary Fund, Ben- packed into a makeshift studio at Patriotic plans include creating an independent successful runs in the party’s national his- jamin was particularly attractive to pro- Hall to hear her message: the importance debate commission in California in hopes tory - despite little press coverage, being gressive voters. Her platform and achieve- of an independent, progressive party like of taking back control of the debates from denied access to debates and running in a ments stood in stark contrast to her cen- the Greens to tap the energy found in the the candidates. race against on of the most heavily fa- trist opponent, Democratic incumbent streets of Los Angeles, DC and Seattle. Benjamin-the-candidate and Ben- vored Democratic incumbents in decades. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Benjamin's candi- The editorial boards at every ma- jamin-the-organizer combined to embody Clearly, Benjamin’s was a combi- dacy paved the way for the Green Party to jor daily and weekly newspaper in Cali- the vision laid out by the Green Party of nation that worked. build alliances and grow. fornia invited Benjamin for an interview, Seven newspapers endorsed her, with one exception - the Los Angeles Times. Medea at the California Federation of Labor Convention both the alternative press and mainstream. She interviewed on nearly every commu- An eyewitness acount, by Michael Everett, IATSE Local 278 and Green Party member The L. A. Weekly, for one, said “she’s nity radio station and NPR affiliate. But The two-day biennial California Labor Federation concluded in Anaheim with a bit already done more to create a more just a television media and the mainstream press of a surprise, as delegates fired an unexpected shot across the bow of free trader U.S. Senator livable planet than about 97 of the mem- largely ignored her campaign. Diane Feinstein. bers inside the Senate.” With Feinstein holding a 20-point Most of the convention was a scripted campaign rally for Al Gore, accompanied by Benjamin's endorsements in- lead over Republican Rep. Tom Campbell, the usual rubber stamping of decisions already made by labor federation leaders. The cluded 25 current and former elected offi- the press treated the Senate race as a fore- convention was scheduled to close with the routine unanimous ratification of the state COPE endorsements. But COPE hadn’t reckoned with Green US Senate candidate Medea Benjamin, cials, among them long-time San Fran- gone conclusion - failing to cover Campbell who sat quietly at the back of the hall and had one-on-one conversations with delegates cisco Board of Supervisor President Tom closely, let alone Benjamin. The only tele- about her program for fair trade, universal health care, an end to privatization, and Ammiano. Also on the list were promi- vision outlet that provided Benjamin with everything else on labor’s agenda. nent progressives: David Brower & Helen fair coverage was Adelphia Communica- After the first day, about 20 delegates met with Benjamin to hear more about her Caldicott, Noam Chomsky and Angela tions in Los Angeles, where public affairs labor platform along with a comparison to Feinstein’s, who voted for NAFTA, GATT and was a leader of the campaign to pass China normal trade relations. We agreed that it would be Davis, Barbara Ehrenreich and Michael host Bill Rosendahl interviewed her sev- wrong to be silent at the COPE endorsement. Even if we lost ten to one, we had to oppose Lerner, Ed Begley, Jr., Woody Harrelson eral times before election day. Feinstein’s endorsement and make sure it wasn’t unanimous. and Bonnie Raitt, Manning Marable and The media shutout was clearest The next day when the endorsements were read off from the podium, our tiny Norman Solomon, Alice Walker and Cor- when Benjamin and 125 supporters sat in handful challenged the Feinstein endorsement from the floor. Three of our number took nel West, and Jim Hightower. at the San Francisco station of KRON as it to the floor microphones to denounce her free trade policies and praise the pro-labor platform of Medea. After the third delegate spoke, a motion was made and passed to cut off Benjamin captured the support of broadcast one of the two debates where further debate. A voice vote was called and to everyone’s astonishment, 40% of the organizations such as Americans for Feinstein agreed to appear. Benjamin was delegates voted ‘no’ on the endorsement. Democratic Action, the farmworkers’ excluded from both. Though technically a victory for Feinstein, clearly Medea was the winner and group Project Vote, and Latinos for Better The lack of press attention Feinstein the loser. This was a warning message to politicians who take labor for granted Government. She won a thumbs-up from spawned a surprising coalition between and a clear illustration that the spirit of Seattle has taken hold in the labor movement. New Mexico Green Party remains strong after all these years

One of the Also in the March, Green Fran Healing Garden (a project at the munici- In the Democratic Primary in June, nation's strongest Gallegos won reelection to her Santa Fe pal court acknowledging victims of do- one incumbent was able to pull off a vic- state Green Parties Municipal Judgeship in a rematch against mestic abuse) earned them hundreds of tory over his two challengers, but the other since 1994, the year her predecessor. “Judge Fran” has insti- campaign volunteers who already knew incumbent lost. Because of this, a lot of 2000 was another tuted Therapeutic Jurisprudence, a pro- of their dedication and integrity. This helps anti-incumbent energy y remained high year of growth for gram involving intensive counseling and explain their great showing as first-time against the incumbent in McDonald's race, the New Mexico Green Party. In Santa Fe's community service as an alternative to jail candidates - McDonald received 46% in a but would dissipate in Wilson's district municipal elections in March, two Green s time for first offenders of domestic vio- two-way race, with Wilson coming in at where the ousting of the incumbent had were elected. Green candidates did well lence and drug and alcohol related crimes. 23% in a three-way race. been accomplished. In addition, there was in the November general election, and The program has had great success in both Several factors influenced a Republican in that race, so it would be statewide Green membership increased reducing rates of repeat offenders, and in McDonald’s higher result.. One was an more difficult to swing that segment of the by 20% between the June primary and the helping people face and deal with their anti-incumbent feeling fostered by a hot voters his way. November election, from 9,332 to 11,674. problems. The voters showed their sup- issue that had previously come before the The other main factor benefiting The type of campaigning New port for this approach by electing her to a Commission: building a prison for immi- McDonald is her district’s geographic Mexico Greens do can partially explain second term. grants in Santa Fe County. Not only was location. County Commission district 2 the leap in their registrations. Their candi- Building on the momentum gen- the concept of such a prison inherently overlies much of City Council district 3, dates and campaign volunteers walk door- erated by the municipal elections, two objectionable to many residetns, but to where Chavez won his race earlier in the to-door early in the campaign. This out- long time Green Party activists decided to put such a prison in a community that is year). Most of the rest of her district lies in reach is generally focused on three things: run for County Commission in Santa Fe in largely Hispanic, with deep ties to old City Council district 2, where Green Cris voter registration, voter education, and November - Melissa McDonald (district Mexico,was astonishing to many. In addi- Moore has been elected twice. These ur- voter identification. During the months 2) and Xubi Wilson (district 5). They both tion, it was perceived as a done deal. ban precincts are more accustomed to before last spring’s Santa Fe municipal focused and spoke out on sprawl, trans- Cornell Corrections held a job fair before voting Green than in Wilson'ss more rural election election, the local Greens regis- portation and good government. Their the Commission had awarded the con- district, which includes the southern sec- tered over 500 new voters, primarily in credentials as permaculturists allowed tract, and the press discovered evidence tion of Santa Fe and the town of Eldorado. Green city council candidate Miguel them to speak with authority on issues of the outlandish wining and dining In addition, there are a higher percentage Chavez’s district. Based on the strength of like grey water recycling and rooftop catch- Cornell had done for the Commissioners. of registered Greens to draw on for his community activism combined with a ment systems. Their years of local activ- It also discovered the poor performance grassroots support, about 7% of the voters vigorous campaign, Chavez was able to ism on such projects as Friends of Santa Fe of Cornell in its contracts,including over- in McDonald’s district compared to 3% in unseat a three-term incumbent. Trails (the city’s bus system) and the billing the City of Santa Fe itself. Wilson's. (continued on next page) Greens in the 2000 elections - highlights

Holle Brian State Assembly Campaign In addition to broad issues of af- (which makes MSP is base) of sacrificing fordable health care, living wages, and the quality of inner city neighborhoods in Brings Out Volunteer Strength renewable energy, Brian focused on local, order to concentrate economic power in quality of life issues, like the noise and the Twin Cities. Campaigning on the themes of got involved, collecting well over a thou- pollution problems from overhead flights Brian’s fine showing follows that “A Green Economy and Environment”, sand signatures of potential voters within associated with of Cam Gordon, “Families First” and “A Better Democ- the district in two weeks. being adjacent who ran in the ad- racy”, Holle Brian ran one of the most Brian’s campaign became well to the Minne- joining district in successful state legislative campaigns organized during and immediately fol- apolis/St. Paul 1996 as the first- among Greens nationally in 2000. Finish- lowing the petition drive, according to International ever Minnesota ing with the most votes of any third party Allison “kicking into a higher gear every Airport (MSP). Green state legisla- state assembly candidate in Minnesota, few weeks until the November election”. Brian tive candidate. In she also had the second-highest percent- There was an organized telephone bank used this issue an even more pro- age for state assembly - 16.5% - among three nights each week, door-to-door pre- to tie together gressive district , Green candidates in the entire country, cinct walking three days a week and large Green ap- Gordon received Hawaii’s Ginny Aste was first with 19.4%. mailing parties at the volunteer meetings. proaches to 24.6%, finishing (This among candidates in three-way or Brian’s volunteers contacted 3,000 transportation and economy. She op- second ahead of the Republican. (Brian more races). targeted registered voters through a well posed further expansion of the airport; came closest among US Greens to finish- But perhaps the biggest measure organized three night a week phone-bank- advocating decentralizing air traffic - and ing ahead of a major party candidate in of success for Brian’s campaign was the ing operation. They also knocked on well thus economic growth – to nearby Roch- 2000 – her 16.5% trailed her Republican manner in which it built the Green Party. over 3,000 doors through a three days-a- ester and St. Cloud, and connecting those opponents’ 21.5%). Mirroring the differ- According to Brian’s campaign manager week precinct-walking operation; Chris Allison, people volunteered in dropped an enormous amount of litera- We need a new definition of prosperity that places droves for Brian because she had given so ture on doorsteps throughout the district much of her self over the years to build the and sent out over 3,000 pieces of targeted value on clean air and water, a sustainable, locally- Green Party in Minnesota. mail put together at large, weekly mailing based economy, healthy, educated children and “Since its inception as a political parties. The campaign also had a very party in Minnesota, Holle Brian has been impressive web page, designed by a web peaceful, livable communities so that we can pro- willing to constantly fill many needed designer volunteering her services. tect our natural and human resources for the roles within the Green Party. She’s been “As a campaign professional with editor and designer of the state newspa- experience on quite a few successful cam- common good of generations to come, rather than per, The Sunflower; a facilitator at numer- paigns,” observed Allison, a veteran of US degrade them for short-term gain.” ous state meetings, an elected member of Senator Paul Wellstone’s 1996 campaign, the state coordinating committee and the “I can confidently say that this campaign cities to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro- ence between the two districts, Nader re- state’s primary representative on the na- not only attracted more volunteer sup- politan area via high-speed rail. ceived 8.9% in Brian’s district and 12.8% tional Green level.” port than I’ve ever seen, but we also orga- Brian was the only candidate to in Gordon’s in 2000 . South Minneapolis Brian ran in South Minneapolis’ nized them effectively to perform very point out that less polluting, energy-effi- has become a Green stronghold – Annie State Legislative seat 62B, which encom- specific tasks.” cient alternatives to air travel should be Young, who was elected in 1997 to an at- passes the historic Minnehaha Falls, the The campaign raised over $12,000, developed and that a more locally self- large seat on the Minneapolis Parks and controversial Highway 55 re-route mostly through individual $50 refund- reliant economy, based on local and re- Recreation Board, did well there, as did through an old forest and sacred Native able donations (the Minnesota Political gional goods and services, could also help Dean Zimmerman, who was elected to American ground, Lake Nokomis, and Contribution Refund Program provides a reduce air traffic. the same Board via a district seat. about 25,000 registered voters, mostly public financing rebate for every contri- Brian accused the Minnesota Air- Nader/LaDuke received 6.2% in white, working class small homeowners. bution up to $50, one of the best such port Commission, the mayor, the Metro- Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis For 24 years, District 62B has been programs in the country). Brian was en- politan Council and Northwest Airlines and several surrounding suburbs. represented by a conservative, “tough on dorsed by Clean Water Action, MN CO- crime” Democrat who personally killed ACT (Minnesota Citizens Organizing for Szwaja receives Green the anti-Highway 55 reroute bill, voted Action, a statewide membership organi- against gay marriage and supports prison zation that is very active on family farm record 19.6% for Congress privatization. issues and single payer health care), and As the first partisan Green can- Local 8, as well as an impressive list of As the Greens’ first-ever candi- Green presidential and vice-presidential didate in Washington state, Joe Szwaja’s individual endorsers from the area’s hu- date for this seat, Brian knew she had an candidates Ralph Nader and Winona received 19.6% for Congress - a U.S. Green man rights, environmental, and public uphill battle to unseat the established in- LaDuke, the latter a fellow Minnesotan. record - running in a three-way race interest organizations. The Weekly called a cumbent, so she committed herself to run- Brian also hosted a series of edu- against a seven-term Democratic incum- vote for the Democrats – not the Greens - 'a ning two campaigns consecutively, with cational forums on campaign issues in her bent and a Libertarian, in the overwhelm- wasted vote’. the 2002 election as the goal for getting District, bringing in guest speakers to talk th ingly Democratic 7 District, which in- Szwaja raised $35,000 and spent it elected, after building her base in 2000. about single-payer health care, genetic cludes almost all of Seattle as well as on 2,000 yard signs as well as nearly Brian began knocking on doors engineering and the history and philoso- Vashon Island. 50,000 pieces of professional campaign and talking to her constituents in May, phy of the Green Party. These popular A former five-term city council literature. He sent a 25,000 piece targeted proving her commitment early. During forums were a valuable campaign tool, as member in Madison, WI with the Labor- mailing in the campaign’s last week, while the petition drive to put Brian on the bal- they gave visibility to her candidacy and Farm Party, Szwaja structured his cam- Nader volunteers carried his literature lot, dozens of Green Party of volunteers helped recruit new volunteers. paign around “the 3 R”s”, Renewing our door-to-door. He also employed a 20 New Mexico Greens (continued from preceding page) Democracy, Restructuring the Global hour/week campaign manager, two part Economy, and Redirecting Resources to time staff and a professional consultant to Considering that they ran in dis- second run for PRC while Gladstone re- Meet Human and Environmental Needs. develop his campaign work plan. tricts that are 60-70% Democrat, Greens ceived almost 55,000 votes. At 11% He argued for fair trade Szwaja's are extremely pleased with these results. Gladstone is also the NMGP's only hope rather than “free” trade, candidacy energized Other New Mexico Green candi- for maintaining major party status and campaign finance and hundreds of volun- dates also did very well. With vast dis- right to hold primary elections. Why? electoral reform, saving teers and contribu- tances to cover in their races, Cliff Bain New Mexico state law has previ- the region’s salmon runs tors, and the mem- (for Public Regulation Commission) and ously been interpreted to allow ay state- and redirecting corporate bership of the Seattle Marvin Gladstone (for State Court of Ap- wide candidate - not just for president or welfare to programs that Greens doubled, peals) attendied local events throughout governor - that receives 5% or more of the serve people and the en- from 250 to 500 dues the state. August through October are vote, would maintain the Green Party's vironment. paying members. months of fiestas, harvest celebrations, major party ballot status. That status has Szwaja’s total While the Nader and county fairs in New Mexico, and the been reaffirmed in ’96 and ’98 based on the eclipsed the 17.8% received by the last candidacy was clearly controversial in campaigns traveled every weekend and electoral results of candidates for offices Republican to contest the seat back in heavily Democratic Seattle, Szwaja’s re- then some to meet with voters. The Green other than president or governor. A 1996 1996. After the election, Szwaja said, sult demonstrated that people are willing Party also staffed a booth at the state fair Attorney General opinion confirmed this “The Green Party is poised to become to vote Green‘down ticket', regardless of in Albuquerque, registering hundreds of practive. But a recent ruling by a judge Seattle’s second party. I was the first their views about the presidential race. voters and spreading the Green message. denying the Libertarian Party major party Green candidate for partisan office in The previous highest percentage Bain was able to raise energy status gave the Secretary of State and At- Washington, and I ran a grassroots cam- for any Green Party candidate for Federal policy issues and discuss the role of the torney General reason to believe they can paign that got little mainstream media office was Carol Miller in New Mexico, Public Regulation Commission, and is in deny the Greens' party status as well. attention. Yet we received more support who received 17% for Congress in 1997, in the process of creating a citizen oversight Because Nader received less than 5% in than the Republicans did when they last a five-way race including both a Demo- group for the PRC. Gladsonte spoke re- the New Mexico in 2000, the Greens' ma- ran and we showed that a significant crat and Republican. Szwaja had 52,142 peatedly about the need to abolish the jor party status is uncertain. While there number of Seattle voters find themselves votes in heavily populated Seattle during death penalty and an end to mandatory are several options to consider, there is a more in line with Green Party values a November general election in a presi- minimum sentencing. very good chance this will be decided in than with the Democrats.” dential year, while Miller received 17,101 By addressing issues not gener- the courts. Szwaja received the endorsement in a May, off-year special election with ally associated with the Greens, both can- Rick Lass is a fomer state co-chair of of The Seattle Weekly, The University of lower turnout in a rural district. The didates broadened the perception of the the New Mexico Green Party and remains Washington Daily and The Office and Pro- highest total for U.S. Senate was Hawaii’s Green Party. Bain receivedt 33% in his active on the state and national level.. fessional Employees International Union, Linda Martin, who received 13.5% in 1992. GREEN PARTY ELECTION RESULTS

Name Votes, Percentage Tom Kelly...... 1,119, 17.4% Office Place/Total Candidates for 'x' seats California (58, 12 wins) City Council, District 5, Berkeley (Alameda) 2nd/5 for 1 All election dates November 7th unless otherwise indicated All numbers final, unofficial Arnie Leff...... 6,014, 6.9% Medea Benjamin...... 326,828, 3.1% City Council, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) 7/15 for 4 U.S. Senate 3rd/7 for 1 Alaska (10, 1 win) Robin Leler...... 350, 9.08% Jan Tucker...... 26% City Council, Willits (Mendocino) 7 U.S. Senate 2nd/2 for 1 Anna Young...... 17,927, 7.94% 03/07/00 March Primary Election U.S. House of Representatives 3rd/5 for 1 Craig Litwin...... 2,043, 35.3% City Council, Sebastopol (Sonoma) Elected 1st/3 for 2 Ken Adams...... 6,195, 2.9% Bill Bartee...... 569, 4.43% U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 (Sacramento) 3rd/5 for 1 State Senate, District E (Kenai, Nikiski, Klatt, Bayshore) 3rd/3 for 1 Bonnie Morr...... 6,812, 7.6% City Council, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) 6/15 for 4 E. Craig Coffin...... 8,215, 4.0% Greg Garcia...... 794, 6.07% U.S. House of Reps, District 17 (Monterrey/Santa Cruz) 3rd/6 for 1 State Senate, District M (Wasilla through Eagle River) 4th/4 for 1 Christene Mulholland...... 7,405, 25.91% City Council, San Luis Obispo) Elected 2nd/6 for 2 Justin "Justo" Moscoso...... 13,248, 4.6% Jed Whittaker...... 431, 4.23% U.S. House of Reps, District 6 (Marin & Sonoma) 3rd/5 for 1 State Senate, District G (NE Anchorage, Gov’t Hill, Elmendorf) Robert (Bob) Nanninga...... 6,027, 11.38% City Council, Encinitas (San Diego) 5th/11 for 3 3rd/3 for 1 Krista Lieberg Wong...... 10,294, 9.1% U.S. House of Representatives, District 31 (Los Angeles) Michael Nemeth...... 410, 6.0% R.D. Levno...... 256, 4.06% 2nd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 13 (Inlet View, Turnagain, City Council, Cotati (Sonoma) 8/13 for 3 W. Spenard) 3rd/3 for 1 Sara Amir...... 14,995, 10.0% Bob Ornelas...... 2,954, 15.41% State Assembly, District 42 (Los Angeles) 3rd/5 for 1 Fryderyk (Fred) Mieszko...... 266, 4.9% City Council, Arcata (Humboldt) Incumbent Elected 3rd/7 for 3 State House of Reps, District 20-J (Midtown Anchorage) Jan Louis Bergeron...... 5,698, 5.2% Bill Patterson...... 1,838, 12.9% 4th/4 for 1 State Assembly, District 9 (Sacramento) 3rd/4 for 1 next four results all 10/03/00 Municipal Elections City Council, Windsor (Sonoma) 4th/4 for 2 Gloria Purcell...... 14,641, 9.7% Joey Racano...... 6,522, 3.6% Patty Zimmerman...... 442, 4.4% State Assembly, District 21 (San Mateo & Santa Clara) 3rd/3 for 1 Mayor, Juneau 3rd/4 for 1 City Council, Huntington Beach (Orange) 10/20 for 3 Chuck Reutter...... 8,045, 4.5% Phil Rockey...... 1,776, 22.9% Della Coburn...... State Assembly, District 66 (Riverside) 3rd/3 for 1 City Council, Kasaan Elected Ist/1 for 1 City Council, Oakdale (Stanislaus) Elected 2nd/5 for 2 Jay Baggi...... 570, 2.5% Wiliam Rothman...... 205, 28.3% Amy K. Smith...... 758, 18.6% Board of Supervisors, District 5 (City/County of San Francisco) City Assembly, Sitka 4th/4 for 3 City Council, Belvedere (Marin) 4th/4 for 3 7th/11 for 1 04/04/00 General Election

Maryalice Montoya-Bighinatti...... 4,497, 32.3% Dan Forston...... 1,242, 27.5% Board of Education, Borough School Dist., Fairbanks North Star Lauren Sinott...... 77, 21.75% Board of Supervisors, District 2 (Humboldt) 2nd/2 for 1 City Council, Point Arena (Mendocino) 4th/4 for 3 2nd/2 for 1 03/07/00 General Election Sam Spooner...... 1,912, 33.0% American Samoa (1) Matt Gonzalez...... 10,251, 65.5% City Council, Sebastopol (Sonoma) Elected 2nd/3 for 2 Board of Supervisors, District 5 (City/County of SF) 12/12/00 Run-Off Election Elected 1st/2 for 1 Jon Stevens...... 1,810, 1.7% Tisa (Barefoot) Faamuli...... 59, 0.5% City Council, Santa Monica (Los Angeles) 12/13 for 4 Governor 4/17 for 2 Christine (Chris) Malan...... 681, 10.2% Board of Supervisors, District 4 (Napa) 3rd/3 for 1 Paul Stutrud...... 3,304, 10.1% 03/07/00 General Election City Council, Rohnert Park (Sonoma) 5th/8 for 3 Arizona (14) Louis Nuyens...... 5,079, 38.4% Robert "Roy" van de Hoek...... 2,432, 44.44% Vance Hansen...... 108,554, 7.8% Board of Supervisors (Marin) 2nd/2 for 2 City Council, Malibu (Los Angeles) 2nd/2 for 1 U.S. Senate 3rd/5 for 1 03/07/00 General Election Jeff Sklar...... 17,102, 46.91% Michael Jay Green...... 9,010, 3.1% Marc Salomon...... 329, 2.6% Rent Control Board, Santa Monica (Los Angeles) U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 3rd/4 for 1 Board of Supervisors, District 6 (City/County of San Francisco) Elected 2nd/2 for 2 8th/17 for 1 Daniel Patterson...... 2972, 8.93% Craig Combes...... State Senate, District 11 3rd/3 for 1 Gary Waayers...... 1,351, 4.5% Board of Trustees, (Nevada & Sierra) Elected 1st/1 for 1 Board of Supervisors, District 5 (San Diego County) 5th/7 for 1 Katie Bolger...... 8907, 19.60% 03/07/00 General Election Tim Fitzgerald...... ~900, 17.0% State House of Representatives, District 14 4th/4 for 2 School Board of Trustees, Mammoth Lakes 4th/4 for 3 Colby Crotzer...... 1,659, 33.66% William Crosby...... 5,407, 5.8% Mayor, Morro Bay (San Luis Obispo) 2nd/3 for 1 Seth Kroger...... State House of Representatives, District 9 4th/4 for 2 Board of Education, San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo) Demian Barrett...... 252, 1.1% Eli Manders...... 3,578, 4.8% City Council, District 5 (City/County of San Francisco) George Nelson, Jr...... 4,385, 10.3% State House of Representatives, District 26 4th/4 for 2 9th/11 for 1 Board of Education, Moreno Valley (Riverside) 5th/6 for 2

Bill Moeller...... 5382, 16.17% Creighton Bell...... 397, 5.8% Duane Roberts...... 6,385, 5.8% State House of Representatives, District 11 3rd/3 for 1 City Council, Cotati (Sonoma) 9/13 for 3 Board of Trustees, Anaheim (Orange) 6/6 for 2

John Scudder...... 3,168, 6.3% Susan L. Brinton...... 2,087, 10.89% John Selawsky...... 13,652, 23.3% State House of Representatives, District 25 4th/4 for 2 City Council, Arcata (Humboldt) 5th/7 for 3 School Board, Berkeley (Alameda) Elected 2nd/5 for 2

Jack Strasburg...... 4155, 15.22% Scott Bugental...... 6,918, 7.7% Cynthia Strecker...... State House of Representatives, District 10 3rd/3 for 2 City Council, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) 5/15 for 4 School Board of Trustees, Monte Rio Union School District Board of Trustees (Sonoma) Elected 1st/1 for 1 Susan Campbell...... 25,575, 8.84% Leslie Dalhoff...... 103, 29.1% County Superintendent of Schools (Pima) 3rd/3 for 1 City Council, Point Arena (Mendocino) Incumbent Arian Katovich...... 2,363, 28.13% Elected 1st/4 for 3 Rec and Park District, Isla Vista Elected 1st/3 for 1 William Zaffer...... 39,116, 13.53% County Recorder/Assessor (Pima) 2nd/2 for 1 DNA...... 5,042, 7.6% Kip Krueger...... Elected City Council, Chico (Butte) 7/8 for 4 Planning Group, Ocean Beach (San Diego) Peter Hormel...... 25,687, 8.88% 03/07/00 General Election County Attorney (Pima) 3rd/3 for 1 Robert Doyle...... 611, 14.29% City Council, Fort Bragg (Mendocino) Dave Croteau...... 46,394, 16.04% Colorado (5, 3 victories) County Sheriff (Pima) 2nd/2 for 1 Mike Feinstein...... 21,084, 18.2% City Council, Santa Monica (Los Angeles) Incumbent Alva d’Orgeix...... 170, 10.6% Elected 1st/13 for 4 Ron Forthofer...... 12,365, 4.4% Mayor, Bisbee 4th/6 ; 2 advance to November run-off U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 3rd/4 for 1 09/12/00 Primary Election Dwain Goforth...... 2,884, 15.04% City Council, Arcata (Humboldt) 4th/7 for 3 Judy (“Che”) Davies...... 157 write-ins County Commissioner (Delta) 3rd/3 for 1 Arkansas (3, 1 victory) Jim Guthrie...... 2,231, 17.69% City Council, Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo) 4th/4 for 2 Art Goodtimes...... 2169, 69% Paul Kelly...... 21,193, 35.12% County Commissioner (San Miguel) Incumbent Alderman, Little Rock, Position 9 (Pulaski) - Incumbent Ron Hagg...... 1,634, 8.52% Elected 1st/2 for 1 2nd/3 for 1 City Council, Arcata (Humboldt) 6/7 for 3 Robert Kelly-Goss...... 72, 19.7% Dee White...... 13,945, 24.54% Pia Jensen...... 522, 7.7% City Council, Minturn (Eagle County) Elected 3rd/5 for 3 Alderman, Little Rock, Position 8 (Pulaski) 2nd/3 for 1 City Council, Cotati (Sonoma), Incumbent 5/13 for 3 04/04/00 General Election

Randy Zurcher...... 1,388, 51.87% Rebecca Kaplan...... 43,298, 44.2% Jim Lamb...... 124, 20.8% City Council, Fayetteville Elected 1st/2 for 1 City Council, Oakland (Alameda) 2nd/2 for 1 City Council, Breckenridge Elected 3rd/5 for 3 11st/28/00 Run-Off Election 04/04/00 General Election 274 CANDIDATES, 35 VICTORIES IN 2000

Connecticut (7) Iowa (3) Missouri (17)

Audrey Cole...... 7207, 3% Russell Lovetinsky...... 2773, 22% Evaline Taylor...... 10,612, 0.4% U.S. House of Representatives, District 6 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Reps, District 46 (Iowa City) 2nd/2 for 1 U.S. Senate 3rd/6 for 1

Timothy Bowles...... 1499, 5% Jay Robinson...... 126, 1% Mary Maroney...... 3,266, 1.3% State Senate, District 18 3rd/3 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 90 (Warren& Marion) U.S. House of Representatives, District 3 (St Louis) 3rd/5 for 1 3rd/3 for 1 Mike DeRosa...... 1435, 10% Mike Odell...... 2,907, 1.0% State Senate, District 1 (Hartford & Wethersfield) 2nd/2 for 1 Kevin Lee...... 57 write-in, 3.5% U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 (St Louis) 3rd/5 for 1 County Supervisor, District 3 (Winneshiek) Paul Bassler...... 768, 11% Brenda (Ziah) Reddick...... 3,099, 1.6% State House of Representatives, District 142 2nd/2 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 (St Louis) 3rd/5 for 1 Kentucky (1) Thomas Ethier...... 923, 12% Charles Reitz...... 2,548, 1.1% State House of Representatives, District 65 3rd/3 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 (Jackson) 3rd/5 for 1 Ken Sain...... 3,675, 1.6% Tony Santini...... 253, 4% U.S. House of Representatives, District 4 (Northern KY) Tom Sager...... 1,739, 0.7% State House of Representatives, District 92 (New Haven 3rd/4 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 8 (Phelps) 4th/4 for 1 West Side) 3rd/3 for 1 Devin M Scherube...... l2,388, 0.8% Thomas Sevigny...... 661, 5% Louisiana (1) U.S. House of Representatives, District 9 (Boone) 4th/5 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 17 (Canton & Avon) 3rd/3 for 1 Lavoy (Zaki Baruti) Reed...... 9,010, 0.4% Les Evenchick...... 257, 3.44% Governor 5th/7 for 1 Delaware (1) School Board, New Orleans Ben Kjelshus...... 16,738, 0.7% Lt. Governor 6/7 for 1 Craig Shumaker...... 23,299, 14.0% Maine (3) County Chief Executive (New Castle) 2nd/2 for 1 Paula Elias...... 25,391, 1.1% Derrick Grant...... 1,306, 34.8% Secretary of State 4th/7 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 31 (Portland, West End) District of Columbia (6) 2nd/2 for 1 Ray Vanlandingham...... 18,501, 0.8% Treasurer 4th/7 for 1 Jane Scease...... 1,287, 32.0% Martin Thomas...... 20,960, 13% State House of Representatives, District 52 (Topsham) Mary A. Auer...... 3,287, 5.7% U.S. House of Representatives 2nd/3 for 1 2nd/3 for 1 State Senate, District 3 (St Louis) 3rd/3 for 1

Renee Bowser...... 2,742 11% Benjamin Meiklejohn...... 4,144, 18.34% Peter M. Coogan...... 244, 1.7% City Council, Ward 4 2nd/3 for 1 School Committee At-Large, Portland 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 68 3rd/4 for 1

Tom Briggs...... 4,450, 19% Frank Eller, Jr...... 1,359, 9.1% City Council, Ward 2 2nd/3 for 1 Maryland (1) State House of Representatives, District 87 2nd/3 for 1

Arturo Griffiths...... 27,7676, 11% Jason R. Toon...... 770, 9.1% City Council, At Large 3rd/6 for 1 David M. Gross...... 73 write-in State House of Representatives, District 67 2nd/2 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 3rd/3 for 1 Gail Dixon...... 6,812, 15% Patricia A. Turek...... 1,109, 12.6% Board of Education, Wards 5 & 6 4th/9 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 66 2nd/2 for 1 Michigan (15, 1 win) Thomas E. Smith...... 4,277, 11% Charles Winters...... 425, 2.8% Board of Education, Wards 1 & 2 3rd/9 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 39 (Jackson) Matthew Abel...... 37,334, 0.9% 3rd/3 for 1 U.S. Senate 3rd/7 for 1 Florida (1) Bonnie Bucqueroux...... 3484, 1.2% Nevada (2) U.S. House of Representatives, District 8 3rd/6 for 1 Eric Fricker...... 3,696, 55.69% City Commission, 3, Cocoa Beach Elected 1st/2 for 1 Alan Gamble...... 3790 1.4% Kathy Rusco...... 10,284, 1.7% U.S. House of Representatives, District 4 3rd/6 for 1 U.S. Senate 6 for 1

Georgia (3) Marilyn MacDermaid...... 4191, 1.4% Charles Laws...... 5546, 1.6% U.S. House of Representatives, District 11 3rd/6 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives 3rd/ 7 for 1

Jeff Gates...... 21,247, 0.9% Tom Ness...... 4,127, 1.7% U.S. Senate 5th/7 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 12 3rd/5 for 1 New Jersey (18)

Rovene Askren...... 7, write-in Jon Den Herder...... 1395, 2.7% State House of Representatives, District 109 3rd/3 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 90 3rd/4 for 1 Bruce Afran...... 31,465, 1.08% U.S. SenatePrinceton 3rd/11 for 1 Kerrie Dickson...... 45, write-in Roger McClary...... 392, 6.1% State House of Representatives, District 8 3rd/3 for 1 County Commissioner, District 15 (Kent) 3rd Stuart Chaifetz...... 3442, 1.42% U.S. House of Representatives, District 4 (Brick Township) Reverend Zack Lyde...... 14, write-in William D. Zoyes...... 1792, 13.5% 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 173 3rd/3 for 1 County Commissioner, District 24 (Oakland) 3rd Jerry L. Coleman...... 6433, 2.75% Gaia L. M. Kile...... 6287, 4.6% U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 3rd/6 for 1 Hawaii (77, 1 win) County Sheriff (Washtenaw) 3rd/4 for 1 Joseph Fortunato...... 4230, 2.2% Christie L. Nowak...... 910, 9.1% U.S. House of Representatives, District 8 (Montclair) Ginny Aste...... 1,791, 19.4% City Council, Ann Arbor (Ward 4) 3rd/4 for 1 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 4 3rd/4 for 1 Terry Link...... 391, 15.4% Robert "Gabe" Gabrielsky...... 3248, 1.40% Shaun Stenshol...... 241, 2.9% Town Supervisor, Victor Township (Clinton) U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 11 (Maui) 3rd/3 for 1 James J. Nicita...... 86,390, 1.2% Earl Gray...... 4021, 1.98% Tanny Cazimero...... 1,340, 22% Board of Governors 6/9 for 2 U.S. House of Representatives, District 6 (Red Bank) County Council, District 9 (Island/County of Hawai’i) 3rd/5 for 1 3rd/3 for 1 Scott Trudeau...... 109,192, 1.5% Board of Regents 5th/11 for 2 Michael "MJ" King...... 5093, 1.99% Steve Hirakami...... 1,855, 32.7% U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 (Brick Township) County Council, District 5 (Island/County of Hawai’i) JoAnne Beemon...... 5349, 86% 3rd/6 for 1 2nd/3 for 1 Drain Commissioner (Charlevoix) Elected! 1st/2 for 1 Aaron M. Kromash...... 2377, 1.92% Julie Jacobson...... 3,037, 51.7% William Banny Bishop...... not elected U.S. House of Representatives, District 3 3rd/5 for 1 County Council, District 6 (Island/County of Hawai’i) Drain Commissioner (Hillsdale) Incumbent Elected 1st/2 for 1 Carl Mayer...... 5691, 1.94% U.S. House of Representatives, District 12 (Princeton) Nick Nikhilananda...... 9,73, 24.6% Minnesota (2) 3rd/5 for 1 County Council (Maui) 2nd/2 for 1 Claudette Meliere...... 2437, 1.76% Keiko Bonk...... 9,998, 19.5% Holle Brian...... 2,867, 16.47% U.S. House of Representatives, District 13 (Jersey City) Mayor (Island/County of Hawai’i) 3rd/3 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 62B 3rd/3 for 1 3rd/7 for 1

Matt Taylor...... 2,066, 23.9% Catherine Parrish...... 2984, 1.43% Illinois (1) City Council, Brainerd 3rd/4 for 2 U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 (Camden) 3rd/4 for 1 Martin Hippie...... write-in U.S. House of Representatives, District 16 (Northern Illinois) Green Party Election Results 2000 - a record 274 Candidates & 35 Wins

Lewis Pell...... 2076 Raymond J. Dowd...... 3,083, 15% Curt Larson...... 1,513, 8.47% U.S. House of Representatives, District 9 3rd/5 for 1 State Assembly, District 62 (Manhattan) 2nd/2 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 27 (Pittsburgh) 2nd/3 for 1 John Piekarski...... 5130, 1.07% Mark A. Dunlea...... 4,462, 11% U.S. House of Representatives, District 11 (Denville) State Assembly, District 108 (Saratoga & Rensselaer) 2nd/2 for 1 Eric Prindle...... 2,140, 11.12% 3rd/4 for 1 Stephen M. Edelglass...... 631, 1.9% State House of Representatives, District 85 (Selinsgrove Lewisburg/Mifflinburg) 2nd/2 for 1 Susan Deckert...... 4,925, 4.4% State Assembly, District 93 (Rockland) 4th/4 for 1 Freeholder, Hamilton (Mercer) Javier Enriquez...... 785, 6% John Stith...... 1,701, 8.45% State Assembly, District 50 (Kings) 3rd/3 for 1 Dan Martin...... 4,304, 3.9% State House of Representatives, District 77 (Philipsburg/State College) 3rd/3 for 1 Freeholder, Titusville (Mercer) Vincent A. Ferri...... 699, 1.6% State Assembly, District 95 (Sullivan and Orange) 4th/4 for 1 Thomas "Reggie" Regrut...... not elected Freeholder (Warren) Jon Greenbaum...... 986, 3.3% Rhode Island (3) State Assembly, District 131 (Monroe) 3rd/3 for 1 Paul Silberman...... 4,181, 3.8% Freeholder, Trenton (Mercer) Don Hassig...... Jeff Johnson...... 1,308, 29.88% State Assembly, District 112 2nd/2 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 48 2nd/2 for 1 Robert Tempio...... not elected Freeholder (Bergen) Elizabeth Henley...... 333, 1% Gregg Stevens...... 951, 22.7% State Assembly, District 17 (Nassau ) 4th/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 45 2nd/2 for 1 New Mexico (10, 2 wins) Van Buren D. Howell...... 710, 1.48% State Assembly, District 2 (Suffolk) 4th/4 for 1 Karen Johnson...... 3,958, 8.6% City Council, South Kingstown not elected Dan Kerlinsky...... 13,656, 7% Pierre (Pete) Mercier...... 453, 1.13% U.S. House of Representatives, District 1(Albuquerque) 3rd.3 for 1 State Assembly, District 8 (Suffolk) 4th/4 for 1 Tennessee (1) Marvin Gladstone...... 54,926, 11% Jeffrey Peress...... 301, 1% Statewide Court of Appeals, position 3 3rd/3 for 1 State Assembly, District 13 (Nassau) 4th/4 for 1 Tom Burrell...... 25,756, 1.3% Roger Snyder...... 649, 1.25% U.S. Senate 3rd/7 for 1 Ann Gleason...... 7,638, 38% State Assembly, District 9 (Suffolk) 3rd/3 for 1 State Senate, District 25 (Santa Fe) 2nd/2 for 1 Jason West...... 1,350, 2.7% Texas (5) Alan Cooper...... 350, 8% State Assembly, District 101 (Ulster) 3rd/3 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 12 (Bernalillo) 3rd/3 for 1 Margo Whitney...... 700, 2.0% State Assembly, District 119 (Onondaga) 3rd/3 for 1 Doug Sandage...... 91,329, 1.46% Richard Allen Winecoff...... 493, 5% U.S. Senate 3rd/4 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 8 3rd/3 for 1 Tom Gillespie...... not elected County Executive (Broome) Gary Dugger...... 344,806, 7.32% Melissa MacDonald...... 3,716, 46% Railroad Commissioner, full term 3rd/3 for 1 County Commissioner, District 2 (Santa Fe) 2nd/2 for 1 Ben Zwirn...... 2,278, 19% County Legislature, District 11 (Nassau) 3rd/3 for 3 Charlie Mauch...... 336,781, 7.21% 05/02/00 Special Election Xubi Wilson...... 2,826, 23% Railroad Commissioner, vacant unexpired term 3rd/3 for 1 County Commissioner, District 5 (Santa Fe) 3rd/3 for 1 Don Debar...... write-in Mayor, Ossining Ben Levy...... 450,885, 9.71% Miguel Chavez...... 976, 39.4% State Supreme Court 3rd/3 for 1 City Council, Santa Fe, District 3 Elected 1st/4 for 1 03/07/00 General Election Ohio (1) Aaron Dolson...... 545, 17% Fran Gallegos...... 6,270, 49% Mayor, Denton 05/02/00 Special Election 2nd/2 for 1 Municipal Judge, Santa Fe Elected 1st/3 for 1 Logan Martinez...... 2,075, 6.60% 03/07/00 General Election State House of Representatives, District 39 Washington (3, 1 win) Cliff Bain...... 39,215, 33% (Dayton-Trotwood-Riverside) 3rd/3 for 1 Public Utility Regulatory Commission, District 3 2nd/2 for 1 Joe Szwaja...... 52,142, 19.62% Oregon (10, 2 wins) U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 (Seattle & New York (36) Vashon Island) 2nd/3 for 1

Tre Arrow...... 13,690, 6.02% Kara Ceriello...... write-in Mark Dunau...... 40,991, 1% U.S. House of Representatives, District 3 3rd/5 for 1 U.S. Senate 4th/8 for 1 State House of Representatives, District 36 (Seattle - Ballard, Fremont, Magnolia, Queen Anne) Position 1 5th/5 for 1 Lloyd Marbet...... 32,821, 3% Ronnie Dugger...... 360, 31.66% State Senate 3rd/4 for 1 U.S. Senate 2nd/3 for 1 Paul J. Pickett...... 33,381, 53.81% 09/12/00 Primary Election Public Utility Regulatory Commission, District 1 (Thurston) Whitney Smith...... 7,039, 19.56% Elected 1st/2 for 1 Al Lewis...... 338, 29.73% State Senate, District 8 (Portland) 2nd/2 for 1 U.S. Senate 3rd/3 for 1 09/12/00 Primary Election Christina Alexander...... 3862, 27% Wisconsin (7, 7 wins) State House of Representatives, District 47 (Coos/Lane/ Joseph Dubovy...... 22, 44% Douglas) 2nd/2 for 1 (All races 04/04/00 General Election ) U.S. House of Representatives, District 19 (Westchester) 09/12/00 Primary Election 2nd/2 for 1 Barry Joe Stull...... 2,107, 1.41% Bob Browne...... 100% Paul Gilman...... 1,943, 2% State House of Representatives, District 18 2nd/4 for 1 County Board of Supervisors, District 20 (Douglas) U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 (Queens & Bronx) 4th/5 for 1 Incumbent Elected 1st/1 for 1 David Tillemans...... 2,704, 33% Eve Hawkins...... 2,123, 1% State House of Representatives, District 16 2nd/2 for 1 David Conley...... 100% U.S. House of Representatives, District 28 (Monroe) 3rd/4 for 1 County Board of Supervisors, District 25 (Douglas) Mike Beilstein...... 6,394,18.6% Incumbent Elected 1st/1 for 1 Howie Hawkins...... 3,478, 2% U.S. House of Representatives, District 25 (Onondaga) 3rd/3 for 1 County Commissioner (Benton)Position 2 3rd/3 for 1 John Hendricks...... 100% Mark Jacobs...... 3,084, 1% Lori Burton...... 3444, 7.7% County Board of Supervisors, District 6 (Dane) U.S. House of Representatives, District 19 (Westchester) 4th/4 for 1 County Commissioner (Linn)Position 2 3rd/3 for 1 Incumbent Elected 1st/1 for 1

Dean Loren...... 1,997, 2% Anna Braun...... 5,226, 96.87% Kathryn McKenzie...... 178, 6 U.S. House of Representatives, District 15 (Manhattatn) 3rd/6 for 1 City Council, Ward 7 (City of Salem) Elected 1st/1 for 1 County Commissioner, District 2 (Douglas) Incumbent Elected 1st/2 for 1 Sandy Stevens...... 5,193, 3% U.S. House of Representatives, District 14 (Manhattan) 3rd/3 for 1 Alexander Patterson...... 64,410, 51.43% Soil & Water Director, East Elected 1st/2 for 1 Thomas Powell...... 412, 69.1% Dan Wentzel...... 4,675, 3% County Board of Supervisors, District 5 (Dane) U.S. House of Representatives, District 8 (Manhattan & Brooklyn) 3rd/5 for 1 Incumbent Elected 1st/2 for 1 Pennsylvania (9) Hank Barde...... l927, 1.0% Echnaton Vedder...... 569, 65.2% State Senate, District 24 (Staten Island) 2nd/2 for 1 County Board of Supervisors, District 8 (Dane) William Belitskus...... 13,857, 8.04% Incumbent Elected 1st/2 for 1 Noah Landon...... 1,729, 2.77% U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 2nd/3 for 1 State Senate, District 4 (Suffolk) 3rd/3 for 1 Anne Goeke...... 62,642, 1.34% Larry Harding...... 593, 53.8% Mark Naef...... Auditor General 3rd/6 for 1 Town Supervisor, Somers, District 4 (Kenosha) State Senate, District 48 (Onondaga) 3rd/3 for 1 Elected 1st/2 for 1 Tom Linzey...... 61,216, 1.33% Craig Seeman...... 3,276, 6.4% Attorney General 3rd/5 for 1 State Senate, District 25 (Brooklyn) 2nd/3 for 1 Wyoming (3, 1 win) Barbara Knox...... 68,805, 1.47% Becky N. Shaw...... 1,357, 1.1% John Hanks...... write-in State Senate, District 1 (Suffolk) 4th/4 for 1 State Treasurer 3rd/6 for 1 U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 (Statewide) Dorothy Williams-Pereira...... 1,611 4.9% Jennaro Pullano...... 4,405, 5.10% State Senate, District 15 (Queens) 2nd/2 for 1 State Senate, District 11 (Reading, Berks) 2nd/2 for 1 Amy Moon...... 4076, 10% City Council, Laramie Elected 5th/10 for 5 Elmer Bertsch...... Demo Agoris...... 1,832, 8.00% State Assembly, District 103 (parts of Saratoga & Schenectady State House of Representatives, District 48 2nd/2 for 1 Mike Oxley...... 3rd/3 for 1 City Council, Laramie 10 s advance to Nov. run-off 16/22 for 10 09/12/00 Primary Election Green Party Members Holding Elected Office

Seventy-nine Greens in nineteen states hold office as of March, 2001

Arkansas (1) Michigan (1) Randy Zucker, City Council, Ward 2, Fayetteville JoAnne Beemon, Drain Commissioner, Charlevoix County

California (33) Minnesota (4) Matt Gonzalez, Board of Supervisors, District 5, City/County of San Francisco Russ Stewart, City Council, District 3, Duluth Kerry Arnett, Mayor, Nevada City (Nevada County) David Abazs, Crystal Bay Township Supervisor, Finland Larry Barnett, City Council, Sonoma (Sonoma County) Annie Young, Parks & Recreation Board, at-large Minneapolis Colby Crotzer, City Council, Morro Bay (San Luis Obispo County) Dean Zimmerman, Parks & Recreation Board, District 5, Minneapolis Leslie Dahlhoff, City Council, Point Arena (Mendocino County) Alan Drusys, City Council, Yucaipa (San Bernadino County) New Jersey (1) Mike Feinstein, Mayor, Santa Monica (Los Angeles County) Gary Novosielski, School Board, Rutherford Bruce Frohman, City Council, District 1, Modesto (Stanislaus County) Tim Fitzmaurice, Mayor, Santa Cruz, (Santa Cruz County) New Mexico (4) Debra Keipp, City Council, Point Arena, (Mendocino County) Fran Gallegos, Municipal Judge, Santa Fe Craig Litwin, City Council, Sebastopol (Sonoma County) Cris Moore, City Council, District 2, Santa Fe Kevin McKeown, City Council, Santa Monica (Los Angeles County) Miguel Chavez, City Council, District 3, Santa Fe Christene Mulholland, City Council, San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo County) Gary Claus, City Council, Silver City Bob Ornelas, City Council, Arcata (Humboldt County) Larry Robinson, Mayor, Sebastopol (Sonoma County) New York (1) Phil Rockey, City Council, Oakdale (Stanislaus County) Liz Simonson, Town Board, Woodstock Sam Spooner, City Council, Sebastopol (Sonoma County) Dona Spring, City Council, Berkeley (Alameda County) North Carolina (1) Lew Tremaine, City Council, Fairfax (Marin County) Joyce Brown, City Council, Chapel Hill, Orange County Karl Warkomski, City Council, Aliso Viejo (Orange County) Ted Bertsch, Board of Education, Mendocino County Oregon (6) Marc Sanchez, Board of Education, at-large, City/County of San Francisco Anna Braun, City Council, Ward 7, Salem John Selawsky, School Board, Berkeley (Alameda County) Bill Smaldone, City Council, Ward 2, Salem Cynthia Strecker, Monte Rio Union School District , Board of Trustees (Sonoma County) Alexander (Xander) Patterson, East Soil and Water Director, Portland Jeff Sklar, Rent Control Board, Santa Monica (Los Angeles County) Lisa Melyan , Boardmember, Tualatin Valley Water District, Washington County Selma Spector, Rent Stabilization Board, Berkeley (Alameda County) John Jones, Board Member, Bridge Rural Fire Protection District, Coos County Glenn Bailey, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains John Jones, Board Member, Myrtle Point Health District, Coos County Woody Hastings, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains William Bretz, Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County Pennsylvania (2) Craig Combes, Board of Trustees, Resource Conservation District (Nevada & Sierra Counties) Brian Laverty, Borough Council, Blossburg Dennis Waespi, Castro Valley Sanitary District, Alameda County Katie Scheib, Borough Council, Lewisburg William Bretz, Crest/Dehesa/Harrison Canyon/Granite Hill Planning Group, San Diego County Kip Krueger, Ocean Beach Planning Group, San Diego County Texas (1) John D. Schmidt, Upper San Marcos Watershed District Board, Hays County Colorado (5) (the election has been contested and is in court at press time) Art Goodtimes, County Commissioner, San Miguel County Jim Lamb, Town Council, Breckenridge Virginia (2) Peter Gleichman, Town Council, Ward (Boulder County) David Harbor, Natural Bridge Soil & Water Conservation District Board, Lexington Robert Kelly-Goss, Town Council, Minturn (Eagle County) Phil Welch, Vice-Chair, Natural Bridge Soil & Water Conservation District Brd, Buena Vista Krista Paradise, Board of Trustees, Carbondale Washington (1) Connecticut (1) Paul J. Pickett, Public Utilities Commission, District 1, Thurston County Elizabeth Horton-Sheff, City Council, Hartford Wisconsin (11) Florida (1) Thomas Powell, Board of Supervisors, District 5, Dane County Echnaton Vedder, Board of Supervisors, District 8, Dane County Eric Fricker, City Commission, Seat 3, Cocoa Beach, FL John Hendricks, Board of Supervisors, District 6, Dane County Bob Browne, Board of Supervisors, District 20, Douglas County Hawai’i (1) David Conley, Board of Supervisors, District 5, Douglas County Julie Jacobson, County Council, District 6, Island/County of Hawai’i Kathryn MacKenzie, Board of Supervisors, District 2, Douglas County Bob Olsgard, Board of Supervisors, Washburn County Iowa (2) Barbara Vedder, City Council, Madison, District 2, Dane County Steven Kanner, City Council, Iowa City Jose Sentmanat, City Council, Madison, District 5, Dane County Jim Paprocki, Trustee, Cedar Towhship (Black Hawk County) Larry Harding, Town Supervisor 4, Somers (Kenosha County) Scott Tice, School Board, Cumberland

Green Party election history - www.greens.org/elections elections, candidates, officeholders from 1986 to the present

Green Party in the news - www.greens.org/media articles, video and audio from the press about the Green Party, state-by-state Nader campaign breaks ballot-access barriers Tens of thousands of volunteers, nine lawsuits part of nationwide ballot access drive

By Stacy Malkan Battle for the Ballot plays out tioner was arrested by police for trespass- chine admitted defeat, acknowledging the in courts across the land ing on city property - at an event for which Nader campaign had collected more than In the face of draconian ballot One of primary goals of the Nader he had a permit. enough valid signatures. access laws written by Democrats and 2000 campaign was to challenge unfair Oklahoma judges offered no re- Another victory came in West Vir- Republicans, the Nader/ LaDuke cam- barriers to ballot access. Nader hoped to dress and Nader was denied a place on the ginia after a judge’s decision resulted in paign achieved a major victoryin 2000 imrpove the system for future candidates, ballot. This courtroom defeat was balanced ballot access there when he found that the by qualifying for the ballot in 43 states as well as qualify in as many states as by a sweet victory in Illinois, where a judge state violated the First Amendment right of and the District of Columbia. In doing possiblehimself. Eight lawsuits were ruled against the state’s early signature free association by requiring petitioners to so, they gathered more than half a mil- brought by his campaign challenging nge deadline and ordered Nader be placed on be registered voters of the state. lion signature, collected overwhelm- onerous ballot-access laws in North Caro- the ballot. This remarkable court victory In Ohio, a court victory ordering ingly by volunteers lina, West Virginia, Illinois, South Dakota, began a long battle with the Democrats, the state to place Nader’s party affiliation In state after state, thousands of Idaho, Ohio and Pennsylvania. State Green who went to great lengths to oppose Nader’s next to his name on the ballot was halted Nader/LaDuke and Green Party petition- Parties brought four addtional suits in Geor- placement on the ballot. on appeal. Although a judge ruled in favor ers took to the pavements, satisfying early gia, Indiana, Ohio and Oklahoma. Results Abbout half of the 39,000 Nader of allowing the “Green Party” designation deadlines, arbitrary rules and extremely were mixed, with victoies, defeats and cases petition signatures turned in were chal- on the ballot alongside Nader/LaDuke, the high signature requirements. Volunteers still pending. lenged by the state’s Democratic machine. Secretary of State ordered a special court endured police harassment, intimidation session in attempt to acquire a stay of by Democrats, stolen petitions and even order. The request was denied, but the efforts opposinge them at taxpayer expense. Secretary filed an appeal (at taxpayer ex- Faced with a system that reduces pense) and obtained a stay from the 6th voter choice on Election Day, the Nader/ Circuit Court to leave the words “Green LaDuke 44-ballot victory evidenced mas- Party” off the ballot. The case is pending sive grassroots support. With paid peti- In South Dakota, the court struck tioners in only six states, and with only down the state’s early signature deadline, $150,000 spent, ballot access was achieved but then provided no remedy for Nader to primarily through the labor of dedicated be placed on the ballot in 2000. volunteers, many who did so full time. In contrast, the Reform Party’s Pat Looking ahead to 2004 Buchanan - without a grassroots network The courtroom victories of 2000 of support -- spent $4 million gaining a will ease the way next time in several ballot line in just 28 states (Reform was states. But in other states a legislative already on 21 ballots, primarily thanks to strategy will likely also be needed. Ross Perot’s 1996 campaign and the mil- In 1996, Colorado went from one lions he spent on it. Nader qualified for 34 of the most difficult states to obtain ballot new ballot lines in 2000, buidling upon the access to one of the easiest. Legislation in- ten the Greens had after 1998.) troduced by a progressive Democrat (with The ballot drive also helped mobi- Green support) changed the rules to allow lize the Green Party at the grassroots. “In automatic access to all parties with at least states that had to do ballot access drives, In Oklahoma, petitioners claimed Dozens of Green Party volunteers re- 1,000 registered members. that was the primary mechanism to orga- significant harrassmentd by police. In spite sponded with 40-hour-plus weeks at the In Georgia, Greens are advocating nize new chapters,” said Todd Main, Nader of this, they gathered more than 36,000 Chicago Board of Elections office, fight- legislation that would lower the number of 2000 field director. “It’s an effective orga- signatures - but aproximately 100 shy of the ing line by line to protect signatures chal- required petition signatures from 1% of the nizing tool that gave people something con- amount needed for ballot access. In court, lenged as illegitimate, mostly for registered voters to 1% of the people who crete to organize around.” witnesses testified that harassment by po- unsubstantive reasons. "We saw chal- actually last voted. For the longer term, the ballot drive lice and government officials made it diffi- lenges because someone wrote 'CHGO' Nader field driector Todd Main also gave the Green Party the opportunity cult for Green Party petitioners to collect for Chicago, or 'KING DR.' for Martin would also like to see the 2004 campaign to expand its critical number of states in enough signatures. “Half our volunteers Luther King Jr. Drive,” said Chicago Green start two years earlier in laying the which it has ongoing ballot status as a quit petitioning and many cited police ha- Elizabeth Fraser. groundwork for petitioning. With proper recognized statewide political party - from rassment as the reason,” said Lori Theis, More than 150 volunteers worked planning, Greens can focus in 2004 on the 10 after 1998 to 22 after 2000. state Nader 2000 coordinator. One peti- tirelessly and finally the Democratic ma- campaign itself and not the ballot drives. Impressive ballot drive and tough campaign to protect it put Texas Greens on political map

By David Pollard, Arlington (TX) cals across the state and organizing their their newly found status? To do so after Nader/LaDuke received 137,691 (2.2%) Texas State Green executive committee member database and and Web site in advance. 2000, a party has to achieve 5% or more of statewide and in Travis County, re- Particularly useful on the webthe site was the vote in a statewide race. Three of the ceived 31,000 votes, the fourth highest Of all the successful ballot drives a graph tracking signature-gathering Green Party of Texas’ four statewide can- county vote total nationwide. in 2000, perhaps the most impressive - progress compared to the goal. didates exceeded 5% and received record For a state party that was and significant - was that of the Green “When people started to realize numbers of votes in the process, guaran- founded in March 1999, these are heady Party of Texas, which qualified by over- we were reaching the halfway point, there teeing the party a ballot line in 2002. accomplishments. “Texans now know coming one of the nation’s most difficult was a tremendous burst of energy,” ob- Leading the charge was Ben who the Green Party is,” said state party ballot-access hurdles. served Nathalie Paravicini, Green Party Levy for Texas Supreme Court, who co-chair Beverly Hayes of Houston. Texas Greens collected more than of Texas clearinghouse coor- garnered 9.7%. His “Without using corporate money, we’ve 76,000 signatures in just 75 days, with a dinator. In the final week 450,885 votes were the built the foundation for a progressive grassroots effort earning national politi- alone, with a boost from sev- most ever cast for a party. The next two years will be critical cal acclaim. The drive qualified both eral out-of-state Greens, peti- Green candidate in a for organizing the growth we’ve expe- Nader/LaDuke and four statewide Texas tioners gathered 20,000 sig- state-level race, surpass- rienced. If it can be done in Texas, it can Green candidates, all with a Green Party natures. They were every- ing California Green be done anywhere.” ballot line. where — festivals, libraries, Margaret Garcia’s Texas Greens now have well- Texas election law gives a party parks, events — and even 314,812 votes in 1994 for organized locals in the state’s eight larg- only 75 days to collect 37,381 valid peti- threw parties at critical mo- Secretary of State and est metro areas and are organized on a tion signatures (usually this means gath- ments to keep the momen- 2000 California Green countywide basis in 14 counties. There ering 60,000 to 65,000 signatures, to en- tum going. U.S. Senate candidate are numerous campus Green organiza- sure enough valid ones). Then it further The growth of the Green Party in Medea Benjamin, who received 326,828 tions across the state and the state party’s restricts whom the signatures can be gath- Texas is a significant step forward for the votes. Gary Dugger, who ran for Texas mailing list has grown by 2,000%. Texas ered from, to only registered voters who Greens nationally, establishing the party Railroad Commission, earned 344,806 Greens have also developed relations had not voted in the state’s March pri- in a new place – both geographically and votes ( 7.3)%. Charles Mauch, a candi- with their sister Greens in Mexico – the mary. Greens had to speak to about eight culturally. Previously, most of the Greens’ date for a second Railroad Commission Partido Verde Ecologista de México - par- people for every signature gathered (about growth had been in the West, East and position, received 336,781 votes (7.2%). ticularly in the states of Tamaulipas and 600,000 people in total), just to find enough Upper Midwest. In Texas – the state that These three candidates faced Republi- Nuevo Leon. people eligible and willing to sign. once housed the Reform Party’s national can incumbents and Libertarians, but In January 2001, the first Texas Given the tight qualification pe- headquarters and is Ross Perot’s home - no Democratic challengers. Doug Greens was elected - John D. Schmidt - riod, Greens prepared to seize the mo- the Greens are now the third-strongest Sandage faced a Democrat as well as who won a seat on the Upper San Marcos ment by clearing up legal issues, making party in the state. Republican and Libertarian for U.S. Sen- Watershed Reclamation and Flood Con- media contacts, forming several new lo- Would Texas Greens maintain ate, and earned 91,329 votes (1.5%). trol District Board, Hays County. Fundraising: Millions raised the clean way

Eight point one million dollars ... tributions with an upper limit of $2,000. House parties were also effective, nors are all just regular people,” she said. not bad for a campaign that began with a The vast majority was raised in donations and Andreson believes they will become "We need to continue to promote goal of raising $5 million, and was skepti- averaging around $60 - demonstrating an even more important tool for the houseparties aggressively as a way to get cal internally of reaching even that. the substantial grassroots nature of the Green Party in the future. “Always the involved,” But by October 10th, the Nader/ camapign. low-donor fund-raiser will be much more The campaign continues to raise LaDuke Campaign blew past $5 million One $2,000 check was even writ- useful to the Green Party because we don’t funds, all of which must be spent covering raised and, aided by a late explosion of ten by a 13-year-old boy who decided to have the swanky rich people that the expenses and on winding-down costs, ac- online donations, continued to surpass donate all the money he received at his bar Democrats and Republicans do. Our do- cording to federal law. expectations by raising $3 million more mitzvah. A note from the boy’s mother by Election Day. explained that the money was all his, and A Day in the Life While this paled in comparison to that he was donating it of his own volition. Candidate hits of Candidate Nader the hundreds of millions of dollars spent Direct mail was the most profit- on behalf of the corporate-funded candi- able fund-raising tactic, according to all 50 states October 10, 2000 dates Bush and Gore (Gore spent $8 mil- Nader 2000 fund-raising director Darci 8 a.m. Flight from Washington, D.C. to Detroit lion on television ads in Michigan alone) - Andreson. Online donations and e-mail 11 a.m. Press Conference with the Economic Club of Ralph Nader was the only presi- it was still the most ever raised for a pro- solicitations were the next most success- Detroit (broadcast on C-SPAN) dential candidate in 2000 to cam- gressive, third party U.S. presidential can- ful, although neither was fully utilized 11:20 a.m.Meeting with students paign in all 50 states, a feat he accom- didacy . It also represented a maturation until the fall. 11:30 a.m.Reception with business, government and plished before even officially accept- point for the progressive movement, as it The Super Rallies made money - community leaders ing the Green Party nomination in took itself seriously enough to raise sub- while generating great publicity and mo- 12 p.m. Lunch June. stantial amounts of money, and to do so in mentum - but much of the revenue gener- 12:40 Speech After the convention, Nader con- an ethical manner. ated went toward expenses. “Still, “ ac- 3:05 Flight from Detroit to Chicago O’Hare tinued to campaign across the coun- The campaign was a clear victory cording to Andresen, “{the rallies} were 3:30-6 Media interviews try, and in the last six weeks of for the clean elections movement, as one of the more profitable fund raising 6 p.m. Fund-raiser election season, he traveled full time, Nader/LaDuke accepted no PAC contri- tools, only because this campaign wasn’t 7 p.m. Labor Rally with Teamsters giving several speeches and often butions and raised no soft money. All the sort of campaign where we raised a lot 9-10:20 Speech at Chicago Super Rally hitting more than one state a day. funds raised came through individual con- from big donors in the first place.” 10:20 Media interviews Nader sues Commission on Presidential Debates

By Stacy Malkan Not only was the Commission on Presi- cause of his public dential Debates (CPD) able to exclude positions that are "In future elections, this country Nader from the debates - despite polls contrary to the two- will be rid of the Commission on Presi- indicating that the majority of Americans party message be- dential Debates once and for all,"- vowed wanted him included - but they were ing conveyed by Ralph Nader after the first presidential able to keep him away from the thou- the commission debate October 3rd. sands of media on site, and thus further and its agents," the On that day, as George W. Bush silence his political message. lawsuit states. and Al Gore debated a narrow set of is- "On top of the many other serious Just hours sues -- and 10,000 protesters outside were blunders, mistakes and demonstrations after Nader an- ignored by the media Nader was met by of arrogance generated by this corrupt nounced the law- three police officers and a member of the debate commission - which is controlled suit, the CPD re- debate commission, as he arrived at the by Al Gore and George W. Bush - this fused to allow him debate viewing auditorium. unlawful exclusion will be the beginning onto the debate site Although he had a transferable of the end of the debate commission mo- in St. Louis, despite ticket to enter the auditorium (a gift from nopoly. That monopoly is obstructing the fact that Nader a college student who said giving up the millions of Americans from access to the had credentials to ticket was "a small sacrifice for the good presidential candidates in a multi-candi- enter, which were of the nation"). Nader was denied date debate forum," Nader said. "I was issued by a college entrance and threatened with arrest. excluded on political grounds. No other television station Later, as he tried to access the grounds considerations were communicated." crew who wanted as an invited guest- to do an interview of Nader filed suit in the United to interview him. Fox News, he was again denied entrance. States District Court in Massachusetts Although two against the CPD on October 17 (the date campaign aides of the third and final were allowed to presidential debate). enter with the The suit charges that same credentials, the CPD, by using Nader was stopped state police power to at the gate -- and again prevented from Theresa Amato. "We feel differently". The exclude Nader from speaking with the media on site. campaign is filing an appeal to the U.S. the viewing audito- Nader plans to file suit against Supreme Court, arguing the FEC can not rium and by prevent- the CPD for their actions in St. Louis. The interpret the law to allow corporations to ing him from appear- first case filed in Boston is still pending. fund the CPD. ing at a pre-scheduled Another lawsuit he filed challenging the In the next four years, grassroots interview with Fox corporate financing of the debates was mobilization will also be a focus of efforts News, violated fed- unsuccessful. It sought to strike down to overcome the CPD. Nader has prom- eral law and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) ised to help start a "people’s debate com- Massachusetts Civil regulations that have allowed corpora- mission", controlled by citizens, that would Rights Act. tions to contribute millions of dollars to organize presidential debates in the inter- "Mr. Nader was help stage the debates. The lawsuit est of voter education, not of preserving treated differently argued that the FEC regulations directly the two-party duopoly by the Democrats from all others in vio- violate federal law, which prohibits and Republicans. Campaign sources say lation of his right to corporations from making contributions Nader is considering establishing a new free association and or expenditures in connection with non-profit organization to work on this equal protection un- political campaigns for federal office. project (long with other electoral reform der the law merely "By definition, debates are parti- issues.) because of his politi- san events which showcase the positions Nader hopes to attract media, la- cal position, his affili- of those candidates selected to partici- bor and civic sponsors into a coalition of ation with the Green pate" said Greg Luke, an attorney with organizations to host the next presidential Party, his criticism of the National Voting Rights Institute. debates, with sponsoring organizations the Commission and Despite these arguments, a fed- too large and broad for any candidate or the Democratic and eral court ruled in favor of the defendants, the media to ignore. Republican parties, and the ruling was upheld on appeal. their candidates and "The judge said the rules were ambiguous Stacy Malkan was the assistant press secre- A large Ralph Nader puppet stands with thousands of D2KLA their corporate spon- but the FEC has the right to interpret tary for Nader 2000. She currently lives in demonstators outside the Democratic convention in Los Angeles sorships, and be- the rules," said Nader campaign manager Breckenridge, Colorado. (photo by Dang Ngo) Super Rallies from Portland to D.C. draw largest crowds of campaign Tens of thousands pay to hear Nader speak at stadium events across the nation By Stacy Malkan Green Party organizer Laird Naderhood. I figured we could get 6,000 a sudden you’re in this huge arena and On Sept. 22, 12,000 people turned Hastay, 54, will never forget the moment falling out of bed. Filling up the Coli- there’s a real sense of solidarity. It was a out to the Target Center to see Nader — on Aug. 25, 2000 when he realized every- seum, that’s where the work would come tremendous feeling, working 14-,18-, 20- sending a sigh of relief through the cam- thing was going to be all right. in.” Hastay says. hour days for six weeks and have that paign ranks and solidifying the strategy He was, at that point, about as “I thought that would be some- many people come out. We realized we for the next weeks of the campaign. nervous as a person could be. Six weeks thing really special and a real surprise.” are not alone.” Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder of sleepless nights and 18-hour work Indeed. No other presidential Hastay likes to recall the Scrip- joined the line-up for the next big event days had come down to this: How many candidate was pulling in crowds even ture when he recounts what happened in Seattle the following day, and nearly people were actually going to show up at close to that size. in Portland that day, and the grueling six 10,000 turned out. the vacuous 10,000-seat Portland Coli- “My philosophy is that if Nader’s weeks before when a dedicated group of On Oct. 1, a Nader rally at the Boston seum, the largest Fleet Center drew area venue rented another 12,000, and by a presidential in Chicago — the candidate in de- city where many cades? skeptics said it As event couldn’t be done, time approached, and where volun- panic was starting teers were also to set in. With working overtime about half the on the battle for the tickets sold, ballot — an over- Hastay was flow crowd of 9,500 counting on thou- turned out at the sands of walk-up Chicago Pavilion. ticket sales, but Three days later, the plaza sur- the pinnacle event of rounding the the campaign took Coliseum was place at Madison eerily empty. Square Garden. “Then all Packed into the ev- of a sudden, there ery seat up to the was a long line, rafters, 15,000 hundreds of people paid $20 each yards long,” he re- to attend the event, m e m b e r s . billed as “Nader “People were Rocks the Garden.” pouring over the Special guests Su- hill into the plaza. san Sarandon, Tim It looked like an invasion.” really a major candidate, he should be Green volunteers conceived of and then Robbins, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, They kept coming and coming. able to fill up a large coliseum, and if he pulled off the biggest surprise of the Ani DiFranco and Patti Smith joined When it was finally time for the event to can’t, he’s not a major candidate. And I 2000 election. Nader and regular rally speakers Phil begin, Hastay looked around the Port- was pretty sure he was a major candidate “I just keep thinking of the say- Donahue and Michael Moore. land Coliseum and realized with great in Portland,” Hastay says. ing in Ecclesiastes: Cast thy bread upon Last-minute rallies in Texas and relief: there was not one empty seat. Now that he had himself con- the waters, for you shall find it after California drew 6-8,000. And just two Before the 10,000-plus scream- vinced it was possible, it was time to many days ...My faith in how democ- days before the election, at Washington, ing fans, Ralph Nader took the stage and convince someone else: Greg Kafoury, a racy works and grassroots politics, boy D.C.’s MCI Center, another 10,000 people the Coliseum exploded in confetti. “I Portland attorney with ties to Nader, one was that strengthened.” turned out to hear about “the politics of almost broke down,” Hastay says, even of the only people, Hastay figured, who joy and justice,” as Nader calls it, in the now near tears as he recalls the scene. “I was “audacious enough” to talk Nader A new campaign strategy nation’s capital. thought, that’s the sort of reception Ralph into something like this. He was, and Back at the campaign headquar- Nader deserves. It was one of the most Kafoury raised the stakes even higher, The super rally effect ters in Washington, D.C., the idea was satisfying moments of my life.” deciding they should charge people to brewing: If it could happen in Portland, A total of about 100,000 people It was also a significant turning attend the rally. the 40th largest city in the country, why experienced the intense energy and radi- point for the Nader Campaign. The steering committee unani- not duplicate the effort elsewhere — in cal politics of the largest presidential cam- mously backed the idea. “Dozens of The Portland story Boston or Seattle, for instance? paign events of the 2000 election. Thou- people agreed to this crazy idea,” Hastay A series of rallies pulling crowds of sands more watched the Minneapolis, recalls. Now it was time to figure out how It’s something of a legend in 10,000 seemed like the perfect way to call Boston and D.C. events on C-Span. So to pull it off. Portland, Oregon, that on a rainy Thurs- attention to Nader’s exclusion from the what was the outcome for the campaign? For the next six weeks, the Port- day in 1996, without much publicity and debates, and to break through the vir- The rallies built momentum, abso- land crew — Kafoury, Hastay, Mark with just a week’s notice, 2,000 people tual media blackout that had been im- lutely energized the campaign and the McDougal, Xander Patterson, Pattie crowded into a high school auditorium posed upon the campaign. Rallies could candidate, and even got the attention of Frost-Jones, Jason Morgan and many to see Ralph Nader, and a thousand more help build momentum, energize the the reluctant press. Front-page stories in others — kicked into overdrive, working were turned away at the door. troops in the field and raise money to the Chicago Tribune and Boston Globe full time promoting the rally, selling tick- Four years later, in May, an- boot. And so the super rally strategy hailed the events as great successes. ets at $7 apiece and working out the other Nader campaign rally in Portland was born. Portland’s Oregonian, which carried a logistics. About 150 volunteers were drew an overflow crowd of 750 with less The next event was set for the third derogatory story about the Greens the mobilized to sell tickets, and another 500- than a week’s notice. “Nader told us to week in September, at the Target Center day of the first super rally, changed its 600 canvassed around the state. get a bigger place next time,” recalls in Minneapolis. “That was the biggest tone completely in later coverage. By the end of day Thursday, Aug. Hastay, a member of the Portland cam- nail biter,” says Charlie Cray, who was “The Oregonian realized that 11-12,000 24, there were 5,400 confirmed ticket sales, paign steering committee, a group of hired by the campaign to help organize readers showed up at a rally and they and the Portland crew began to relax. mostly Greens that formed the previous the super rallies. “It was the first big one could no longer be quite so snide about And as the people started pour- winter to work on the Nader campaign. (after Portland), we only had three weeks the campaign,” says Hastay. ing over the hill into the plaza, it soon It was up to Hastay to find a lead time ... We didn’t know if we could He believes the rallies built a tidal became apparent that there weren’t even venue for Nader’s next visit to Portland fill the place. C-Span was covering the wave of momentum that helped carry enough tickets. The Greens convinced in August. Realizing there was nothing event, and there was a lot on the line as the campaign. “The campaign should the Coliseum staff to let them sell 600 available between the 3,000 range and to whether we could keep doing these have faded after Labor Day; it didn’t, and tickets past the kill line. The final turnstile Portland Coliseum’s 10,000 capacity, rallies. The anxiety level was pretty high.” the super rallies were the reason,” he county was 10,579, and many more were Hastay began to think big. But the Minnesota Greens had a strong says. “They gave an emotional lift, a turned away at the door. What if Nader could fill the organization, and students were send- focus for organizing in cities.” Inside, McDougal took the stage Coliseum? He thought it was possible. ing busloads of people to the event. Even He thinks the super rallies probably and told the crowd, “Look to your left, “We had a committee in place, Granny D., the famous campaign-finance even changed the outcome of the elec- look to your right, there are no empty six weeks lead time, lots of great volun- proponent and a scheduled speaker at tion. “The series of rallies spooked the seats.” The place exploded in cheers. “A teers and a history of a good campaign in the rally, pitched in to help. When she Gore campaign and made them divert lot of people said it was like a religious 1996. Some of the best precincts in the landed in town, instead of going to her resources, and I think that cost them the experience,” Hastay says. “You think country surround Memorial Coliseum. hotel, she went straight downtown and election. (Sen. Joseph) Leiberman was in you’re a left wing isolated nut, then all of It’s right smack in the middle of the passed out fliers for the event. Oregon the day before the election, when (continued next page) Endorsements: Newspapers, labor unions, and others support Nader Publications Citizen’s Committee Reform Party defectors out the years Ralph Nader has sought Citing concern about growing cor- More than 100 prominent lead- Three former leaders of the Re- to not only call the nation’s attention to porate influence over the U.S. political ers, including celebrities with social jus- form Party of Texas endorsed Nader, the economic, social, political and envi- system and the convergence of the two tice backgrounds, union leaders, envi- saying Nader’s goals are closer to those ronmental plight of rural America and major parties in the ronmental activists and leading academ- of the original Reform Party than party its agricultural backbone, but his con- wrong direction, at nominee Pat current efforts to enforce anti-trust laws least 18 publica- Buchanan. against corporate concentration while tions nationwide “Ralph Nader assuring consumers of safe, healthy, endorsed Ralph represents the best nutritious, available and fairly-priced Nader and Winona hope for the work- food has been unmatched by any cur- LaDuke . ing men and rent candidate for the nation’s presi- women in Amer- dency.” The list of ica,” said Paul endorsers included Truax, co-founder Health Care Professionals three of the of the Reform More than 180 physicians, nation’s leading Party of Texas and nurses, and other health profession- progressive week- former executive als signed a letter supporting Nader’s lies - the Village committee mem- single-payer health care plan. Nader’s Voice (New York), ber. For-mer Re- plan calls for everyone to be included Los Angeles Weekly form Party of in a single, comprehensive public plan and San Francisco Texas state chair covering all medically necessary ser- Bay Guardian. - of- Lee Pepper and vices — including acute, rehabilita- fering evidence of former Tarrant tive and long-term care, mental- the growing sup- County Reform health services, dental care, prescrip- port among pro- chair Sandy Madi- tion drugs and medical supplies. The gressives for elec- son also officially plan would allow access to personal- toral alternatives. endorsed Nader. ized care with a local primary care “Nader The American physician, and free choice of doctors and the Green Reform Party also at all times. Party are the only announced sup- national political port of Nader at the Hemp Industries Association force willing to Green Party con- “Nader is the only candidate speak out against vention in June. with the courage to talk about hemp the stranglehold and other environmental and economic that corporate Family Farmers issues that concern our members,” says America has on our Some 52 nation- the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), political system,” ally known family the oldest hemp industry trade organi- wrote the Village farmers and rural zation, which officially endorsed activists an- Nader/LaDuke. Voice. “We believe nounced the for- "For members of the hemp in- Nader would mation of a Family dustry, there is no other choice," said battle poverty and Farmers’ National HIA President Cindy Biggers. "Ralph inequality, rein in Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam leaves the stage after performing at the Chi- Alliance for Nader is the only candidate with the globalization and cago Super Rally. photo by Stacy Malkan Nader/LaDuke courage to talk about hemp and other an imperial foreign and urged all who environmental and economic issues that policy, abandon the ics, publicly supported Nader/LaDuke believe in and support the nation’s fam- concern our members." Both Nader war on drugs, and work to ban the death and called for their for the inclusion in ily farm system of agriculture and the and LaDuke spoke numerous times penalty. The Clinton-Gore administration the debates. The Citizens Committee revival of rural America to join in voting throughout the campaign in favor of has done little in these vital areas, choos- was co-chaired by Phil Donahue, Jim for them. legalizing industrial hemp cultivation ing to abet big money and placate conser- Hightower, Randall Robinson and Su- In a statement of support, the in the U.S., citing benefits to farmers vatives instead. The Democrats and Re- san Sarandon. newly-formed Alliance said: “Through- and the environment. publicans, in fact, share common ground on most of these issues.” The list of newspaper endorsers also included: the Amery Free Press (WI); Super Rallies from Portland to D.C. draw largest BlackElectorate.com; Metroland and CITY; Lancaster Times, Clinton Courier crowds of campaign and Worcester Magazine (MA); New England’s Advocate Chain; the Detroit he should have been in Florida,” are very sophisticated, high spirited, op- “If you are interested in preserving Metro Times; the Winsted Journal (CT); Hastay says. timistic and committed,” he says. “They the status quo in this country, you’d be Colorado Daily; Aspen Times (CO); In “We Greens, we have to take the understand diversity and justice issues very worried about it. But if you’re Pittsburgh; the Michigan Citizen; and the responsibility and the credit for what deep in their bones. This is a broad-based interested in preserving American revo- City Beat of Ohio and Kentucky. we did. We took out the DLC.” coalition. The commitment to this gen- lutionary tradition and preserving de- He offers no apologies on that. eration of staying in the struggle is even mocracy, it’s inspiring.” Labor for Nader “I’m vehemently opposed to Gore,” deeper than it was 30 years ago,” he says. `Labor support for Ralph Nader he says. “We had the opportunity in 2000 included the endorsements of to vote for the best person in public two of the most progressive national life, running against two of the unions in America, the 31,000-member worst. I don’t think we need to California Nurses Association (CNA) apologize for not allowing the DLC and the 35,000-member United Electri- To have another four years.” cal Union (UE). Other endorsements But he thinks the true value of came from the AFSCME 1108 in Los the rallies, and the Nader Cam- Angeles, Seattle Teamsters 174 and the paign, are found in the effect they had on the thousands of young Greater Seattle American Postal Work- people who helped organize the ers Union (APWU). rallies and filled many of the seats `Additionally, rank and file in the areas. members, local union stewards and of- “The best thing about this cam- ficers in locales throughout America paign was going around the country joined together to form Labor for Nader and meeting all the young people. A committees in cities across the country. lot of people cut their teeth on this The growing ‘blue-green’ alli- campaign and will be fighting for ance that began with the fight against years to come,” Hastay says. NAFTA in 1993-1994, and hit the streets He disagrees with the notion in Seattle against the WTO, is now mani- that so-called 'Gen. Xers' are lazy festing itself in the electoral area. or politically disinterested. “They Phil Donahue and Ben Harper give interviews at Madison Square Garden. photo by Stacy Malkan Campus Green organizing portends well for Green Party's future

By Stacy Malkan and Tom Adkins This past December, a network of “The student debates were highly Campus Greens in Kansas gathered the students involved with the Nader Cam- successful, obviously, because we had most petition signatures to get Nader If the Green Party’s future lies paign founded the Campus Greens, an the issues on our side,” said Eastwood. on the ballot in 2000, and they are with the nation’s youth, then hope springs umbrella organization uniting the many “When we were able to debate, we tore providing tremendous help in building eternal after what happened on college Campus Greens chapters that emerged up the Democrats and Republicans, just the new Kansas Green Party. The students campuses in 2000 as a result of the Nader/ in recent months. as Nader would have done if he were have also organized public forums on LaDuke campaign. “Our goals are essentially two- able to debate Bush and Gore.” Green issues such as election reform. Inspired by the campaign’s pro- fold,” says Eastwood, , who is now a mem- On some campuses, Nader repre- At the University of California at gressive message, thousands of students ber of the Campus Greens’ Board of Di- sentatives were even excluded from Santa Cruz, Campus Greens set up got involved and provided a key core of rectors. “We want to function as a net- student debates, just as Nader himself speaking engagements at the local Santa Nader’s support. They made up 50% or work of individual chapters, and also fa- was excluded. On those campuses, stu- Cruz high schools – and at two of those more of his volunteers in many cities, cilitate the participation of students in dents “protested the hell out of the de- schools, Nader received 90 percent of the sent busloads of supporters to Nader Green Party politics — as activists, cam- bates,” said Eastwood. “mock vote.” The Campus Greens are super rallies and direct actions, filled col- paign workers and even candidates.” Students held solidarity protests continuing their high school outreach lege auditoriums to overflow capacity, in 25 states and 150 campuses during the and, during the spring semester, outreach- and voted for him at higher percentages Students for Nader/LaDuke first presidential debate on October 3rd. ing to minority communities and working than the general population. They also made up a vast majority of the on campus labor issues. ‘Students for Nader’ groups or- “Campus organizing was the ob- 10,000 protesters that day in Boston itself, At George Washington Univer- ganized on more than 900 campuses na- vious highlight of our field strategy,” says where the debate was held. sity in the nation's capital, the GW Cam- tionwide, actively involving at least Nader 2000 staffer and veteran campus Finally, Students for Nader were pus Greens turned out more than 150 25,000 students, and becoming the only organizer Jacob Harold. “You couldn’t the predominant campus-based groups people for a student protest against the progressive group on many campuses attend a single campaign event and not on many campus to run full-scale Get Out Commission on Presidential Debates, working to get young people involved in sense the enthusiasm that young people The Vote (GOTV) drives. In contrast, the and brought an estimated 500 students to electoral politics. brought to our efforts. Ralph loved the Republican and Democratic parties often the MCI Nader/LaDuke Super Rally. “Students are running some great students, and the students loved Ralph.” encouraged their student counterparts to After the election, the GW Campus Greens issue-based campaigns, working on the Students for Nader/LaDuke used get involved in community GOTV drives initiated outreach to other progressive PIRGs, racial justice issues, United a three-fold strategy to mobilize youth. - rather than campus drives - apparently student groups — including the NAACP, Students against Sweatshops, Students First, they initiated a nonpartisan voter finding little value in the student vote. the Muslim Student Association and the for a Free Tibet, etc. But until Students registration effort, resulting in the Campaign to End the Death Penalty — for Nader/LaDuke, there was little inde- registration of tens of thousands of new Groups Build Coalitions to form a Progressive Student Alliance pendent progressive activism around voters. Recognizing that absentee voting push for reform that will run a full slate of candidates for third-party electoral work to change the is a barrier on college campuses to high the GW Student Association this spring. plutocratic power structure,” says Corey voter turnout, Students for Nader also "The success stories at many college At Grinnell College, Campus Eastwood, national student coordinator hosted Absentee Voting Nights and campuses across the country," according Greens are protesting the expansion of a for Nader 2000. invited students to parties — with their to Harold, "demonstrates that the mo- local Monsanto plant. “Electoral politics is a key to cre- absentee ballots as admission tickets — mentum built up around the Nader Cam- “Across the country, we’re seeing ating long-term change. Issue-based cam- to discuss politics and vote that night. paign is continuing forward, as a Green Campus Greens fighting corporations paigns alone will not get the job done.” Next, Students for Nader edu- movement with enormous potential." on their campuses like Sodexho Marriott, Now, thanks to the infrastructure cated voters by organizing teach-ins In Portland, OR., students from and successfully running slates of built up around the Nader Campaign, and bringing progressive speakers to each of the area’s four major colleges are candidates for their student govern- college campuses across the country are campus. They also participated in cam- working together with a local Pacific Green ments,” explains Eastwood. poised to carry the electoral torch for- pus debates, representing Nader/LaDuke Party chapter to get an Instant Runoff ward through a formal, nationally orga- and debating student representatives Voting initiative on the state ballot in 2002. nized network of Campus Greens. from other parties. continued next page A Call to Action from the Campus Greens

WE are students of America’s colleges and univer- ism merges with corporatism or that defeatism is levels of politics—as candidates and activists ca- sities, and we strive for solidarity in support of the accepted as pragmatic. pable of rejuvenating the democratic culture. Ten Key Values of the Green Party. Though we were born into a culture designed to keep our There can be no mistaking the urgency of the politi- We are students, and our predecessors have helped political expectations low and have grown to see cal challenges our generation faces—overwhelm- to bring about nearly every major progressive re- many of our peers ravaged by complacency and ing environmental problems from global warming form over the last thirty years in movements for fatalism, we are disenchanted with the state of to the accumulation of toxins in our air and water, civil rights and equal rights, against war and corpo- American democracy and determined to build a and social problems resulting from the systematic rate power, for environmental sustainability and progressive political movement that empowers citi- denial of long-standing inequities between races, preservation. The Campus Greens shall seek to zens to overcome the grave social, economic and genders, and sexual orientations. To confront these augment the power of student citizens by uniting environmental problems facing our nation and challenges, we must search for a democratic alter- Greens in college communities nationwide and help- world. ing them to run and win progressive campaigns. As We have come of age in a society whose history and the shameful re- values are shaped by materialism and cent debacle in Florida pain- which is suffering from a diminished fully demonstrate, power in common ground of experience, values, America is a held only by and opportunity, reflected in the grow- those groups with full en- ing divide between the rich and the poor, franchisement—those who the powerful and the silenced. We are face no barriers getting to inheriting a world governed by unprec- the ballot and do not hesi- edented corporate power, a global tate to get on the ballot. The economy structured to create corporate great political struggles of profits without moral restraint, and a our history—civil rights, nation whose democratic infrastructure women’s rights, and labor has so dissipated that debates over the rights—have been struggles most fundamental elements of our exist- for enfranchisement. We are ence—the food we eat, the air we breathe, obligated to our forbears in the media that shape our perception of the world— native to the two-party system that sustains itself the quest for social justice, and as citizens dedicated are absent from mainstream political discourse. only by maintaining the complacency of the popu- to affecting a paradigm shift in our time, to over- lace. In practicing a dull brand of teleprompter come our own personal trepidations and engage Many individual members of our generation have politics, producing look-alike candidates, stifling fully in the process of electoral politics. observed the conditions they live within and asked the growth of third parties, maintaining a corrupt themselves the question: How should I live? How system of campaign finance, and directing party We offer our personal commitments and our recog- should I live, mentally, physically, and politically in resources away from the grassroots organizing that nition, so absent from modern politics, that social a culture that offends my notion of propriety with would shift power from corporate national commit- transformation begins with individuals looking in- its commercial excess and deliberate ignorance of tees to ordinary citizens, the two parties have built ward, and making changes in their own lives. We the effects of its social, economic and environmental a political system that does not attract one-fifth of dedicate ourselves to a politics of hope, conscience policies on future generations? Though our an- eligible 18-to-29 year-olds to the polls. In stark and sacrifice, that we may build a society based on swers to this question are disparate, all include the contrast to the two major parties, we believe that the values of sustainability and social justice or record sentiment that we cannot tolerate complacency or best way to engage young people in politics is to our resistance to one that is not. set our political expectations so low that progressiv- facilitate the participation of youths at the highest www.campusgreenparties.org Greens impact R2K and D2K in the streets of

ally on the streets during the week’s many Philadephia and Los Angeles actions. As in Philadelphia, Greens car- ried clipboards in the marches while ta- Greens provide electoral alternative for social movements bling at various events. But instead of petition signatures, they gathered Green After the vigorous anti-WTO, borrowed press pass to infiltrate the Re- voter registrations, gaining hundreds of World Bank and International Monetary publican Convention. Once the Repub- new party members in a short week. Par- Fund demonstrations in Seattle and Wash- licans (the Florida delegation, in fact) fig- ticularly successful was the LA Greens ington, DC, the nation’s eyes turned to ured out who he was, they asked him to local, which tabled in front of the Shadow Philadelphia and Los Angeles, where leave — or sign up. He left. Convention for up to 10 hours a day. thousands were expected to take to the st By the August 1 qualification dead- The other major statement Greens A ten year old activist wearing a bright Green Party shirt does streets to protest the Republican and line, bolstered by the extra cushion R2K made in both cities when carrying ban- her part by helping sell D2K T-shirts at the Convergence Democratic Party conventions. Greens in provided, Greens turned in more than ners and signs, was that Nader belonged Center in Los Angeles. both East and West took advantage of the 41,000 signatures, easily more the 21,700 in the debates. In LA, a giant Nader pup- organizing opportunities presented, as needed. pet made by the Santa Cruz Greens also thousands of people critical of the nation’s In California, the state Green marched with demonstrators, and stalked political status quo concentrated in these Party made attending D2K a major the Democrats from behind the barbed two cities. priority, deferring an otherwise already wire fence across from the Staples Center In Philadelphia, Greens were in scheduled state meeting in order to send where the convention was held. the final days of their statewide signature- party members to Los Angeles. Unlike On D2K’s first night, a sunset gathering drive to qualify Nader and sev- their eastern counterparts, California beach party was held beneath the Santa eral in-state Green candidates for the Penn- Greens have been on the ballot since Monica Pier, to protest the other corpo- sylvania ballot. According to Philadel- 1992, so their strategy was to ensure a rate-funded event being held on the Pier phia Green Kevin Murphy, “R2K was a significant Green presence throughout of the ‘Blue Dog Democrats’, the conser- blessing for the ballot access efforts as D2K, to let those in attendance know vative Democratic caucus that often votes protesters and sympathizers flocked to there was a progressive electoral alterna- with the Republicans. Green U.S. Senate Philadelphia by the thousands in the days tive to the Democrats and Republicans. candidate Medea Benjamin and Santa preceding the convention.” To make the Green presence clear, Monica City Councilmember Kevin California Green U.S. Senate candidate Medea Benjamin Nader spoke at R2K’s big Universal speaks at Santa Monica Beaach sunset rally. San Francisco California Greens printed up a large McKeown were featured speakers. Green Matt Spencer holds sign in background. Health Care rally and Greens gathered number of bright green t-shirts, with Afterwards, the Green Party hosted its (photo by Blake Mikkelsen, Independent Media Center) hundreds of signatures there, as well as bright yellow lettering that stood out ex- own party on the Pier, just a few hundred during R2K’s major Unity 2000 march traordinarily well in the marches, dem- feet away from the Blue Dogs, forcing and rally the next day. Nader was the only onstrating that Greens were part of the them to pass by Green and Nader 2000 presidential candidate who addressed the movement in the streets. These shirts banners to get to their own event. National Youth Convention, which took were extremely popular with marchers place at Drexel University. Nader used a and demonstrators, and were sold liter-

D2K t-shirt won in the streets of Los Angeles (shirt design by Lynne Serpe, photo by Kevin McKeown)

Gene Miller (right) of the Philadelphia Greens talks with potential Nader supporters at the Unity 2000 march and rally on July 30. Gene was the Green Party candidate for Philadelphia City Council in 1999, when he received 6% of "Let Nader debate" was a consistent message of Greens during D2K and R@K the vote. Behind him, Philly Green Charles Sherrouse collects a signature to put Nader/LaDuke on the Pennsylva- (First photo by Tera Little, second by Mark Vallen, Art for a Change) nia ballot. (Photo by Jody Kolodzey) Campus Greens portend future of young Green Party continued from previous page NAFTA, the WTO, corporate welfare, the failed war on drugs. It’s so exciting that The Green Dream these issues have finally made it into the If the Green Party’s future lies with the mainstream dialogue.” As the exit polling from The appeal of Nader and the nation’s young, then hope abounds November’s election indicates, students Greens' message to young people was and young people have defined them- reflected in the fact that they voted dispro- selves as a core constituency for the Green portionately for Nader — 5 percent among after what happened on college cam- Party. 18-29 year olds, compared to 2 percent in “A well organized base of stu- every other age demographic, with pre- puses as a result of the Nader/LaDuke dent activists could serve as the founda- election polls showing 10 percent of col- tion for long-range political reform, pro- lege students supporting Nader. campaign in 2000. viding the talent, creativity and energy “The anecdotal evidence that I’ve necessary to build a viable and sustain- seen suggests Nader won as high as 25% able third party,” Eastwood says. percent of the student vote on a few pro- On February 12, Ben Manski, an “Recent history shows that when gressive campuses,” said Tom Adkins, a Eastwood spent the month of December experienced environmental and student progressive movements grow, they grow director of the Campus Greens and for- working in Washington, DC laying the organizer from Wisconsin, began work- from college campuses. The civil rights merly assistant press secretary at the groundwork for an organization. ing full-time as the national director of the movement, anti-war movement, women’s Nader Campaign. “That was probably the most in- Campus Greens. rights and feminist movements, the envi- "That's a direct result of good or- tense month of organizing I’ve ever wit- The Campus Greens have some ronmental movement of the late 80s and ganizing and mobilization, and offers a nessed,” says Harold, who offered the major challenges ahead of them, topped early 90s, and the recent anti-corporate glimpse of what a long-term effort could students office space and a place to stay. by the need to raise money to pay a na- movement were all fueled by student ac- accomplish.” “Essentially, they went from having no tional director’s salary and hold a found- tivists.” structure whatsoever to having an incor- ing convention this summer. “We strongly Nader’s candidacy was the outlet Campus Greens Take Shape porated organization with a growing in- believe in relying on our members for many students were just waiting to plug frastructure and a solid plan.” financial support,” says Fite, “but we’re into. “Nader provided a voice for stu- With a strong Green Party infra- Over the course of the month, 11 facing the reality of needing funding to dents who have been disenfranchised by structure in place on campuses around students traveled to DC to help draw up get this project off the ground.”. the system and have been told that their the country, Eastwood, now a sophomore bylaws, write organizing manuals, de- The Campus Greens hope to have generation is lazy and won’t amount to at NYU, recognized a crucial window of velop issue campaigns, and build the con- 300 campus chapters active by their found- anything,” says Matt Ripa, president of opportunity for building the Campus tacts necessary to maintain an organiza- ing convention this summer. They also the Salisbury State Greens in Massachu- Greens. He quickly recruited two other tion. plan to work closely with the various indi- setts.. student Nader staffers to help, Adkins, of On January 29, 2001 the Campus vidual state Green Parties as well as the “Nader really spoke to these people Carleton College in Minnesota, and Greens launched their website Association of State Green Parties on the with a message of hope. People would say Shelley Fite, assistant field director at (www.campusgreenparties.org) and re- national level. If they are successful, they ‘Why haven’t I heard this before?’ or ‘He Nader 2000, who attends New College in leased a “Call to Action,” announcing their will be altering the shape of campus orga- (Nader) sounds too good to be true.’” Florida. existence over a number of progressive nizing nationwide and strengthening the Eastwood adds, “For the first time “We realized that if we didn’t get list serves. Green Party for years to come. for many people of my generation, a pro- to work immediately, all of our student “We had about 1,500 hits the first The Campus Greens can be con- gressive candidate was able to get on na- contacts from the Nader Campaign were three days the website was up,” says Nick tacted at [email protected], tional television and talk about the issues going to dissipate by the time summer Galassos, an organizer at the University and are accepting donations mailed to that hadn’t been addressed before: rolled around,” Fite says. Adkins and of Delaware. P.O. Box 33272, Washington, DC 20033. Nader result, Greens fuel exploding interest in electoral reform Is proportional representation and instant run-off on the way? By Dan Johnson-Weinberger Gore as their “lesser evil” runoff choice. In recent years, both major parties multi-seat districts with proportional rep- In the wake of one of the most Instead of waking up on November 8th feel they have been ‘spoiled’ by third party resentation and build coalitions with closely contested presidential elections in with an electoral hangover, they might candidate vote-splitting in high-profile races underrepresented groups - as the Greens U.S. history, an extraordinary opportu- have discovered that their runoff choice , including the presidency in 2000 (and in Tucson, AZ are doing. nity for electoral reform has unexpect- had boosted Gore to victory — but with arguably 1992), a U.S. Senate seat won by a District/ward systems don't edly presented itself. The virtual stale- a caveat that said: “Handle with care. Democrat in Washington state in 2000, the work well in areas with diverse popula- mate that Ralph Nader’s 3% of the vote Watch your step on trade, political re- governor’s mansion won by a Democrat in tions because there are too many differ- helped create has led to a historic political form and environmental policies.” Alaska and a Republican in New Mexico in ent interests and positions for a single opening to talk about ways of moderniz- Under IRV - without voting 1994 and three U.S. House races in New representative to represent. Minority ing our political system - from voting based on fear - Nader's total would've Mexico won by Republicans in 1997-1998. populations - in many cases communities equipment to voting systems. more accurately demonstrated his true This is creating an opening to forge strate- of color - are often under-represented. Will our country finally change support, and energized his supporters gic alliances to address the vote-splitting. Many local elections also use two- from the winner-take-all electoral system, even more. • In New Mexico, where Demo- round runoff elections that are expensive to proportional representation for legisla- At the same time, Nader crats blame Green Party candidates for for taxpayers and candidates alike, who tive elections and instant runoff voting for could’ve easily received the 5% of the Democratic losses for governor (1994) and have to pay for two elections. This serves executive offices like Governor and Presi- vote needed to qualify for federal fund- two congressional seats (1997, 1998), key to undermine the goals of campaign fi- dent? ing for the Green Party’s candidate in Democrats now support IRV. nance reform, and 'voter fatigue' usually guarantees a drop-off in voter turnout. • Instant Run-Off Voting 2004. That would’ve made that 2004 • In Alaska, Greens and other re- candidate even stronger under IRV, ex- formers have gathered enough signatures In Austin (TX), a charter commis- Given progressives’ frustration erting a progressive influence on all can- to put IRV on the 2002 ballot. The Republi- sion has recommended replacing two- with the rightward tilt of Clinton-Gore, didates that year. can Party there has also made IRV a top round runoffs with IRV. An Albuquerque the very debate about Nader’s candidacy IRV could be implemented right priority, because the GOP has splintered (NM) charter commission unanimously revealed a serious flaw in our antiquated now, in all 50 states, for all federal elec- into two parties and are thus splitting the recommended IRV for local elections, af- voting practices: voting for your *favor- tions including the presidential race (for traditional Republican vote. ter the mayoral races was won with only ite* candidate can lead to the election of the electoral college), as well as state and • Greens in Hawaii and Washing- 29% of the vote. Voters in San Leandro your *least* favorite candidate. local elections - without changing a single ton have been lobbying in their state legis- (CA), Santa Clara County (CA) and Fortunately there is a simple so- federal law or the Constitution. latures to pass an IRV bill. Vancouver (WA) have recently approved lution that countries like Australia, En- • In Illinois, Greens are working to stand-alone ballot measures to make IRV • Proportional Representation gland and Ireland have already imple- revive cumulative voting for the state an explicit option in their charters. In Oak- mented - instant runoff voting (IRV). These To gain full and fair representa- House. Used in three-seat districts until land (CA), voters passed a ballot measure nations share our tradition of plurality tion however, IRV is not enough. For 1980, cumulative voting allows a candidate to use IRV to fill unscheduled vacancies. elections — where the top vote-getter wins, legislative races we must scrap “winner- to win one of the three seats if they can earn In Vermont, the groundwork for even where he/she receives less than a take-all” elections in favor of propor- one of every three votes. The Illinois model passing IRV has been well laid. The majority. Now these countries use IRV for tional representation, a system where a of three-seat districts with a proportional Democrats foresee being “spoiled” by the most of their elections. Mary Robinson political party winning 10 percent of the system is a good one to push with major growing Progressive Party and are very was elected president of Ireland by IRV, vote wins 10 percent of the legislative party people that aren’t ready for full- receptive to IRV. The Republicans face a and Labor Party maverick “Red Ken” seats - instead of nothing as under our fledged PR, but appreciate that a voting less significant threat from the smaller Livingstone was elected mayor of Lon- current system. system that doesn’t give 49% of the people Libertarian Party. But the state has a don. The Australian legislature has been Greens ran 45 Congressional any representation at all must be improved. compelling 'good government' reason for elected by a form of IRV for decades. candidates across the country in 2000, Under cumulative voting in Illi- change: if in the governor’s race no candi- Here’s how IRV works: At the averaging 3.2%. Under proportional nois, various political minorities were date wins a majority outright, the consti- polls, voters select their favorite candi- representation, if Greens averaged 3.2% elected, from progressive Democrats to Chi- tution requires the legislature to elect the date, but also indicate on the same ballot nationally, they’d be celebrating the elec- cago Republicans to independents like Con- office (that occurred last year in their second “runoff” choice and subse- tion of 14 Members of Congress – 3.2% of gressmen Paul Simon, Abner Mikva, Henry Mississippi’s gubernatorial race as well). quent runoff choices. If a candidate re- 435. Proportional representation is al- Hyde and John Porter, who got their start in A resolution passed the Vermont ceives a majority of first choices, the elec- ready used in most of Western Europe the state house by providing an alternative House establishing a special citizens’ com- tion is over. If not, the candidate with the and Latin America, as well as more than to local party machines. The “Drive to Re- mission to study IRV. The commission - fewest votes is eliminated, and in the run- 50 other countries around the world. vive” cumulative voting campaign has been which included members of the League of off round each ballot counts for the top- Other political reforms, notably endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times, the cur- Women Voters and Common Cause and ranked candidate still in the race. Rounds public financing of elections and fair bal- rent and former governors, current state covered the entire tri-partisan political of counting continue until there is a major- lot-access laws, are of critical importance legislative political leaders and several spectrum - issued a report that unani- ity winner. It’s like a runoff election, with- to making democracy work, but they former Congresspeople. mously recommended IRV for all state- out needing voters to return to the polls. don’t address vote-splitting . Nor do Sometimes the courts are the spoil- wide elections. Vermont's Governor has Imagine this year’s presidential they change the fact that winner-take-all ers. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court over- endorsed IRV, along with other groups race with IRV: In July, Nader surged to elections are essentially undemocratic, turned the ability of states like Washington ranging from the conservative Agricul- nearly 10 percent in national polls. He because they give no representation to and California to use “blanket primaries.” tural Grange to the Vermont Public Inter- drew interest from the United Auto Work- anyone but the majority (or plurality) This has caused a surging interest in IRV, est Research Group. ers, Teamsters and leading environmen- group, ignoring all remaining voters. because voters could rank candidates from Many years ago, Greens were a tal organizations. Confronted with the Only reforming the voting system will different parties, thereby preserving the voice in the wilderness advocating for 'vote-splitting' dilemma however, they fundamentally change the playing field. blanket primary's feature allowing people proportional representation and IRV. To- and many progressive constituencies to vote for anyone regardless of party. A day they are working with a growing • Prospects for Change grudgingly endorsed Gore. The Washing- majority-winner would also be determined number of groups taking a serious look at ton Post estimated that more than 5 mil- Generally, major party interest in one election. This has been the best open- these reforms, including the League of lion would-be Nader supporters voted for in electoral reform is proportional to third ing for Washington Greens to advance IRV Women Voters, Common Cause, the Pub- a major party candidate after wrestling party strength. The more elections that and they have earned many converts testi- lic Interest Research Groups, National Or- with vote-splitting. are ‘spoiled’ by third party candidates, fying before the state legislature and else- ganization for Women, Sierra Club, vot- But with IRV, there is no vote- the more major party supporters become where. In California, the Speaker of the ing rights organizations, community or- splitting, and Nader could have more eas- open to proportional representation and Assembly has introduced legislation to use ganizations, other minor parties, and even ily mobilized progressive and other con- IRV. Certainly the Green Party's growth IRV for all partisan special elections. some Chambers of Commerce. stituencies and even gained access to the in recent years has had this effect on the In diverse urban areas that have Immediate steps for those want- presidential debates. Voters could have Democrats and other parties have had district/ward-based elections, there is also ing to work for reform include reaching ranked Nader as their first choice, with similar effects upon the Republicans. an opportunity for Greens to advocate out to local representatives of these groups, seeking to ensure any new voting equipment purchased in your state or What is Proportional Representation? county has the flexibility to handle PR and IRV, joining the national IRV listserv Proportional representation (PR) is based on the principle that any group of like-minded voters should win legislative and conducting PR and IRV elections in seats in proportion to its share of the popular vote. Whereas the winner-take-all principle awards 100% of the local schools and organizations. representation to a 50.1% majority, PR allows voters in a minority to win their fair share of representation. There Around the world, electoral re- form has frequently followed elections is a broad range of PR systems. Some are based on voting for political parties; others for candidates. Some allow where the problems of an antiquated sys- very small groupings of voters to win seats; others require higher thresholds of support to win representation. All tem were made visible. The 2000 election promote more accurate, balanced representation of the spectrum of political opinion in a given electorate. has created such an opening in the United States, where most citizens were previ- Nearly all elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle: voters for the candidate who ously not even aware that alternatives receives the most votes win representation; voters for the other candidates win nothing. This system is unjust and exist. This is a unique opportunity for unnecessary. It is unjust because it leaves minorities unrepresented with a resulting impact on majority rule as Greens to work for a more democratic well as fair representation. It is unnecessary because we have immediate opportunities, at local, state, and national system – an opportunity that may not be levels, to join the vast majority of mature democracies that have already adopted systems of proportional repeated soon. representation. Dan Johnson- Weinberger was the politi- cal reform coordinator for the Ralph Nader for For more information about proportional representation and instrant run-off voting: www.fairvote.org President campaign and now works for the Center Center for Voting and Democracy, 6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 901, Takoma Park, MD 20912, (301) 270-4616 for Voting and Democracy Snapshots of 2000 - Nader/LaDuke and the Greens run for the presidency

gins narrowed between Excerpts from Nader's Green Party Al Gore and George W. Bush during the last Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech: month and made our "On behalf of all Americans Here is your chance to come forth and voters more consequen- who seek a new direction, who yearn support what you have long wished tial. for a new birth of freedom to build the for, a progressive movement that is for "Whatever the desires just society, who see justice as the the people because it is of the people." of reporters and their great work of human beings on Earth, "A progressive political move- editors, the top ech- ment highlights civic energies which who understand that community and elons of these compa- are dedicated to the proposition that a human fulfillment are mutually rein- nies are simply not ea- society which has more justice is a forcing, who respect the urgent neces- ger to examine the con- society that needs less charity. Too sity to wage peace, to protect the envi- sequences of concen- many Nader on the Press: ronment, to trated corporate power in the good end poverty "The national press’s insistence context of political campaign cover- people and to pre- are walk- on focusing its attention on the horse age. Policies on street crime regularly serve values ing race between the two major-party can- make the evening news; policies on of the spirit for around didates creates a catch-22 for any third- corporate crime don't. Welfare reform future genera- with in- party candidate who wants to inject proposals are always newsworthy, tions, who visible previously ignored issues into the cam- corporate welfare reform rarely." wish to build chains paign dialogue: Without coverage, you "There is one hero in this story a deep democ- which can’t make headway in the polls. And who often goes unsung. Brian Lamb, restrict racy by work- a poor showing in the polls in turn the creator of C-SPAN, convinced the their contributions to the good life for ing hard for a regenerative progres- distances the media from the cam- cable industry years ago that serious themselves and their fellow citizens. A sive politics, as if people mattered — paign. Meanwhile, the issues your events deserve unedited coverage. In progressive political movement liber- to all these citizens and the Green campaign seeks to address remain al the giant United States, the commu- ates their wisdom, judgment, experi- vanguard, I welcome and am hon- below the radar of the major candi- nications leader of the world, only C- ence, creativity and idealism. ored to accept the Green Party nomi- dates and the campaign press." SPAN covers entire events regularly “To the millions of retired nation for President of the United Americans with such capacities, a pro- "Having worked with the print during a presidential campaign. That States...Do we want to say to the 70 gressive political movement offers end- and broadcast media throughout my fulsomeness speaks volumes about the million non-voters, the Greens want less opportunities for this community- vacuum that surrounds it." - quoted career as a consumer advocate, I had to help you build a new beginning? no illusions when I launched my in Brill’s Content, January 2000 (continued on page 23) campaign about the difficulties I would face in convincing re- Nader/LaDuke 2000 campaign - the legacy in numbers: porters, editors, and producers for the major news outlets that * Green Party and Nader 2000 campaign organizers started more than 450 new local Green Party groups around the country. my candidacy deserved their coverage. As it turns out, the * Over 150,000 people volunteered their time and energy to supporting the campaign. major media organizations did * Over 900 Students for Nader and student Green Party organizations were started and 25,000 student volunteers registered cover our campaign. But they tens of thousands of new student voters. consistently viewed it as an oc- * The Green Party ran a record number of 277 candidates this year (including Ralph Nader). casional feature story — a color- * Over 463,000 signatures were collected to put the Green Party on the ballot in 43 states and in DC. ful, narrative dispatch from the * The campaign raised 7.7 million dollars. trail with a marginal candidate * The campaign took zero corporate or political action committee (PAC) money. — rather than a news story about * Over 115,000 people signed the on-line petition to protest Ralph Nader’s exclusion from the presidential debates my proposals or campaign * Over 8 million pieces of literature and 1 million buttons, bumper stickers, and lapel stickers were distributed. events designed to focus atten- * Super Rallies were held of 15,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 14,000 at the Target Center in tion on our agenda." Minneapolis, 12,000 at the Fleet Center in Boston, 10,000 at the Pavilion in Chicago, 10,000 at the Coliseum in Portland, "During the months and 10,000 at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. when I was traveling through * The campaign formed a citizens committee of 100 prominent supporters. the 50 states, the local press usu- * The campaign had a staff of over 100 people in two offices in DC and 19 more local offices nationwide ally reported on the visits, but the national print and electronic * Ralph Nader campaigned in all 50 states, the only presidential candidate to do so in the 2000 election. media didn’t. Instead, they’d * Over 600 house parties were held in support of the campaign. parachute in a reporter to travel * The campaign sent out over 500 releases and the campaign was covered in innumerable newspapers, television, and radio with us for a few days and file a stories around the country. profile of our campaign that fo- * The campaign brought two lawsuits against the corporate funding and anti-democratic processes of the commission on cused on personality and the so- presidential debates. called spoiler issue rather than * The campaign brought eleven lawsuits to challenge barriers to ballot access and filing procedures. on substance. We were never a * The campaign defended one lawsuit against Mastercard. news beat, even when the mar- "Get Off Nader's Back" San Francisco Examiner Editorial Friday, November 3, 2000

"The Democrats should his Green Party as too insignificant to could give Bush the White House, and clude showing both major parties of- cease their whining attacks on the be listened to. Nader protested, and hand the reins of power to enemies of ten to be allies of corporate America at Green Party candidate as spoiler of a his backers screamed about the un- both Gore’s and Nader’s objectives." the public’s expense." Gore victory. The sniveling of the well- fairness of the big guys. But the leg- "Nader has been the tar- "Heaping guilt on Nader, over financed, lavishly staffed Al Gore cam- endary consumer advocate was kept get of Democratic calls to repudiate the chance of Republican victory in a paign, over the possibility of Ralph outside the tent along with the Re- his “spoiler” role and swing his sup- squeaker, is not sporting or fair. Let Nader’s third-party effort tipping a form Party’s Pat Buchanan and Liber- port to Gore. " Nader enjoy his relative pittance of close election to George W. Bush, must tarian Harry Browne." "Such whining is unbe- electoral support, for which he has strike Nader as supremely ironic." "Now a cold panic is coming of a major party that has worked impressively. Gore and Bush "Democratic standard- washing over the Gore camp that, in a wielded national power much of the are powerful enough to go after bigger bearer Gore was paired with Republi- close finish with Bush, Nader could past century. Gore has adequate re- game: the tens of millions of votes can Bush in the series of three tele- corral a damaging number of liberal, sources to present his case and carry needed for actual victory. Whoever vised debates planned as a decisive pro-environment votes that ordinarily out his own quest for votes, as does loses should not blame Nader." high point of the presidential contest. would be in the Democratic column in Bush. Nader has the clear right to pur- The organizers excluded Nader and hard-fought “swing” states. That sue his more modest goals, which in- Green10 Party ballot status and voter registration totals at all-time high

States in which the Green Spurred by the Nader/LaDuke The previous Green Party bal- Green voter registration campaign, the Green Party now has lot status high was 10 states, after the Party has ballot status totals by state ongoing ballot status (through the 2002 November, 1998 election. Green ballot Greens % of state Date through 2002: elections) in 22 states, an all-time high. status totals from earlier cycles were Alaska: 4,236 (0.90%) 10/16 Nader’s election results main- nine (1996-98), four (1994-96), four (1992- Arizona: 3,807 (0.18%) 10/30 tained pre-existing Green ballot status 1994), and one (1990-1992). California: 141,637 (0.88%) 02/10 in CO, CT, DC, ME, NM (but only as a Green Party voter registration Colorado: 2900 ______Alaska Michigan minor party), and OR. His totals added also rose to an all-time high in 2000, Connecticut: 1,046 (.05%) 10/24 California Minnesota status (which didn’t exist 2 years ago) in reaching 195,866 in 17 states as of late Delaware: 473 ______Colorado Montana IA, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, RI and UT. Fall, 2000. California has the most reg- DC: 4,088 (1.15%) 9/12 Connecticut Nevada No other minor party gained istered Greens. New Mexico has the Florida: 2,727 (.03%) 10/10 Delaware New Mexico status through its presidential vote in highest percentage. Louisiana: 393 ___ 11/29 any state in 2000. Several states experienced sig- Maine: 2,152 ( .24%) 6/13 District of (contested) Greens also acquired ballot sta- nificant increases in their Green regis- Maryland: 973 (.04%) 10/13 Columbia New York tus by candidates other than the presi- tration totals in 2000. Colorado grew by Massachusetts:1,576 ______Florida Oregon dential. In Texas they did so in impres- over 50%. California grew by 35% from Nebraska: 325 ( .03%) Hawaii Rhode Island sive style, with three candidates all pass- January through September. New Nevada: 1,411 (.16%) 11/07 New Mexico: 11,756 (1.2%) 02./01 Iowa Texas ing the required 5% threshold. In New Mexico grew 20% from June through New York: 12,121 (.11%) 11/01 Maine Mexico, they had one statewide candi- October. Utah Oregon: 7,244 (.37%) 11/30 Massachusetts date receive 11%, easily passing the 5% Wisconsin National Green registrations totals: needed, but the Democatic Secretary of source: Ballot Access News: www.ballot-access.org State reinterpreted state law and ruled 195,866 (November 2000) Green Parties only the presidential race could have 136,285 (April 2000) for more information, counted (Nader got 4% in New Mexico) 118,537 (October 1998) of North America see Ballot Access News and now the Greens must litigate to 112,199 (October 1996) www.greens.org retain their status. 89,566 (October 1994) www.ballot-access.org 102,557 (October 1992) GREEN PARTY STATE CONTACTS Association of State Green Parties (808) 324-7336 [email protected] Green Party of Jackson (Mississippi) Oklahoma Greens PO Box 18452, Washington, DC 20036 www.greenhawaii.org PO Box 3564, Jackson, MS 39207 P.O. Box 2594 , Norman, OK 73070-2594 (202) 232-0335 [email protected] (601) 949-7943 [email protected] (405) 945-1962 [email protected] www.green-party.org Idaho Greens www.greensofjackson.homestead.com/ www.greens.org/oklahoma/ 2800 N. 30th St, Boise, ID 83703 welcome.html Alabama Greens (208) 381-0521 [email protected] Pacific Green Party of Oregon 1424 16th Ave South, Birmingham AL 35205 Missouri Green Party 333 State St Salem, OR 97301 (205) 933-6698 [email protected] Illinois Green Party P.O. Box 8094, St. Louis MO 63156 (503) 362-9094 [email protected] Po Box 2201, Carbondale, IL 62902 [email protected] www.pacificgreens.org Green Party of Alaska [email protected] PO Box 33106, Kansas City, MO 64114 (816) PO Box 1, Anchorage, AK 99524-0001 www.greens.org/illinois 942.3082 [email protected] Green Party of Pennsylvania (907) 27-GREEN [email protected] Box 7413, Lancaster, PA 17604 www.alaskagreens.org Indiana Greens Montana Green Party (717) 394-9110 [email protected] P.O. Box 11124, South Bend, IN 46634 315 S.4th E. #202, Missoula, MT. 59801 www.greens.org/pennsylvania/ Arizona Green Party 219.289.3365 [email protected] (406) 721-2651 [email protected] P.O. Box 60173, Phoenix, AZ 85082-0173 www.sjvgreens.org Green Party of Rhode Island (602) 417-0213 [email protected] Nebraska Greens P.O. Box 1151, Providence, RI 02901 www.azgp.org Iowa Green Party 2464 Harney Street #30, Omaha, NE 68131 (401) 521-6454 [email protected] P.O. Box 2448, Iowa City, IA 52240-2448 (402) 345-3793 [email protected] www.greens.org/ri Green Party of Arkansas (319) 337-7341 [email protected] www.nebraskagreens.org P.O. Box 88, Parks, AR 72950 www.greens.org/iowa Green Party of Tennessee (501) 637-4471 [email protected] Green Party of Nevada 121 McBroom St., Woodbury TN 37190 www.greens.org/arkansas Green Party of Kansas PO Box 9056, Reno, NV 89507 (615) 563-8253 [email protected] PO Box 2526, Hutchinson, KS 67504-2526 775-787-8935, or 775-853-2935 www.GreenTN.org Green Party of California 800-222-6000 (mailbox #316663001) [email protected] PO Box 2828, Sacramento CA 95812 [email protected] www.greens.org/kansas www.nevadagreenparty.org Green Party of Texas (916) 448-3437 [email protected] PO BOX 10497, Houston TX 77206-0497 www.greens.org/cal Green Party of Kentucky New Hampshire Greems 877-TXGRENS (877-894-7367) P.O. Box 1242, Covington, KY 41012-1242 PO Box 339, Rye, NH 03870 [email protected] Green Party of Colorado (888) 849.5482 [email protected] (603) 964-6158 [email protected] www.txgreens.org 1085 14th St., #1287 Boulder, CO 80302 www.kygreens.org/ www.mv.com/ipusers/rizzio/ (303) 575-1631 [email protected] Green Party of Utah www.greens.org/colorado/ Green Party of Louisiana Green Party of New Jersey P.O. Box 661, Farmington, Ut 84025 1500 Prytania St,, New Orleans, LA 70130. PO Box 9802, Trenton, NJ 08650-9802 (801) 451-5785 [email protected] Green Party of Connecticut (504) 861-8832 [email protected] (609) 278-4467 [email protected] www.greenutah.com/gpu/ PO Box 231214, Hartford, CT 06123-1214 www.greens.org/louisiana www.gpnj.org (888) 877-8607 [email protected] Green Party of Virginia www.ctgreens.org Maine Green Independent Party New Mexico Green Party 403 West Ash Rd, Sterling VA 20164 PO Box 2046, Augusta, ME 04338 P.O. Box 22485, Santa Fe, NM 87502 (703) 404 8943 [email protected] Green Party of Deleware (207) 623-1919 [email protected] (505) 473-3621 [email protected] http://organizations.rockbridge.net/greens P O Box 6044, Wilmington, DE 19804 www.mainegreens.org/draft/index.html www.nmgp.org (302) 892-2542 [email protected] Green Party of Washington State www.gpde.org Maryland Green Party Green Party of New York State PO Box 17707, Seattle, WA 98107 P.O. Box 2230 Annapolis, MD 21404 234 Hungry Hollow Road , Chestnut Ridge, NY (206) 789-3620 [email protected] DC Statehood Green Party (443) 995-0296 [email protected] 10977 www.wagreens.org PO Box 75846, Washington, DC 20013-5846 www.mdgreens.org (914) 356-7989 (202) 546-0940 [email protected] [email protected] West Virginia Greens www.dcstatehoodgreen.org Massachusetts Green Party www.greens.org/ny/ P.O. Box 2206, Huntington, WV 25722 PO Box 1311 , Lawrence, MA 01842 (304) 522.8409 [email protected] Green Party of Florida (978) 688-2068 [email protected] North Carolina Green Party 5716 Sweet Cherry Lane, Land O Lakes, FL 34639 www.massgreens.org 1419F Crawford Dairy Rd., Green Party of Wisconsin 813-996-1957 [email protected] Chapel Hill, NC 27516 P.O. Box 1701, Madison, WI 53701-1701 www.greens.org/florida/ Green Party of Minnesota (919) 933-4254 [email protected] (920) 435-6898 [email protected] P.O. Box 582931, Minneapolis, MN 55458 /www.greens.org/nc www.excel.net/~pdrewry/wigreen.htm Georgia Green Party (612) 871-4585 [email protected] P.O. Box 5332; Atlanta, GA 31107-5332 /www.mngreens.org/ Green Party of Ohio Wyoming Green Party (770) 635-3496 [email protected] P. O. Box 851, Kent OH 44240 PO Box 1833, Laramie, WY 82073 www.greens.org/georgia/ Green Party of Michigan 330-678-3269 (307) 755-1606 [email protected] 548 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 [email protected] http://www.wyogreen.org/ Hawai’i Green Party (734) 663-3555 [email protected] www.ohiogreens.org PO Box 3220, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 www.migreens.org The Association of State Green Parties in 2000 and beyond Greens grow into a national party After the convention, Greens to- By Annie Goeke gether with the Nader 2000 campaign team The ASGP Platform committee pulled in thousands of volunteers, set up The year 2000 was exhilarating, produced the draft platform that ulti- hundreds of campus Green groups across exhausting exciting, and exceptional for mately became approved in Denver at the the country, and organized successful the Green Party. We enjoyed many suc- Green convention, becoming the official media-grabbing ‘super rallies’. Thousands cesses and grew a great deal. A lot of platform (www.gp.org) upon which the of Greens went door to door, campaign- credit can go around to all of us, relying as Nader/LaDuke campaign ran. ing in their neighborhoods and doing ‘re- we did upon each others’ generous hu- ASGP legal advisors provided tail politics’ right up until the election. man capital from hundreds of thousands support and advice to member state par- On behalf of the ASGP, the Steer- posing a resolution on a coordinated glo- of us across the country. ties throughout the campaign. ing Committee expresses its deepest bal Green Party action. With 23 state Green Parties now The ASGP International Commit- gratitude to Ralph Nader, Winona LaDuke U.S. Greens are alreadyrunning holding official ballot status, and with tee hosted Green representatives from 16 and their hard working team for all they for office in 2001, including in some states state party organizations growing in most countries and 5 continents, strengthening did to build the Green Party. The public for the first time. Since the November, of the other states – and with a dramatic international Green ties and demonstrat- recognition of the Greens is particularly 2000 election Nader has continued to pro- increase in registration and membership - ing the global nature of the Green move- gratifying, after years of being barely vis- mote and support the Green Party, in- the Green Party has emerged as the lead- ment. ible in the public eye. We've persisted by cluding doing fundraisers for various ing independent progressive electoral The ASGP Convention Commit- focusing on the daily steps necessary to state Green Parties across the county. force in the nation. tee coordinated the presidential nomina- become a successful grassroots political The ASGP will continue to help facilitate The Association of State Green tion convention itself, which took place in party. Let's enjoy the moment - then be this collaboration. Parties (ASGP) played a critical role in in Denver. The convention was a major ready to take the next steps. The Greens' growth in 2000 has organizing and facilitating this process - success, with over 300 voting delegates The ASGP currently has 29 mem- brought us to a new level. The ASGP is on the national level, as well in between from 39 states and 1200 people overall in ber state parties. Since the December ASGP preparing the groundwork for the Green the states. Here is an overview of what attendance. meeting in Hiawassee, Georgia, inquiries now Party to receive national committee we’ve accomplished: Convention coverage brought the have come from Green parties in Wash- status from the Federal Elections Com- In 1999, the ASGP formed the Green Party to a new level of visibility in ington, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, North mission. We look forward to your partici- Presidential Exploratory Committee, the United States, with over 200 reporters Carolina and Kentucky. We expect to re- pation in our grassroots political move- which initiated and conducted a fair, trans- from 70 press organizations in atten- ceive membership applications from most ment, building a winning alternative to parent process to search, recruit and inter- dance. The ASGP media committee de- of these states in the coming months. our corrupt two party system. view over 25 potential presidential and serves a great deal of credit for respond- The ASGP will be well repre- vice-presidential candidates. The Com- ing professionally to the demand. sented at the Global Green Conference in Annie Goeke (PA) has been one of three ASGP co-chairs since 1998 as well as a long time mittee disseminated information from the The increased coverage also Canberra, Australia this April Pennsylvania Green organizer. Contributions also candidates to the state Green Parties, keep- (www.global.greens.org.au). We have played a major role in energizing the Nader from Dean Myerson (Convention Committee) and ing them involved throughout. campaign - volunteers, fundraising and been actively involved in the organizing Tony Affigne (Accreditation Committee The ASGP Transition committee web page hits all jumped dramatically of this important event for the last couple created the formula Greens' used to deter- after the convention. Local Green candi- of years and some of our representatives mine the number of delegates each state dates took advantage of the spotlight to will be presenters in various large-group ASGP on the web would receive at the Green national con- build their own campaigns across the sessions and in workshops. Also, together vention in Denver. country. with the Canadian Greens we will be pro- www.green-party.org

Counties in which Nader/LaDuke Excerpts from Nader's Green Nomination Acceptance Speech (continued from page 21) got 10% or more of the vote based patriotism to blossom. We need and the lobbyists on a tour of the erate more leaders, not more fol- you in this fresh campaign. Small num- People’s America.” lowers. Secondly, this political bers of large corporations are playing movement is first and foremost From Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News: roulette with the planet.” movement of thought, not of be- There are 29 counties in which Nader got over 10% “To the youth of America, I lief. There is nothing wrong with of the vote. In California - Humboldt, Mendocino, say, beware of being trivialized by beliefs but it would be better to Santa Cruz. In Colorado - Boulder, Gilpin, the commercial culture that tempts have them preceded by thought Gunnison, LaPlata, Ouray, Pitkin, Saguache, San you daily. I hear you saying often that and followed by action.” Juan, San Miguel (17.20% - highest in the nation), you’re not turned on to politics. The “By debating, phoning, e- Summit. In Kansas - Douglas. In Massachusetts lessons of history are clear and por- mailing, and marching during the - Dukes, Hampshire, Franklin. In Minnesota., tentous. If you do not turn on to poli- next four months, we the people Cook. In Montana, Missoula. In New York, tics, politics will turn on you. The fact will grow a new political start, a Tompkins. In Texas, Travis. In Utah, Grand. In that we have so many inequalities green plant pushing up between Vermont, Windham. In Washington, San Juan. demonstrates this point. Democracy the two fossil parties. With a new Since there are no counties in Alaska, I use legisla- responds to hands-on participation. progressive movement, we the tive districts, but combine districts which are all in And to energized imagination. That’s people have the ability to vastly the same city, .so my “counties” are somewhat its essence. We need the young people improve our lives and to help of America to move into leadership shape the world’s course to one arbitrary - Anchorage, Juneau, Kenai peninsula, positions to shape their future as part “Two premises are basic to of justice and peace for years to Sitka, Yakutat Nader also got 9.8% in Taos , New of this campaign for a just society. this political campaign. First, that a come.” - Green Party National Mexico. Ballot Access News is selling 4-color maps of Let’s prepare to take the politicians basic function of leadership is to gen- Convention, Denver, June 26th, 2000 the US for $6, showing all the counties a to how Nader did in each one - Box 470296, San Francisco CA 94147

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ASGP, PO Box 18452, Washington, D.C. 20036

Editor: Mike Feinstein, Santa Monica, CA Associate Editor: Stacy Malkan, Breckenridge, CO Contributors: Randy Zurcher (AR); Medea Benjamin, Lucy Colvin, Rob Enge, Michael Everett, Brad Freeman, Barbara Goldberg, Matt Gonzalez, Craig Linton, Ross Mirkarimi, Larry Robinson, Sam Spooner (CA); Art Goodtimes, Dean Myerson, Stacy Malkan (CO); Carolyn Danckaert (DC); Eric Fricker (FL), Bob Jacobson (HI); JoAnne Beemon (MI); Tom Adkins, Chris Allison, Holle Brian (MN); Rick Lass (NM); Corey Eastwood (NY); Tony Affigne (RI), Annie Goeke, Jody Kolodzey, Kevin Murphy (PA); Natalie Paravichini, David Pollard (TX); Ben Manski (WI)

Layout: Steve Herrick, Ann Arbor, MI Logo Design: Damon Goldstein, Venice, CA Web Site: TreeMedia.com, Santa Monica, CA Thanks also to: Ballot Access News (www.ballot-access.org) for their work on compiling ballot access and voter registration information GreenPages on the web: www.greenpages.ws Green Party enjoys record growth & success in 2000 (d (continued from page 1) Greens running Organizational Growth and the Breadth tive state where some thought a Green • Increased Green visibility in the press. in state legislative races that were un- of Green Support Across the Nation Party might not take hold, Greens quali- Before 1996, the number of times the Green contested by either a Democrat or fied for the ballot under strenuous re- Party was meaningfully mentioned on Repulican, made up 28% of all Green • The Green Party is growing in many quirements, then won over 400,000 votes national television could probably be candidates for State House/State Assem- new states, in conservative areas as well in two statewide elections. Greens also counted on two hands. The print press bly (17/60) and State Senate (5/18). as liberal. The number of states in which won city council seats in con- was better, but only mini- Doing best among State Senate there are organized statewide Green par- servative cities in FL and WY. mally so, outside of cover- candidates was Ann Gleason (38%) in the ties jumped from 10 in 1994 to 35 after the Nader’s top ten per- age that the New Mexico Santa Fe, NM area, where Greens already 2000 election. The number of states in centages were in: AK (10.07 VT Greens ground-breaking have elected three municipal officials. which the Greens have ballot status rose to (6.92), MA (6.42), RI(6.13), MT 1994 campaigns received. Whitney Smith (19.6%), running in liberal 22, up from 10 after 1998 and four after (5.95), HI (5.88), ME (5.7), CO If the 1996 Nader Portland, Oregon was next. 1994. Total Green voter registrations in- (5.25), D.C. (5.24) and MN campaign first raised the For State House/State Assembly, creased by 35% during 2000 alone to nearly (5.2). In the five largest states, Greens’ national profile, Greens were led by the Maine Greens’ 200,000, with a large percentage coming Nader’s percentages were sig then the 2000 campaign put Derrick Grant (34.8%), running in Port- from people under 30. nificant: CA (3.8), NY (3.6), IL the Greens clearly on the land and Jane Scease (31%) running in Youth involvement in the Green (2.2), TX (2.1) and FL (1.6). map. At the Green national nearby Topsham. In Rhode Island Jeff Party in 2000 was also measured by the Two-thirds of Nader’s votes convention alone, over 200 Johnson had 29.9% and Gregg Stevens widespread youth activism on 900 college (1.87 million) were cast in the members of the press were 22.7% in two neighboring districts in the campuses for Nader/LaDuke. There were 22 states with ballot-status credentialed from 70 press Narragansett/Kingston area. Christina also many young Greens in the streets of Green Parties. In seven of them, organizations. C-SPAN Alexander had 27% in Coos Bay, Oregon Seattle, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Nader’s vote totals exceeded the number broadcast the convention and several other and Russell Lovetinsky 22% in Iowa City, Los Angeles, protesting the WTO, World separating Bush and Gore (FL is the best- Nader speeches to a national audience, as Iowa where the Greens currently have Bank, IMF and the Democratic and Re- known, as Nader’s 97,488 votes there eas- well as the Minneapolis Super Rally. Po- Steve Kanner sitting on the City Council publican conventions. In Sebastopol, ily exceeded Bush’s 537-vote margin). litical talkshows on CNN, MSNBC, Fox and previously had Karen Kubby. CA 24-year old Craig Litwin finished first Nader’s national base of support and elsewhere debated the Greens’ affect. for city council, helping to form the Green was surely higher than the vote totals Local Green candidates also parlayed the Party city council majority there. indicate, for at least three reasons: In the this exposure to their advantage, obtain- Organizationally, the Association seven states where Nader and LaDuke ing good coverage for their races as well. of State Green Parties (ASGP) helped meld weren’t on the ballot, about 10,000,000 these energies together, providing a com- voters cast ballots, or a probable 200-300 • Greens on the Internet. Greens also mon national forum for Green Party orga- thousand Green votes. In the four of these used this growing medium to great ad- nizing between the states, as well as a seven states where no Nader/LaDuke vantage. The VoteNader.Org website re- central place for the Nader/LaDuke cam- votes were counted at all – neither ballots ceived hundreds of thousands of visits, paign to connect with the Green Party. At nor write-ins — lived one in five Ameri- raised over $1 million and won second

Winona LaDuke embodied the role of a working its founding in November, 1996 the ASGP can Indians, among whom LaDuke was place as the best campaign site from the mother in 2000, giving birth to a new child then began with 12 member state parties. By very popular. Of course in addition, American Association of Political Con- running for vice-president early 2001, there were 29 member states, Greens argue that under a more fair vot- sultants (the Nader ‘Priceless Truth’ with several others in the application pro- ing system like Instant Run-Off Voting - MasterCard parody TV ad also took sec- Overall, 15 Greens received 10% cess. The ASGP is expected to vote to file where there would be no ‘vote-splitting ond place, while the Nader radio ad took or more for State House/State Assembly for National Committee Status with the dilemma’ for potential Nader voters - the first). State Green Parties and candidates in races without either a Democrat or Re- Federal Elections Commission this year, Green presidential ticket would’ve easily also utilized the web, reaching millions of publican, as did three State Senate Candi- establishing a single, legally-recognized received double-digit support. voters without the constraints of needing dates. Although such uncompetitive races national Green Party in the United States. big money to communicate a message. are less frequent on the Congressional level, two Greens did run in 2000 in such • Nader/LaDuke campaign reaches new A post-election message to Greens from Ralph Nader races as well. In Washington State’s 7th heights. In a groundbreaking campaign issues. In the next few months we will district – which contains almost all of Se- for the independent progressive move- Happy New Year Greens! be developing the post-2000 efforts attle as well as part of Vashon Island, Joe ment, Nader/LaDuke got 2,882,807 votes that we can undertake to continue to Szwaja got a U.S. Green record 19.6% for nationwide, 2.74% of 105 million votes Congratulations to everyone on help in all-important party building a Congressional race. (Carol Miller’s pre- cast. Their support exceeded 10% among the exponential growth of the Green work. vious record of 17% in NM came against a liberals, youth (18-29) and independents. Party during Election 2000! The cam- Both the campaign and this Democratublican and Rep in a May, 1997 The strongest states were found mostly in paign office continues to receive re- candidate want to thank everyone who special election). In a four-way race, CA's the Northeast, West Coast, Alaska, Colo- ports from around the country and spent time, money, and talent on the Krista Lieber-Wong received 9.1% run- rado, Hawai’i and Minnesota/Wisconsin. abroad about the effect of the presiden- election. I especially want to thank ning against a Democrat, Libertarian and Nader/LaDuke also did tial race on the development of the my running-mate, the invincible Natural Law candidate. suprisingly well in some conservative party. We are heartened by the ac- Winona LaDuke, those dedicated and Szwaja’s numbers in Seattle and western states . With over 5% in MT and counts of people who have moved from hardworking campaign staff and field Smith’s in Portland suggest Green poten- over 4% in UT and NE, Greens are show- being concerned to becoming seriously coordinators, and those members of tial to become the second party in much of ing they have a constituency in all parts of involved. the Green Party for all their efforts the Pacific Northwest. The two states the country. Nader’s 2.5% as a write-in At the same time there is much from ballot drives to fundraising par- already share seven currently elected candidate in ID set a record as the highest to be done. The electoral fracas and ties to convention planning to super Greens between them. percentage ever for a write-in presidential disenfranchisement of Florida voters rallies and get-out-the vote. In Texas the young state Green candidate in any state. further punctuates the demand for more It was an honor to be a part of Party had more statewide candidates — Similarly, the Nader/LaDuke party building, state and federal elec- this historic effort to advance the just four — than the Democratic Party, who campaign birthed Green Parties in MS toral reform initiatives, candidate re- causes for all people. only had one. On the statewide level the and LA and gave a large push to smaller cruitment and training, ballot status Greens were actually the opposition party. parties in FL and OK. In TX, a conserva- access, and engagement on local civic Go We Go, Ralph Nader Help the Green Party continue to grow into a strong and viable party I want to support the Association of State Green Parties and receive a subscription to its newsletter, GreenPages, in 2001. I will make a contribution of

$1,000 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other $______Contributions of $20 or more include a one-year subscription to Green Pages. Put me on your list! I want to receive information about the Association Contributions are not tax deductible. of State Green Parties and the Greens in my area. Here is my contact information: Payment method: I will mail this form with a check made payable to “ASGP” Name ______and send to ASGP, PO Box 18452, Washington, D.C. 20036. I will make my contribution today on-line at www.greenparties.org Address ______Please charge my Visa MasterCard City ______Credit card number______State ______Zip ______Expiration date______Tel: ( ____ ) ______Name(s) on card______Signature e-mail: ______