Green Party Watch

The Arizona Green Party has increased Party registration to over 5,000 voters. According to the Arizona Green Party, this is an increase of almost 500 Greens since last August. From the AZGP:

2010 marked the 20 year anniversary of the Arizona Green Party and they look forward to broadening their base by educating voters on their progressive positions on local and national issues. “Most people have this notion that a stereotypical Green Party member is this hippy tree-hugging environmentalist, and that isn’t always the case,” says Luisa Evonne Valdez, who was recently elected as AZGP Co-Chair this month. “What people don’t see enough of is the social justice and economic reform that the Green Party fights for. We focus on 10 Key Values that encompass a wide variety of issues. We believe in Single-Payer Health Care for all, we have been against SB1070 from the beginning, we believe in Marriage Equality and Equal Rights/Protections for our LGBTQ communities, we want to Close Corporate Tax Loopholes, fight for fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget that is based on fair taxation and not dependent on sales tax or through slashing funding for our most vulnerable populations. We support conservation of our land and resources, protecting our parks and wildlife, as well issues like strengthening our middle class and increasing green jobs in Arizona through clean energy. The more we can create awareness for the diverse and all-encompassing issues we strive to achieve, the more people will understand that being Green is more than just hugging trees, it is about restoring civility and humanity through compassion and common sense.”

Does your Green Party local chapter have an upcoming meeting or event? Send the information to gpw@greenpartywatch.org and we’ll post it here and on our events calendar page!

Thursday Jan. 27, 2011, 7 PM The People Speak – A Community Screening

The Green-Rainbow Party is sponsoring a free screening of the documentary “The People Speak,” which is based on Howard Zinn’s writings and the book “Voices of the People’s History of the United States.” This event is occuring on the first anniversary of Prof. Zinn’s death. Lenox Community Center, 65 Walket St., Lenox, Massachusetts 01240

For more information, please contact Berkshire Greens at:
berkshiregreens@gmail.com

Sunday Jan. 30, 2011, 1:30 PM – Green Party of Maricopa County (Arizona) Organizational Meeting

Sunday, January 30th, 2011—1:30pm to 3:30pm (arrive early!)
Phoenix Public Library (Mesquite Branch—meeting room)
4525 Paradise Village Parkway North, Phoenix AZ 85032
(the library is located on the north side of Paradise Valley Mall; across the parking lot from Dillard’s)

Tentative Agenda

• Election of GPMC Officers/Steering Committee for 2011-12
• Update of Arizona Green Party (AZGP) ballot status petition drive for 2012; recruitment of volunteers
• GPMC Goals for 2011
• Fundraising—recruitment of monthly sustainers

ARIZONA – The Arizona Green Party is both saddened and outraged in response to the acts of domestic terrorism that plagued not only the City of Tucson this weekend, but our whole nation. Our hearts go out to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as well as all the victims and their families, friends, and communities affected by this senseless tragedy. Our sincerest condolences to those lives that were lost devastatingly on Saturday and we hope for a speedy recovery to those beginning their healing process.

Nonviolence is one of The Ten Key Values of the Green Party. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace. Peace is not just the absence of violence; it is a willingness to resolve conflict in a constructive manner with a spirit of good will and respect.

Violence is never an answer. We, the Arizona Green Party, will continue to advocate for peace and non-violence in the wake of this tragedy in Tucson and everyday; that bloodshed and brutality are not replacements for compassionate dialogue and diplomatic action.

Contacts:
Marcus Bellamy, AZGP Media Outreach Coordinator, (602) 703-6243, trotmium@hotmail.com
Angel Torres, AZGP Co-Chair, (623) 202-3747, info@azgp.org
Luisa Evonne Valdez, AZGP Co-Chair, 602-413-3182, lehallvaldez@gmail.com
Celeste Castorena, AZGP at-large member, (602) 430-9714 (bilingual media contact)

Here is the first installment of comprehensive Green Party election results from the November 2010 elections, starting with Arizona, Arkansas, California and Colorado:

AZ:
Jerry Joslyn, US Senate: 19,118 votes, 1%
Leonard Clark, US House AZ-3: 2320 votes, 1.5%
Rebecca DeWitt, US House AZ-4: 1652 votes, 2.6%
Richard Grayson, US House AZ-6: 2461 votes, 1.3%
Deborah Odowd, State Rep AZ-6: 3857 votes, 5.8%
Justin Dahl, State Rep AZ-12: 4778 votes, 6% read more »

There are 58 candidates running for the United States House of Representatives on November 2.

This is the second of three posts on Green Party House candidates, continuing with the Western portion of the United States. There are candidates running in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Arlzona
William Crum (CD 2) – William Crum is a write-in candidate for U.S. House, second district. He ran for the same seat in 2008 and finished with 3,616 votes (1.1%) in a four way race. He is a father of five and grandfather of 17.
Leonard Clark (CD 3) – Len Clark is running for US House in Arizona’s 3rd District. Find out more about his campaign at his facebook page.
Rebecca Dewitt (CD 4) – Rebecca is an accountant, a mother, and the Secretary of the Arizona Green Party. She ran for the same seat in 2008 and finished with 4,464 votes (3.6%). Find out more about Rebecca Dewitt at her website.

California
Carol Wolman (CD 1) – Wolman is a psychiatrist on the Mendocino Coast, primarily working with native peoples. She is married with two children. In 2008 she ran for the same seat, finishing with an impressive 24,793 votes (8.54%), one of the best returns of congressional candidates in 2008.
Ben Emery (CD 4) – Ben Emery is a private ranch manager, he lives in Nevada City, CA with his wife and children. This is his first campaign for office.
Dave Heller (CD 9) – Heller ran a write-in campaign for this seat in 2008, finishing with 37 votes. Learn more about his campaign at his website. Also see his candidate statement video at KTVU.
Jeremy Cloward (CD 10) – Cloward is a political science professor, living in Pleasant Hill, CA with his wife and children. He last ran for this same office last year in a special election, finishing with 2,515 votes (1.83%).
Eric Peterson (CD 17) – Peterson is one of four candidates running for US House in the 17th Congressional District.

Colorado
Gary Swing (CD 1) – Gary Swing is a long time Green Party activist, working on Green Party campaigns since the mid-1990’s. He ran for State Representative in 1996 on the Green Party ticket, finishing with 1,338 votes (8.5%). He is a cultural event promoter in the Denver area, avid mountain climber, vegetarian and 9/11 truth movement supporter.

New Mexico
Alan Woodruff (CD 1) - Woodruff has been a chemical engineer, a management consultant, a financial consultant and a tax lawyer. After retiring from law practice he was a novelist and political junkie. This is his first run for office.

Oregon
Chris Henry (CD 1) – I had the pleasure of spending time with Chris Henry in Detroit this summer, he is a great guy. He is a union truck driver and green party organizer in Oregon. He last ran in 2008 for this same seat, finishing with 5,252 votes (2%).
Michael Meo (CD 3) – Meo is a math teacher and science historian, teaching at both the high school and university level. He is also a co-chair of the Pacific Green Party of Oregon. He ran for this same office in 2008, finishing with 12,741 votes (4%).
Michael Beilstein (CD 4) – Beilstein is a retired chemist from Oregon State University who also served time in the Peace Corps in the 1970s. He has also served three terms on the Corvalis City Council. He ran for this same seat in 2008, finishing with 8,195 votes (4%).
Chris Lugo (CD 5) – Lugo is a journalist and peace activist who previously ran for office on the Green Party ticket in Tennessee. Lugo has run twice for US Senate in the past, in 2008 he ran in Tennessee finishing with 9,102 votes (0.4%) and in 2006 he ran for Senate finishing with 2,578 votes (0.1%). (By the way, he has one of the most visually appealing websites from Green Party candidates.)

Texas
Jim Howe (CD 11) – Howe is an active member of the Permian Basin Central Labor Union and Communication Workers of America. This his first campaign for office.
Ed Scharf (CD 23) – Ed Scharf ran for this seat in 2002, finishing with 805 votes (0.5%). He is the co-owner of a wildlife lodge and broker with Scharf Realty.

Washington
Roy Olson (CD 9) – Olson, an actuary in Olympia, is a candidate for U.S. Representative in Washington’s Ninth Congressional District. Because of Washington’s “Top Two” election law, Olson was eliminated from the general election ballot during the primary on Sept. 1, where he finished 4th with 4,159 votes (3.34%).

Green Party candidates across the US win some debates, battle exclusion from others

• In Illinois race for the US Senate, Green candidate LeAlan Jones wins a debate from which he was excluded: SC Green Tom Clements challenges Sen. Jim DeMint’s refusal to debate; Calif. Green Laura Wells arrested for entering the gubernatorial debate site

• Video downloads and campaign news:
Green candidates in debates http://www.gp.org/candidates/debates.php
Greens on the campaign trail http://www.gp.org/elections/campaign-trail/index.php
Labor endorsements for Greens http://www.gp.org/candidates/labor-endorsements.php
More candidate videos: http://www.gp.org/candidates/videos.php

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party candidates across the US are shining in some debates — and protesting their exclusion from other debates. read more »

Fox News in Phoenix has a report entitled “Arizona Green Party gaining steam”:

PHOENIX – You hear plenty about Democrats and Republicans in Arizona, but there are more than two party choices.

We’re catching up with the Green Party. Their major goal is to sign up 20,000 members, which would allow them to win a permanent spot on the ballot.

So far, the Arizona Green Party claims 4,500 members. read more »

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party candidates for US Senate across the country have broken new ground in their races, gaining greater public attention and more campaign contributions than ever before.

For a complete list of 2010 Green senatorial candidates, visit http://www.greenscc.org/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=7

Green candidates for the US Senate: top stories and videos

• The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (http://www.greenscc.org), which is recognized by the Federal Election Commission, is distributing its first round of funds to candidates.  Despite the recession, the committee has already surpassed the funds raised in the last election cycle.

• In Maryland, Kenniss Henry has replaced her daughter Natasha Pettigrew, who was killed when an SUV struck her bicycle in September, as the Green Party’s US Senate candidate.  Ms. Henry will carry Ms. Pettigrew’s issues forward and work hard to change Maryland law to win greater protection for bicyclists.
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=355
http://www.gazette.net/stories/09282010/prinnew180534_32576.php

• LeAlan Jones, running for the US Senate in Illinois, is drawing equal support from McCain and Obama voters, challenging the common belief that Greens draw votes solely from the left and potentially spoil for Democrats.

“Illinois voters have figured out that the Green Party, not the Tea Party, represents the real alternative to business-as-usual two-party politics,” said Matt Lavery, chair of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Video clips of LeAlan Jones interviewed: http://lealanforsenate.org and http://www.greenscc.org
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/fox-news-poll-kirk-edges-giannoulias-by-two-points-in-il-sen.php

• Green candidates have received increasing endorsements and support from Democrats.  In West Virginia, Democratic leader and defeated US Senate candidate Ken Hechler endorsed Jesse Johnson of the Mountain Party (affiliated with the national Green Party).  Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hechler are leaders in the movement to ban mountaintop removal mining.
http://jesse4ussenate.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:hechler-endorses-mountain-partys-johnson&catid=1:media-news-reports&Itemid=2
http://www.jesse4ussenate.org

• Tom Clements has emerged as the choice of South Carolina voters who support neither incumbent rightwing Republican ideologue Jim DeMint or Democrat Alvin Greene, whose campaign is collapsing after troubling revelations about his past.

“If enough voters in South Carolina learn about Tom Clements by Election Day, we will make history by placing the first Green in the US Senate,” said David McCorquodale, Treasurer of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee.

http://www.thenation.com/article/154601/greene-green-sc
http://www.wfae.org/wfae/1_87_316.cfm?action=display&id=6499

• While Green candidates for the Senate are attracting more media coverage than in past elections, they’re still struggling to get included in televised debates.  In Illinois, LeAlan Jones is currently petitioning for the right to participate in the Meet The Press candidates’ debate.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-illinoissenate-jo,0,6014610.story

Green candidates who get into the debates raise issues and ideas that the Democratic and Republican contenders won’t touch.  In Arizona, Green Senate candidate Jerry Joslyn confronted incumbent Sen. John McCain on war funding during a September 26 debate.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Arizona-US-Senate-candidates-debate-103835038.html
http://www.joslynforsenate.com

• Duane Roberts, Green candidate for the US Senate in California, has taken the lead on immigrants’ rights, demanding “immediate amnesty.”  In September, Mr. Roberts accused Democrats of being “anti-immigrant.”
http://newsblaze.com/story/20100928144003zzzz.nb/topstory.html
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/immigration/duane-roberts-beware-of-democr/
http://voteforduane.wordpress.com

• More videos:

West Virginia Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson speaks at the Sept. 27 Appalachia Rising protest in Washington, DC, against mountaintop removal mining: http://vimeo.com/15421038
Audio clip of interview about the rally: http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/2084/audio-senate-candidate-johnson-joins-hundreds-to-protest-mtr-in-dc/

“Colia’s Song,” about New York Green candidate Colia Clark: http://www.coliaclark.org

LeAlan Jones and other US Senate candidates from Illinois meet with the Chicago Tribune editorial board (audio): http://www.chicagotribune.com/wgnam-senate-candidates,0,2709990.mp3file

MORE INFORMATION read more »

From GreenChange.org:

Here are ten growing Green campaigns from around the country. Our Green candidates are the true leaders of the Green movement.  They are working hard for all of us, and they need your help.  Please support them by donating and volunteering today.

RICH WHITNEY FOR GOVERNOR (IL)

Rich Whitney is a civil rights attorney who received over 10% of the vote for Governor of Illinois in 2006. He has proposed a detailed plan to fix Illinois’ budget shortfall and invest in green public works through public banking and progressive taxation, while his opponents Pat Quinn, Bill Brady and Scott Lee Cohen have not offered plans of their own. Whitney is advocating for single-payer health care, a living wage, free higher education and legalization of marijuana. Whitney needs at least 5% of the vote to maintain a ballot line for the growing Illinois Green Party, which is running 47 candidates at all levels this year. Learn more about Rich Whitney’s campaign and how you can help.

JESSE JOHNSON FOR US SENATE (WV)

Jesse Johnson is a leader in the battle against mountaintop removal coal mining, which he calls “ground zero for global climate change.” He is the only candidate in the race who opposes mountaintop removal, which Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican John Raese both support. Johnson has been endorsed by WV Democrat Ken Hechler, a former member of Congress and mountaintop removal opponent who challenged Manchin in the primary. Watch Jesse Johnson whip up the crowd at the Appalachia Rising rally in Washington DC on September 27th. Learn more about Jesse Johnson’s campaign and how you can help.

JOHN GRAY FOR US SENATE (AR)

John Gray is the Mayor of Greenland, Arkansas and an advocate for single-payer health care, worker’s rights, and ending corporate personhood. His opponents are Republican John Boozman, conservative independent Trevor Drown, and Democrat Blanche Lincoln, a leading recipient of Wal-Mart campaign cash who has fought to weaken health care reform and stop the Employee Free Choice Act. Gray’s priorities include breaking up “too-big-to-fail” corporations, ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and putting Americans back to work. Learn more about John Gray’s campaign and how you can help.

TOM CLEMENTS FOR US SENATE (SC)

Tom Clements is a veteran activist against nuclear proliferation who has worked for Greenpeace, the Nuclear Control Institute, and Friends of the Earth. He is running against far-right incumbent Republican Jim DeMint and Democrat Alvin Greene, who faces felony obscenity charges. Clements is a strong advocate for green jobs, single-payer health care, and halting the abuses of big corporations and their political cronies like DeMint. He has been endorsed by the Greater Columbia Central Labor Council. Learn more about Tom Clements’ campaign and how you can help.

LAURA WELLS FOR GOVERNOR (CA)

Laura Wells is a financial manager and democracy activist who is campaigning on a plan to fix California’s budget crisis and provide quality affordable health care and education to all. Despite widespread dissatisfaction among voters with Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman, organizers of an “eco-friendly” gubernatorial debate on Oct. 12 are denying Wells the chance to offer her Green solutions to voters. Wells and local Green officeholders will join supporters at an open debate demonstration outside the debate in San Rafael. Learn more about Laura Wells’ campaign and how you can help.

LUISA EVONNE VALDEZ FOR STATE HOUSE (AZ)

Luisa Evonne Valdez is running for Arizona State House in District 15, which covers central Phoenix. Valdez is a disabled veteran and advocate for LGBTQ and veterans’ rights who was recently named one of “40 Hispanic leaders under 40″ by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is campaigning to bring a voice for equal rights, community-based economics, renewable energy and sustainability to Arizona state government. Learn more about Luisa Evonne Valdez’s campaign and how you can help.

DAN CRAIGIE FOR STATE HOUSE (MN)

Dan Craigie is running for Minnesota State House in District 59B in Minneapolis. Craigie, whose background includes working as a Navy technician, is a strong advocate for green jobs, single-payer health care, and equal rights. With the support of Cam Gordon, a Green who has twice won election to Minneapolis City Council, Craigie is running a muscular on-the-ground campaign to become the first Green elected to Minnesota’s legislature. Learn more about Dan Craigie’s campaign and how you can help.

DAVID ELLISON FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY EXECUTIVE (OH)

David Ellison of Cleveland is running for Cuyahoga County Executive in Ohio. Ellison is an architect and community activist who has led the fight for community-driven development. In a race with five other candidates, Ellison stands out as a supporter of community-based economics and environmental sustainability. He supports creating a public bank and investing in local food production to strengthen the local economy. Learn more about David Ellison’s campaign and how you can help.

EDWARD SHADID FOR STATE HOUSE (OK)

Edward Shadid is running for Oklahoma State House in District 85 in Oklahoma City. Shadid is a medical doctor and advocate for healthy, sustainable lifestyles. His campaign is focusing attention on the issue of ballot access reform in Oklahoma, which makes it harder than any state for Greens and other independents to qualify for the ballot. Ralph Nader recently joined Shadid for a campaign rally in Oklahoma City – watch the video here. Learn more about Edward Shadid’s campaign and how you can help.

CHERYL WOLFE FOR STATE HOUSE (MT)

Cheryl Wolfe is running for Montana State House in District 11, which covers parts of Flathead and Lake Counties north of Missoula. Wolfe is an accountant and community activist from Polson. She is running against incumbent Republican Janna Taylor, a supporter of more oil and coal industry development in Montana. Wolfe’s campaign gives Montanans the choice of voting for green jobs, sustainable development, progressive taxation, instant runoff voting and more. Learn more about Cheryl Wolfe’s campaign and how you can help.

Arizona Green Party State Representative District 16 candidate Angel Torres announced on October 1st that his campaign has been endorsed by International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 104:

Phoenix, AZ—Angel Torres, the Green Party candidate for State Representative in Legislative District 16, has received the endorsement of the Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 104.  Mr. Torres has worked in the airline industry for 23 years, and has been a member of the Teamsters since August 2004.  He was a leader of the union organizing committee at his job, served on his bargaining unit’s first contract negotiating committee, and has been a union shop steward since January 2005.  He received his union’s endorsement at their recent General Membership meeting on September 25^th, 2010.  Mr. Torres says, “It is an honor to receive the endorsement of my union, Teamsters Local 104, for my campaign for State Representative.  Six years ago, the Teamsters were instrumental in our successful organizing campaign at my job.  I know that I can count on them for support in my run for the Arizona State Legislature.  I hope that rank-and-file members from other unions will also volunteer to work on my campaign.”

Andrew Marshall, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 104, said, “Angel has represented his co-workers well, as a union shop steward and a contract negotiating committee member.  If elected as State Representative, I believe he will bring that same level of commitment to the residents of Legislative District 16.  It’s about time that we as the labor movement and the working class elect one of our own to represent us in government.” read more »

On Sunday September 26th four candidates for US Senate in Arizona squared off in a televised debate: Republican incumbent John McCain, Democrat Rodney Glassman, Libertarian David Nolan, and Green Jerry Joslyn. Watch the debate here (click ‘read more’ to see parts 2, 3 and 4):

read more »

Debates are incredibly important for Greens, anyone who supports Green candidates, and anyone who supports independent politics in general, for a number of reasons.

First of all, debates are watched by people across the political spectrum, so they offer a rare chance to publicize Green positions outside the usual echo chambers that politics has been boxed into (corporate media that only covers horse races, independent media outlets that cater to small self-selected audiences, Fox News and talk radio that serve as a megaphone for right-wing corporatist propaganda, etc). This ability to reach a general audience with a Green message not only attracts new people to vote for Green candidates and join the Green Party, it puts pressure on politicians of other parties to adopt Green positions that are popular. Conversely, when Greens are excluded from debates, many vital issues don’t get addressed at all: single-payer health care, runaway military spending, climate change, the failed war on drugs, corporate personhood, and the utter corruption of pay-to-play politics, to name but a few.

Secondly, watching (or attending/participating in) debates and inviting others to join you is an essential act of participating in a healthy democracy. It keeps you informed, open to new ideas, and aware of the crucial role of civil discourse in a pluralistic society.

Finally, there may be no better way to make a case for the Green Party than to actively demand that our candidates participate in the debates. Every time a qualified candidate is shut out from the debates, it makes a mockery of democracy – and people recognize that when it’s brought to their attention. The various mechanisms used by the political establishment to shut out independent voices and maintain the stranglehold of the corporate-sponsored political duopoly need to be exposed for what they are: a concerted attack on the right and freedom of Americans to choose their own government. Open debates activism is also an opportunity to build transpartisan alliances with Libertarians, Socialists, Constitutionalists, and other independents, which helps our pro-democracy message to reach a larger audience across ideological lines.

Right now, I know of a handful of broadcast debates in which Greens will participate. We need your help to find out about others: where Greens will be in the debates, and where they are planning actions aimed at getting in the debates. Such actions can be successful: Canadian Green Party leader Elizabeth May was included in a nationally televised debate after her supporters publicly protested her exclusion with letters, calls, and other activism. Even when our actions fail to get our candidates on the debate stage, they help open the eyes of our fellow citizens to what we are fighting for. So without further ado, here is a short list of upcoming debates to watch; please help me expand it by looking up debates/debate activism in your state and leaving information in the comments.

9/21 MA Governor debate with Jill Stein – 7 PM – WCVB-TV (Channel 5), WHDH-TV (Channel 7), WGBH-TV (Channel 2), New England Cable News (NECN), WBUR, WTTK-FM, WBZ-AM

9/26 AZ Senate debate with Jerry Joslyn – 6 PM – KTVK channel 3 in Phoenix, streamed at AZfamily.com

10/11 AR-1 House debate with Ken Adler – 6:30 PM – AETN

10/11 AR-2 House debate with Lewis Kennedy – 6:30 PM – AETN

10/12 AR Governor debate with Jim Lendall – 8 PM – AETN

10/12 CA Governor “eco-friendly” debate – Greens likely to protest exclusion at Dominican University in San Rafael

10/13 AR Senate debate with John Gray – 6:30 PM – AETN

10/13 AR-4 House debate with Joshua Drake – 8 PM – AETN

10/15 AR Attorney General debate with Rebekah Kennedy – 7:30 PM – AETN

10/26 MA Governor debate – Jill Stein must raise $100,000 by 10/1 to participate

Newsweek, “In Arizona, the Greens See Red” posts portions of transcripts taken from audio recordings with several “sham” Green Party candidates in Arizona. The recordings come from a group called “Truth AZ”, (which my computer won’t let me visit for “security issues”… but you can try at www.truthaz.com).

The audio posted at Newsweek is between a “local businessman” Shawn Nelson and Chris Campbell, who was running in the 10th district but who has now apparently dropped out. The two go back and forth, verifying that both are apparently working to help keep the Republican incumbent in office. Then Campbell makes it clear:

“I was approached by Republicans to basically say, hey, do you mind running to get your name out even if you aren’t Green Party? Because honestly I am more Libertarian than I am Green, period. But I am just trying to get, y’know, more or less I am taking votes away from the Democrats. And just having my name on the ballot.”

Comments?

The Arizona Republic reports that 6 of the 11 candidates running on the Arizona Green Party line that the Arizona Green Party has challenged have withdrawn from their races. This follows on the heels of a court challenge to the candidates by the AZ Greens, in which a federal judge ruled that the candidates unrecognized by the party can stay on the ballot.

A little background: the Arizona Green Party has 12 candidates that have been vetted and endorsed by the party, who are listed on our Green Party Watch 2010 candidates page. However, an additional 11 candidates recently filed to run as Greens who were not vetted and endorsed by the party. This was possible because, thanks to the hard work of the Arizona Greens in gaining ballot access, candidates could gain a place on the ballot by filing as write-in candidates for the primary and getting just one vote. Media investigation revealed that a Republican partisan recruited most (if not all) of these candidates, in an attempt to play games with the electoral process. From the Republic:

The Arizona Capital Times reported Friday that three Green Party candidates whom the Arizona Green Party was trying to have removed from the ballot have voluntarily dropped out. (ht:johnbethany)

Less than a day after a federal judge said they had the right to stay on the ballot, three alleged “sham” Green Party candidates withdrew from their races.

Christopher Campbell, a Senate candidate in Legislative District 10, Clint Clement, a House candidate in Legislative District 17, and Ryan Blackman, a candidate in the 5th Congressional District, officially withdrew from their races the morning of Sept. 10, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.

The three were part of a slate of Green Party write-in candidates whom Democrats accused of being GOP recruits who switched their party registration and entered their races to siphon votes away from Democrats. Their withdrawals come the day after U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell ruled against the Arizona Green Party in its bid to have the candidates thrown off the ballot.
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