Green Party Watch

In an article at American Chronicle titled The Preacher and the Billionaire – the Battle for New York’s soul, the author argues that Rev. Billy Talen will use the freedom that comes from perceived weakness to reach out one-on-one and one neighborhood at a time in his effort to unseat billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg. Full disclosure, I am the author.

In a press release the national Green Party has highlighted local Green Party chapters and their efforts to celebrate Earth Day, with a particular focus on water. To illustrate local efforts, the press release says, in part,

Gordon Clark, the 2008 candidate for Congress in Maryland (8th District) has started a group called Montgomery Victory Gardens, which will promote backyard and community gardens in Montgomery County. He is lining up support for the effort from groups like the Organic Consumers Association and the Grow It, Eat It program.

Phoenix Biz Journal discusses an appearance by Ralph Nader and Ed Begley Jr. at that city’s Valley Forward’s annual Livability Summit.

Two state press releases were issued recently. One, from the Green Party of Pennsylvania calls for action to prevent the nomination of John Hanger as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. The second, from the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts calls Democrats on a budgetary “Double Whammy”.

“While Democrats in D.C. are giving hundreds of billions of tax dollars to their friends on Wall Street, the Democrats in Boston are slashing local aid. They’re hitting Massachusetts families from both directions,” says Jill Stein, co-chair of the Green Rainbow Party (GRP). “Corporations get a bailout. Working families get a black eye.”

Our friends at Independent Political Report have beaten us to the punch recently, to their credit. They found an article congressional candidate Matt Reichel had written at OpEdNews.Com about his campaign to replace Rahm Emmanuel, President Obama’s Chief of Staff. Here is a taste

Now, if one ranting and raving peace activist with a campaign manager asleep on an inflatable air mattress alongside piles of campaign literature can register over 7% of the vote in just 5 weeks, imagine what could happen if the party had a little organization to it. Imagine if instead of hating the media, we learned to mingle a little with the corporate news hotshots and convinced them that Green is the future! Imagine if instead of always being negative, we were occasionally positive: if we smiled and said, “history is on our side!”

Tonight Green Party candidate for US Senate in Nebraska, Steven Larrick participated in a forum titled THIRD PARTY PERSPECTIVES AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS at the University of Nebraska Kearney in Copeland Hall, Room 142 at 7 PM. If you’re not there…get there fast!

Minnesota Daily reports that the Democrat Farmer Labor Party has not endorsed Cam Gordon in his reelection bid for Minneapolis city council, but will work for his reelection.

Matt Reichel has between 7% and 9% of the vote in his campaign for Illinois’ 5th congressional district. The Associated Press is reporting that Reichel has won 7 percent of the vote, while the campaign office reported that the result was closer to 9%. The official tally has not been posted yet.

The Medill Report carried a nice review of Reichel’s efforts, and the election has brought in a flurry of news reports.

April 7 is Election Day in Illinois for local elections.20 Green Party candidates are on the ballot in 21 races across the state from Mayor to Library Board, from a special election to Congress to Township Trustee.

One race deserves special mention -  the special election to fill Rahm Emanuel’s seat in Congress that features Matt Reichel running with the Green Party banner.

Below is a list of the 20 Green Party candidates that will be on the ballot in Illinois on April 7:

• Matt Reichel, US House of Representatives, Dist. 5
• Durl Kruse, Mayor, Urbana, IL (Champaign)
• Gary Storm, Alderman, Urbana, IL (Champagn)
• Mark Mallon, Alderman, Urbana, IL (Champaign)
• Bradley Kairas, Township Trustee, Elgin, IL (Kane)
• Dan Todd, Township Trustee, Elgin, IL (Kane)
• Dan Kairas, Township Supervisor, Elgin, IL (Kane)
• Julie Schmitt, Township Trustee, Elgin, IL (Kane)
• Mike Drennan, City Council, Evanston, IL (Cook)
• Dave Simone, Village Board, Northbrook, IL (Cook)
• Bruce Samuels, Library Board, Oak Park, IL (Cook)
• Julie Samuels, Village Trustee, Oak Park, IL (Cook)
• Val Densmore, Township Clerk, Rich Township (Cook)
• Paul Jasinevecius, School Board, Rich Township HS District (Cook)
• Paul Jasinevecius, Highway District, Rich Township (Cook)
• Steve Alesch, Township Trustee, Winfield, IL (Dupage)
• Frank Wedig, Township Trustee, Dorr, IL (McHenry)
• Jesus Correa VII, Mayor, Rockford, IL (Winnebago)
• Joshua Rodgers, Mayor, Robinson, IL (Crawford)
• Paula Bradshaw, Township Trustee, Carbondale, IL (Jackson)
• Jon Murray, Village Trustee, Mt. Morris, IL (Ogle)

This information is from gp.org election database. If there are any corrections or news please post in the comments.

Good luck to all of these candidates! Green Party values are very relevant at the local level, where they can have an immediate and positive impact at a community level.

From the Matt Reichel Campaign:

We have exciting news to share! Former senator Mike Gravel of Alaska has endorses Matt Reichel for Congress! This high-profile endorsement from a political figure on the national stage is a major boost to our already dizzying campaign.

Here is Mr. Gravel in his own words:

“I am happy to offer my endorsement of Matt Reichel in the special congressional election in Illinois’s fifth congressional district. Matt is the best choice for the fifth district, and he needs your help to get elected.

Matt is more than just a typical politician. He is a clear break from tradition for the congressional district that has elected Rod Blagojevich and Rahm Emanuel. He values peace and democracy above all else, as seen from his anti-war activism and his endorsement of the National Initiative for Democracy. The National Initiative is an important proposal that would establish ballot initiatives on the federal level in the United States. It would be an important step forward for transparent government and truly empowering the people, and I trust that this is something that Matt will work for once he is in Congress.

Matt has demonstrated that he is a capable politician with his victory in the Green Party primary on March 3rd. Now he needs your help. The general election is on April 7th, only a few weeks away. Please visit www.MattReichel.us to volunteer or donate, or send contributions to The Committee to Elect Matt Reichel to Congress, 1726 W. Carmen, Chicago, IL 60640.”

This enthusiastic endorsement from a respected statesman is a great benefit to this campaign. However, we still need quite a bit of help–both financially as well as volunteers to help get the word out. If you can help in either way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Sincerely,

Ben Head
Director of Communications

There are several opportunities to come out and support and party with some Green Party candidates in the midwest this weekend:

• Brenda Konkel, Madison Wisconsin Common Council:
  Don’t forget to stop by the Brink Lounge (701 E. Washington Ave) tonight (Friday 3/20) from 5-7pm! Curt Brink is hosting a fundraiser for Brenda so come by to have a drink, pizza and snacks. AND, most fun of all, we’ll be taping short video endorsements by YOU, Brenda’s friends & supporters!
• Matt Reichel, Illinois 5th CD House of Representatives (Chicago): The next opportunity to meet with other progressives and support Matt for Congress is on Sunday, March 22, at 2 P.M.  Conrad Weisert has been kind enough to host a coffee fundraiser at on 4620 N. Austin Avenue, Chicago, 60630.  It is located on the corner of Austin & Eastwood across from St. Robert Bellarmine Church.  Come down to Conrad’s on March 22nd to meet with Matt and his staff, discuss politics with fellow progressives, and lend your support to the only progressive candidate currently running for office on a federal level!
• Pete Karas, running for Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin: Party With Pete! Saturday March 21, 5 – 7:30 p.m. at Park Six in Racine (Corner of Park and 6th). Live music by special guest, Jim Schwall, (guitar and mandolin) co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, “one of the best acts in America”, – Billboard Magazine.  Great food, cash bar, and the Wisconsin Green Party is in town so come hang with the Greens!

Also there is a House Party at Pete Karas’ place tonight, 821 Blaine Ave, Racine.  I’ll be there (a little late), other Wisconsin Greens will be there, Pete will be there, George Martin might be there, and you should be there!  The Friday night house party is a tradition before the Saturday Spring Membership Meeting (Wisconsin Green Party).

If Local Economies is your cup of tea, the afternoon session of the Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering on Saturday will include a Local Economies Forum with John Peck (Family Farm Defenders) speaking on “Relocalizing a Community’s Economy-from land trusts and local currencies for farmer markets and worker collectives”, as well as Green Elected Greg David on The Natural Step to Green Economies and Michael Slattery on local level energy planning, and Amy Mondloch of the Grassroots Leadership College will lead a discussion with the public in attendance.

The Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering and Membership Meeting will be at Blueberries Restaurant (522 6th St, Racine) beginning at 8:30 a.m., Local Economies Forum begins at 1 p.m., followed the Party with Pete next door.