Green Party Steering Committee Elections Heat Up
The Steering Committee of the Green Party (US) consists of 7 “co-chairs”, plus a Treasurer and a Secretary. Four of the seven co-chair positions are up for election with 10 days left in the discussion period before a seven day voting period begins.
The debate among the National Committee, which elects the Steering Committee, has been intensifying over the last five days, however the debate has not been about the future direction of the party, but over challenges to two of the nominees qualifications. Steering Committee co-chairs have to be Delegates to the National Committee, but what isn’t clear is whether they have to be Delegates at the time they are nominated, or at the time they are elected.
The intense debate (hundreds of emails) has led to one of the challenged nominees, former presidential candidate kat swift of Texas, to withdraw her name from consideration. kat swift is currently an Alternate Delegate representing the National Women’s Caucus. kat swift ran for the Green Party’s presidential nomination in 2008 and in 2004, was a Green Party candidate for San Antonio City Council in 2007, and was co-chair of the Texas Green Party.
The other nomination being challenged is Nick Mellis, State Chair of the Green Party of New Jersey who is currently an Alternate Delegate representing New Jersey. Nick Mellis was a co-founder of the Green Party of New Jersey in 1995, helped organize the national Campus Greens in 2000, and was a candidate for New Jersey State Assembly in 2007. The Green Party of New Jersey State Council is currently debating a proposal to allow Mellis to switch places with one of their current delegates, however even this attempt is being challenged based on various bylaws and rules for GPUS and the GPNJ.
Also being elected at the same time is the Secretary position. Current Secretary, Holly Hart (IA) is seeking re-election. The other candidate is Audrey Clement (VA), who has been a Green Party member since 2005, a Delegate to the National Committee, and co-chair of the Bylaws, Rules, Policies & Procedures (BRPP) Committee. She was instrumental in securing ballot access in Virginia for Cynthia McKinney in 2008. Although debate on issues has been stifled due to the debate on candidate eligibilities, current Secretary Hart has been taking a lot of heat from the some of the Delegates/Alternates that have been most vocal in challenging the eligibility of Mellis and Swift, claiming that she should not have permitted them to be nominated.
The other six candidates for co-chairs of the GPUS Steering Committee to fill four seats are:
Les Evenchick (Louisiana) – Evenchick joined the Green Party of Louisiana in 2000, and has been a candidate for New Orleans School Board, New Orleans City Council and Louisiana State Rep in 2003 in which he got over 11% of the vote. He has been a Delegate to the National Committee since 2008.
Mike Feinstein (California) – Feinstein was a co-founder of the Green Party of California in 1990, was Mayor of Santa Monica from 2000-2002, and served on the Santa Monica City Council from 1996-2004. Feinstein has been actively involved with Los Angeles County Greens, Green Party of California, and GPUS. He was the founding and managing editor of Green Pages through 2001. He has been involved with the Global Greens over the years and is an obsessive chronicler and producer of Green Party videos.
Farheen Hakeem (Minnesota) – Hakeem is an educator and community organizer in Minneapolis, MN. In 2005 she became the first Green Party candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis and secured 14% of the primary vote. She ran for County Commissioner and got 33% of the vote. Her last campaign was for State Representative, in which she was pressured to run as a Democrat but chose to remain a Green Party candidate. She lost with 4,400 votes.
Jason Nabewaniec (New York) – Nabewaniec in a current co-chair on the Steering Committee, he is running for re-election. He joined the Green Party in 2000, and worked locally with the Green Party of Monroe County (NY) and the Green Party of New York. He has been a Delegate to the National Committee since 2004, and is a former co-chair of the Bylaws, Rules, Policies & Procedures (BRPP) committee.
David Strand (Minnesota) – David Strand of Minnesota is involved with the Lavender Greens Caucus, and is the Lavender Greens Delegate to the National Committee. (Further Biographical information pending)
Jennifer Sullivan (Florida) – Sullivan joined the Green Party in 1996, started the Hernando County Green Party (FL), and is active with the Florida Green Party. She is involved with the intervention against the proposed Levy County Nuclear Plant, has worked as an organizer with the Sierra Club and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and serves on the Hernando County Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for Transportation. She has been a Delegate to the National Committee since 2008.
Good objective report.
It should be noted that GPUS secretary switched Nick Mellis to delegate and SteveWelzer to alternate and has not corrected such listings even though Welzer has denied that such a switch has occurred or been approved by the NJ Green party.
Ron,
Excellent article. Truly, it got me excited about the election and I am not even in it.
Glad that there are enough people to run.
Hope things work out justly.
Peace,
Kimberly
It should be pointed out that the secretary doesn’t get to “permit” nominees to go on the ballot. I wish,….,:D
Superb article.
I was at the Green National Meeting in Durham with my family.
Enjoyed meeting everyone.
This article is very helpful in understanding what’s going on.
My family and I are traveling from North Carolina to Maine stopping to visit Green Party locals, and state Green Parties along the way.
Last night we had a fine meeting with members of the Green Party of Virginia in Falls Church.
Also we spoke on the phone with some members of the Independent Greens of Virginia to say hello.
We’ve visited Greens in Maryland, and Deleware today.
Will rest in New Jersey tonight, and hope to see some New Jersey Greens tomorrow.
Again our thanks for your informative reporting, and to the people who have offered to serve in national leadership positions for the Green Party.
Our family admires your courage.
Hello, Mr. Schriner,
Glad you are still interested in our party.
I guess you know that your position of pro-life (anti-woman’s-right-to-choose) is problematic for most greens.
Though, I admire your folksiness and your positions on many other issues.
Please note that the “Independent Greens” of Virginia are only green in name. They are actually connected to the “Independence Party” folks in NY. There is an official Green Party in Virginia that focuses more holistically on green issues, and is connected to the national party.
Thanks,
Kimberly Wilder
We have a very fine set of candidates for the GPUS Steering Committee. It’s unfortunate that 2 of the most qualified for the position are being attacked on an ambiguity in our by-laws that has been exacerbated by the new on-line election process and the 2 week discussion period it introduced. What better preparation for serving on the SC, eh? They’ve got my vote.
I agree that this is an excellent field of potential co-chairs, especially when it was looking as if no one would be stepping up. I will have a difficult time deciding how to rank these candidates.
Here’s how my ballot looks right now:
1. kat swift
2. Nick Mellis
3. Farheen Hakeem
4. David Strand
5. Jennifer Sullivan
6. Jason Nabewaniec
7. Mike Feinstein
Fine coverage and appreciated.
These credital issues are old techniques to narrow field.
Normal political power struggle, and to be expected.
Let’s wish all contestants a transparent, election contest.
Kimberly Wilder,
Thank you for you fine work and coverage.
You are absolutely right that the Indy Greens of Virginia are an affiliate of the Independence Parties of Minnesota, and New York.
The Indy Greens believe that High Speed Rail, light rail, solar, geo-thermal, wind power are very Green.
There are differences between the Indy Greens and the Green Party of Viriginia.
1. Indy Greens welcome all Independent, Green, Constitution and Libertarian candidates.
Help them gather signatures, get on the ballot, and support their campaigns. Indy Greens include progressives, conservatives, centrists.
2. Indy Greens run all meetings by Robert’s Rules of Order.
Indy Green candidates have repeatedly over years withdrawn in races where a Green Party of Virginia candidate actually got on ballot.
That’s true in 2009 in Arlington for both Josh Reubner, and John Reeder.
We have endorsed both candidates, as in each of the last three years.
We wish them well.
Kimberly Wilder, thank you again for your dedication to fair reporting, and the Greens.
Dear Monique,
Thank you for trying to be so polite and positive.
But, to be clear…
I do not condone the “Independent Greens of VA”, because I think they should not use the green title.
And, I find that that group confuses things by cozying up to the actual Green Party and cutting in on our meetings and conventions.
So, I see you are trying to be nice.
But, please, I do not support what you do, and am tired of the compliments received by members of your group via phone, and via web comment.
I want my space! Please, stop writing to me or about me.
Thanks,
Kimberly Wilder
There is frequent use of first person pronoun above.
I find…
I see…
I do not …
I want…
We – speaking for the Independent Greens of Virginia, as one of 27 endorsee/nominee candidates for House of Delegates – respect and appreciate the writer’s opinion, and right to state her views.
We claim the same right.
The story isn’t about her. As a politician, or journalist – as all of us know, who have done so – when you step into the public square you can become part of the story.
The bottom line. Indy Greens appreciate being able to comment here, and participate.
Without us literally a few hundred Virginians would not have been on the ballot in local, state, and federal elections since the early 1990’s as Independents, Greens, Libertarians, and Constitution.
That means Virginians have seen our Independent Green Party candidates on the ballot advocating positive green messages.
Decentralization
Cuts in wasteful defense spending
Stopping No bid Contracts
High Speed Rail across Virginia
Light rail in our cities
Diversity
Solar, Wind, Geo thermal power
A positive alternative on the ballot, where there would otherwise not have one.
The previous writer initiated unfounded claims against the Indy Greens. We reserve the right, and in fact duty to correct the record..
We are and will remain Greens whether “condoned” by self elected authorities on the subject or not.
Let’s all keep working to build the Green Party – however each of us think it to be.
Good luck.
Dear Craig,
As the previous writer, let me explain the “I” messages.
I used “I messages” because I am personally pissed off at the way you and your group co-opts Green Party energy – which is about non-violence and social justice – and converts it to talking only about railroads and energy.
I did “I messages”, because I have been taught that they are more sincere, less aggressive, and cut to the chase where people might hear you and get the message.
“I” see that did not work with you.
I know what the Independence Party is all about. They are rather right wing, largely because they stand for nothing and say they are neither left nor right. While I respect third parties who are on the right, and I respect (and have written about) some of the positive aspect of the Independence Party, they are not a group greens should be merged and coalitioned with.
I understand the strategy of pretending to be friends with an organization, so you can borrow their glow and co-opt their members. It has been done to me at various levels, most recently with the peace organization I work for.
I thank you for not invoking my name.
But, yes. I suppose this is public, and this is now a political struggle. So, does as you like.
But, “I” am on to you and your group and its strategies. So, if you try to act like my friend, I will loudly announce I am not, and loudly announce all the other things I can remember about your group and the Independence Party.
Because, the story is not about me. And, the story is not about you.
For most Green Party members who give a fig about the party’s core values, it is enough to say that Gail Parker came to the 2007 Green Party convention and suggested that Greens might endorse Bloomberg for President. That is a scary thought, that she got to announce to a crowd of hundreds and to the press. And, then, green media had to decide if she was legitimate enough of a candidate to cover in their blogs, youtubes, and other green media.
That is a lot of work and frustration for such a small party as the Green Party. The Green Party does not have time for fakers and co-opters.
The Green Party does not have time for people from the “Independent Green Party of Virginia” calling the homes of green bloggers, thanking them for their service and asking to work with them. That is sneaky and odd behavior. It is posturing and co-opting. And, I didn’t appreciate the phone call or the flattery. But, I am sure other people were confused by it.
Thanks,
Kimberly Wilder
speaking personally
(not even a registered Green, but not liking to see one group infiltrated by another.)
In a comment-blog by PaulV, Gail for Rail’s Bloomberg support is mentioned at the link below:
http://www.brainshrub.com/drupal/taxonomy/term/138
It is especially problematic to have a group calling itself “Independent Green” supporting Bloomberg at a time when there is an amazing Green candidate running for NYC Mayor, Rev. Billy Talen:
http://VoteRevBilly.org/
I didn’t get a phone call! :-(
I’m working on a longer article that touches on some of these “touchy” subjects.
But keep in mind that comments are welcome here from all, including non-greens, quasi-greens, green peace, virginia-indie-greens, etc. Even Mr. Cavlan can comment here (it was a temporary “cooling off period” block).
Personally I don’t think the indie greens need to make each comment a promotional piece for their party, that gets kind of old, but whatever.
Yes, whatever!
;)
Ron,
Apologies about the phone call…;-)
We’d love to appear on Green Party Watch.
Please also keep us posted on the Steering Committee and Secretary elections..as updates come along.
It would be interesting to see, the process to be as transparent as possible.
Even the two larger parties make public their votes in such a case. Hope the Green Party will too.
Good video here to judge for yourself.
Ron Fisher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ_hoLMKw1U
Brad Blanton
http://www.listal.com/video/887957
Carey Campbell
http://wm.wusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/101507_ccampbell_wusa.wmv
There are 100 seats up for election in Virginia HOD. 27 endorsee/nominees associated and assisted are much better than just one.
There are still 29 of the 100 races UNOPPOSED.
Without the IG’s support, work, $$$, the unopposed races would habe been twice that.
Yes, indeed…;-)