Green Party Watch

In disturbing news from Maine, an organization called “EqualityMaine” has been doing phone calls for a Democratic Party candidate telling voters that there are only two candidates on the ballot in the 28th State Senate District instead of three. They have been ignoring Green Party candidate Lynne Williams, an Equality Maine supporter.

See this story from the Maine Island Ad-Vantages and Weekly Packet: “EqualityMaine dismisses Williams as viable candidate”:

Over the course of the last week, many voters across Hancock County have received calls from EqualityMaine volunteers, and in the Penobscot Bay Press coverage area, those volunteers are specifically stumping for Democratic Senate 28 candidate Jim Schatz. Schatz is in a three-way race with Republican Brian Langley and Green Independent Lynne Williams.
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While Dems take labor support for granted and cave in to corporate lobbies, Greens fight for working people; Greens say “We don’t have a shortage of work ethic in America, we have a shortage of work”

WASHINGTON, DC — Green candidates for Congress and other public offices have drawn important endorsements from unions and labor organizations, as well as union leaders and rank and file members throughout the US.

“Unions and working people are waking up to the fact that they have a party willing to fight for them — the Green Party,” said Howie Hawkins, Green candidate for Governor of New York (http://howiehawkins.com/) and a member of Teamsters Local 317 (see below).

“While Democratic politicians take labor votes for granted, Greens are pushing for the creation of millions of Green jobs, public works programs, and the right to organize in the nation’s workplaces. While Democrats cave in to wealthy corporate lobbies and campaign contributors, Greens are promoting Medicare For All and opposing plans by the White House’s ‘Catfood Commission’ to cut Social Security. When Democrats and Republicans sent Wall Street billions in bailouts, Greens demanded help for working people suffering under the economic meltdown. The Green Party says: we don’t have a shortage of work ethic in America, we have a shortage of work,” said Mr. Hawkins.

Recent labor endorsements for Green candidates: read more »

The 25,000-member Maine Education Association has endorsed Green Independent Candidate Lynne Williams of Bar Harbor over the Republican and Democratic candidates in a closely contested Hancock County race for State Senate.

“I am honored to receive this endorsement,“ Williams said, “I have spent many years, both before attending law school and as an attorney, working with schools and teachers. Much of my practice is special education law, and I am always particularly impressed with those whose calling is working with children. This endorsement is very meaningful to me and I look forward to having MEA members involved with my campaign.“

Williams is the Maine Green Independent candidate for State Senate in District 28, coastal Hancock County. The seat is currently held by Dennis Damon who is barred by term limits from running for re-election. The district includes Ellsworth, Hancock, Sullivan, the Schoodic Peninsula, Sorrento, the towns on Mt. Desert island, and many of the towns on the Blue Hill Peninsula, as well as Deer Isle and Stonington.
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From Independent Political Report:

Lynne Williams, who earlier withdrew from the Governor’s race in Maine, announced this weekend that she is a candidate for State Senate Dist 28 in Coastal Hancock County.

District 28 might well be the “greenest” seat in the state. Our gubernatorial candidates in the last two elections have gotten vote totals significantly above their statewide total percentages. People in this district have truly brought to life our Ten Key Values. We are the second healthiest county in the state; our per capita vote total on No on One last November was the highest in the state; we are a district of small retail, fishing and farming families and recreational vendors. Farmers markets and community-supported agriculture are prevalent. College of the Atlantic is a key presence, as are our natural food stores, coops and alternative healers.

She joins an impressive 17 other Green Independent candidates for Maine State Legislature. Clearly the campaign passion has not left Williams:

During the State Senate campaign, I will continue speaking out about the issues that concern me, particularly the right of self-determination for local communities and local school districts, preventing inappropriate industrial development from invading our rural communities, supporting local foodscapes, and ensuring that farmers and fishing families are able to create sustainable businesses.

Her campaign website is here: www.lynnewilliams2010.org

The first story covers California Green and former Congressman Dan Hamburg in his race for Mendocino County Council. Hamburg maintains a Facebook page, and donations to his campaign can be made via his campaign website The story at IPR says that Hamburg is likely to be in a run off.

Mendocino County’s 5th District is awash with well-known, seasoned liberal candidates vying for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, making a November runoff nearly certain.

Source: Press Democrat

The primary is set for June 8th.

In another piece written by Ross Levin, Lynne Williams has announced that she’s abandoned her gubernatorial bid, and is instead running for a seat in the state legislature.

As always, I will continue speaking out about the issues that concern me, particularly the right of self-determination for local communities and local school districts, preventing inappropriate industrial development from invading our rural communities, supporting local foodscapes, and ensuring that farmers and fishing families are able to create sustainable businesses.

Meanwhile, in international Green news, IPR reports on the Green Party of England and Wales, and their newly minted manifesto The party’s campaign theme, Fair is worth fighting for, is explored in a video, which you can see under the fold. read more »

Brent McMillan, Green Party Political Director, wrote an article entitled “A vision for the midterm: stage is set for Green breakthrough” for the latest issue of Green Pages:

We are well positioned going into the 2010 mid-term, but without the accompanying work this is meaningless. Just having the right message is not enough. The 2006 mid-term was the second strongest for independents and third-party Candidates since 1934. This year could be even bigger, as there is great dissatisfaction with both Democrats and Republicans. read more »

“A real Tea Party movement would look like the Green Party”: Greens urge Americans to reject corporate royalists and faux populists like Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin, citing Jefferson’s warning about “the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations”

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care reform, democracy, corporate power, and related issues: http://www.gp.org/speakers

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders and candidates said that many Tea Party activists might be in the wrong party and urged them to consider going Green. read more »

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders and candidates are calling President Obama’s resurrection of nuclear power with a multi-billion-dollar taxpayer-funded subsidy for a Georgia plant his “worst idea yet” and warned about serious public health threats posed by mining, waste transportation, and waste storage. The Green Party disputes the myths that nuclear power is ‘green energy’ or a solution to the advance of climate change.

“The twin nuclear reactors in Burke County, Georgia, would be financed with $5.4 billion in loans from the Federal Financing Bank with money of the US Treasury. According to the GAO, this investment has a 50/50 percent or worse chance of failing. President Obama wants taxpayers to assume 80% of the financial risk to turn the southeast Atlantic states into a big open-pit radioactive barbeque. This investment is a terrible idea — President Obama’s worst yet,” said Lisa Green, Green candidate for California Assembly Candidate, 53rd Assembly District (http://www.votelisagreen.net). read more »

Over 100 leading peace activists have announced an ‘Emergency Anti-Escalation Rally’ at the White House on December 12, from 11a.m. to 4 p.m., to reject President Obama’s planned military escalation in Afghanistan. The rally is organized by End US Wars, a newly formed coalition of national and grass-roots antiwar organizations, with endorsements from leading peace leaders.

Rally organizers are calling for the left wing to end its support for Obama if he declares a surge in troops, and for condemnation of Obama’s war policy by his own party faithful. In addition, efforts will begin to cut short his term in office, along with Congress; and protests will intensify against U.S. war involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq and any other countries.

Speakers include Green Party members Cynthia McKinney, Lynne Williams, Marian Douglas and others including Sen. Mike Gravel, Kathy Kelly, Chris Hedges, David Swanson, Phyllis Bennis, Rev. Graylan Hagler, Coy McKinney, Debra Sweet, Brian Becker, Mathis Chiroux, Hon. Betty Hall, Elaine Brower, Michael Knox, Ralph Lopez, Ron Fisher, and statements from Col. Ann Wright, Stephen Zunes and Granny D. read more »

In a message to supporters, New York City Council candidate Lynne Serpe’s campaign encouraged her supporters to attend a debate planned for Monday of next week.

This Monday, October 19th, is the big debate with Peter Vallone Jr at Riccardo’s, sponsored by the Western Queens Gazette. We need as many supporters as we can pack into the room. Ricardo’s is located at 24th Ave and 21st Street and the Debate begins at 8pm, but try to show up no later than 7:45pm to make sure you get a seat. Riccardo’s is typically politico establishment territory, which is why it is so important we have Progressive supporters like you come out and cheer Lynne on.

Lynne Williams is running for Governor of Maine in 2010. Maine has over 12 years of strong turnout for Greens for Governor:
In 2006 Pat LaMarche won 10% of the vote.
In 2002 Jonathan Carter won 9.3% of the vote.
In 1998 Pat LaMarche won 6.8% of the vote.
In 1994 Jonathan Carter won 6.4% of the vote.

In 2010, Lynne Williams hopes to turn this increasing support for Green Politics into a Victory.

If you live in Maine, Williams needs your support NOW more than ever. Public financing through Maine’s Clean Election Laws has been critical to Green Party success in that state. From the Williams campaign:

To qualify for Maine Clean Election funds I MUST raise a minimum of $40,000 in seed money paid directly to the campaign AND collect a minimum of 3,250 $5 Qualifying Contributions for the Maine Clean Election fund. Once we meet these goals, we will qualify for $800,000 in Clean Election funding, so your $105 in contributions can yield a 7,200 percent return on your investment to allow my campaign to move forward on the issues of importance to you and to Maine.

The “seed money” can come from any individual anywhere, no more than $100 per person. The five dollar “Qualifying Contributions” must come from Mainers. All funds donated to the Williams Campaign will help her meet the Clean Elections requirements. The requirements this year are more challenging than in the past, due to the Democrats in the State Legislature raising the minimum requirements in order to benefit the major parties and keep third party candidates from qualifying.

Here is a recent Campaign Ad via YouTube for the Williams Campaign:

Lynne Williams, Green Party candidate for Governor of Maine in 2010, is shooting a series of videos about the ballot measures that will be on this November’s ballot in Maine. Here is one urging Mainers to Vote No on Proposition 1, which is an attempt at a “Citizens’ Veto” that reads: “”Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?”

It is a great idea for a state wide candidate to get out in front of the issues voters are voting on.

The Augusta Insider has a great piece about the Maine Independent Green Party. It covers the proposed changes to the Clean Elections law in Maine being proposed by Democrats that would make it more difficult for lower budget campaigns to qualify.

“The argument that clean election funds should be reserved for “viable” candidates only, suggests that “viability” is determined by the ability to raise large sums of money,” said Green Party Chair Anna Trevorrow. “The concept behind clean elections funding has always been that candidates ought to compete based on their policy ideas and the values they represent. The new changes undermine that fundamental concept by mandating a monetary threshold for competitors.” Trevorrow went on to say that this is not just about the Green Party, but that the changes keep clean election funds from any candidate who is not most institutionalized.

It also talks about the Greens opposition to the Democrats “Tax Reform” bill, which was also opposed by the Republicans. In response, the Democrats accused former Green Elected John Eder of getting help from Republicans, and claimed that “…Greens in Portland have moved closer to the Republican Party.“ The Greens responded:

Anna Trevorrow said the Green Party opposes the tax reform because “flat taxes are by nature inequitable, and the Green Party believes that those most capable of paying back into the system ought to compensate to some degree for those less able.” Lynne Williams felt the removal of an increase to the real estate transfer tax left her no choice but to oppose the tax reform bill. Trevorrow and Williams both disagree with comments made by Democrats after the Greens came out in opposition to the tax reform. “The Dems had to dig deep to find this skewed accusation, and even at that, came up false.” said Trevorrow in reference to comments in a Maine Democrat press release.

Excellent article, read the entire piece here.

DownEast.com carries an outstanding and detailed report on the history of the Portland Maine chapter of that state’s Green Independent Party. Jeff Clark, the article’s writer, interviewed several Portland Greens, and offers up a number of quotes.

Much of the thrust of what these Greens have to say can be summed up in these phrases: Go for youth, go for the non-voter, stand by your issues, and the Democrats are not our friends. Here are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite:

But these days the Greens are widely acknowledged as the city’s new second party, displacing the GOP in both votes and political offices and shaking the complacency out of the Democratic power structure.

“One of the first pieces of advice I got was to cut out all voters between eighteen and thirty-five years old, as well as anyone who hadn’t voted in the last presidential election,” Eder recalls. “I said no. Those young voters were my crowd. What I found was that it’s easy for any group of voters to become apathetic if they’re not invited to participate. Appealing to younger voters and going door to door were the keys to my success in Portland.”

Maine’s Greens have largely moved past the disgruntled Democrats who were the majority of early members. “There’s a generational change going on,” she says. “People are feeling they are Greens because of what we stand for, not because they’re sick of the Democrats.”