Green Party Watch

Jim Nintzel is reporting at Tucson Weekly that Dave Croteau has dropped his bid to remain on the ballot as a Green Party candidate in the face of a Democratic Party challenge to his bid. Instead, Nintzel reports that Dave Ewoldt, Croteau’s campaign manager will mount a write-in campaign. If Ewoldt secures seven votes in the September primary he will be on the ballot come November. In addition two other Tucson Greens are apparently considering a similar move, meaning that instead of facing one Green on November’s ballot, the Democratic Party’s effort at eliminating Green opposition may result in three times the opposition. According to Nintzel’s piece, Greens would also run in Wards 3 and 5. Ewoldt, if successful, will run in Ward 6.

Changes to the original piece are in italics and result from a comment by Ross Levin. Misspelling of Tucson corrected thanks to Richard Winger.

Tuscon Green Dave Croteau faces a challenge to his petition in his race for city council from Ward 6. The website Tuscon Weekly reports that Democratic Party county chair Jeff Rogers has filed suit alleging that Croteau’s petition has not got enough valid signatures. The petition had to be signed by seven voters from that ward. The article, written by Jim Nintzel, declares that Croteau would only serve as a “spoiler” in the race, and goes on to defend that statement in the comments that follow the story.

Croteau, who has won 28% in his race for Mayor and 16% in his race for Sheriff, is also covered briefly by KOLD, AZ Biz, and Politicker,

The Arizona Star reports that the Democratic incumbent, Nina Trasoff, benefited from a fundraiser held by developers seeking City Council approval for a 4 million dollar purchase of city owned property held May 29th, only weeks before the city council is set to vote on the issue. Arizona 8th has a story on the same topic, calling the fundraiser “Pay to play” politics.