Green Parties in several states will be holding state party conventions in July. Among them are Greens in Arkansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. If you know of other upcoming party meetings, let us know in the comments.
Saturday 24 July:
Arkansas Green Party 2010 State Convention, Little Rock, AR
Cleveland.com reports on challengers for the newly-created Cuyahoga County executive position in Northeast Ohio:
David Ellison, a Cleveland architect running for the Green Party, opposed the county charter that created the executive position. Ellison said he thought the executive structure was too hierarchical, but he later decided to run for the job.
“It just seemed like now was the time,” he said. “I should either run or stop complaining.”…
Ellison, 49, of Cleveland, has fought projects that cost taxpayers money. read more »
Cummins, a self-described Green Party and Democratic Party member, is up for re-election in Cleveland. His district has been redrawn and he is now running in a district very different than the one he represented in the recent past. He was interviewed on WKSU recently to get his views on the city’s plans to bring LED lighting to the city.
H/T to Vaughn Stull.
On Tuesday 4 May, the Ohio Green Party will have its first statewide primary. Several Greens are running for Congress as write-in candidates, meaning that they need at least 25 votes in Tuesday’s primary to appear on the November ballot.
These candidates need 25 or more votes in the primary tomorrow:
Other Ohio Green Party candidates include Dennis Spisak for Governor, Anita Rios for Lieutenant Governor, Pat Saunders for State Senate District 13, Corey Ansel for State Representative District 22, Dennis Lambert for State Representative District 89, and Ty Collinsworth for State Representative District 92.
You can invite your friends and family in Ohio to vote in the Green primary on facebook.
The Akron Beacon Journal recently published an in-depth look at minor parties on the ballot in Ohio, including interviews with Elaine Mastromatteo and OHGP spokesperson Russ Buckbee.
At least ten state Green Parties have statewide events coming up in May. Listed below are details for upcoming Green Party events in Colorado, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. Attending statewide Green gatherings can be a good way to get more involved with your state’s Green Party.
Saturday 1 May
Colorado – Green Party of Colorado 2010 state convention – Florence, CO
Maine – Maine Green Independent Party 2010 state convention – Greene, ME
Minnesota – Green Party of Minnesota 2010 statewide nominating convention – Red Wing, MN
South Carolina – Green Party of South Carolina 2010 state convention – Columbia, SC
Tuesday 4 May
Ohio – Green Party of Ohio primary election
Friday 14 May
Florida – Green Party of Florida 2010 state meeting (5/14-5/16) – Peace Farm (near Gainesville, FL)
Saturday 15 May
Michigan – Green Party of Michigan 2010 state membership meeting – Lansing, MI
North Carolina – Green Party of North Carolina spring gathering – Greensboro, NC
New York – Green Party of New York 2010 state nominating convention – Albany, NY
Saturday 22 May
Maryland – Green Party of Maryland 2010 state assembly – Annapolis, MD
John Michael Spinelli of Columbus Government Examiner has published an interview with Dennis Spisak, the Ohio Green Party candidate for governor.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 2010 Green Party of Ohio candidate for governor is Dennis Spisak of Struthers, Ohio, a career educator, whose thirst for elected office was quenched in 2005, when he became one of the Green Party’s first candidates to win election to public office on the Board of Education for Struthers City Schools.
Read the full article and interview at Columbus Government Examiner.
Blogger El Duderino at Firedoglake, a popular blogging site among the progressive netroots, is urging fellow bloggers at FDL to support Dennis Spisak, the Green Party candidate for governor of Ohio.
We on the left continually complain about how corrupt and ineffectual Democrats are, and we speak of strong primary challenges from the left, but in the end, the primaries fail or worse, never materialize in the first place. And we end up repeating the same old song and dance every election cycle.
Now it’s time to work for real health care reform — Medicare For All, say Greens
• The Democratic “insurance company enrichment” bill burdens millions of Americans and imposes mandates that enrich insurance companies
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care reform: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php
WASHINGTON, DC — Green candidates and party leaders said today that the passage of the Democratic health care bill, with its increased financial burdens on millions of Americans, should not slow the movement for Medicare For All (single-payer national health care). read more »
WASHINGTON, DC — Several Green candidates have launched campaigns in their states’ races for governor in 2010.
The Green Party of California will have a contested primary election for the gubernatorial race, with Laura Wells and Deacon Alexander competing for the nomination, to be decided on June 8.
In recent years, gubernatorial races in some states have given Green Parties high enough percentages to achieve or maintain ballot status and determine the outcome of the election.
In 2006, Rich Whitney and his fellow Greens overcame an attempt by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to keep the Green Party off the Illinois ballot. Gov. Blagojevich spent about $800,000 to block the Green Party. Mr. Whitney drew over 10% of the vote on Election Day 2006 and will be on the ballot in 2010.
Some Green gubernatorial candidates to watch: read more »
From Richard Winger at Ballot Access News:
Pat Saunders, a Green Party member running in the Ohio Green Party primary for the legislature, has been removed from the ballot. One of his circulators is considered to be ineligible to circulate a petition for a candidate running in a Green Party primary, because in 2008 she voted in a Democratic primary. See this story.
Saunders could still be the Green nominee if he receives 25 votes write-in votes in the Green Party primary. However, he must file as a declared write-in quite soon, in order to attempt that.
The Ohio State Green Party is meeting Saturday January 23 in Columbus, OH. They are also seeking candidates for public office, candidates for State Party positions, and help collecting signatures for Dennis Spisak and other candidates.
Details below from the Ohio Green Party’s GreenBeat:
Ohio Green Party’s candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak would clean up Ohio’s water and air! Lessen our dependence on dirty coal plants, unlike current Governor Ted “Dirty Coal” Strickland.
Dennis Spisak would also bring in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy.
Dennis Spisak and the Ohio Green Party would also look into:
Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy is key to sustainability. Just as ecological materials management is governed by the concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” (in priority order), ecological energy management must be governed by the principle of Conservation, Efficiency, and clean renewables. Of highest importance is to use less, then to use wisely, and to have clean production of what is used.
read more »
GREEN BEAT
NEWSLETTER OF THE GREEN PARTY OF OHIO December 5, 2009
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Dennis Spisak to Make Governor’s Run
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Green Party member Dennis Spisak, who was recently re-elected this past November to his seat on the Struthers, Ohio Board of Education announced that he will seek the Green Party nomination for Governor of Ohio.
“My campaign will focus on Single-Payer Universal Health Care for all, Blue-Green Jobs for all, and Better Funding of Education for all.” Spisak added, ” We will also campaign for fixing the housing mortgage crisis facing this state as well as looking into ways of reducing the nursing home costs for the elderly.”
Spisak believes the past 12 years of Republican and Democratic Leadership in the Governor’s Mansion has failed Ohio and the current Democratic and Republican candidates have failed Ohio as well.
“Governor Strickland’s platform of “Turnaround Ohio” has failed. Our public schools are facing an 800 million dollar shortfall in the state budget. Republican candidate John Kasich brings us nothing new but failed economic plans from the days of President Bush. Kasich also sat in his Lehman Bros. Office and watched the banks and Wall Street fail.”
Since Green Party Candidates do not accept donations from Lobbyists or Political Action Committees, now is the time to show your support for public funding of political campaigns and help Dennis Spisak win the 2010 election for Ohio Governor!
A key component of Dennis’s strategy to win is the grassroots funding available to statewide candidates in Ohio. By taking advantage of the Ohio Income Tax Credit for Campaign Contributions, we can prove the viability of publicly funded campaigns and help bring an end to corporate and special interest control of our elections.
read more »
GREEN BEAT
NEWSLETTER OF THE GREEN PARTY OF OHIO
NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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State Convention Saturday, January 23, 2010.
Save the Date! The Green Party of Ohio state convention will be held in Columbus on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 10am- 4pm . The day-long event will be in Room 100 of the Northwood Building, 2231 North High Street. There is ample parking behind the building and public transportation serves the area. http://www.universitydistrict.org/room100.php
Join us for grassroots democracy, camaraderie, political activism, potluck lunch and an immediate opportunity to effect real change in Ohio.
More details will be forthcoming in this newsletter and at the Ohio Greens web site. Stay tuned!
Sign The Petition In Support of National Jobs Legislation
The National Jobs For All Coalition is organizing a campaign for jobs. The campaign supports several pieces of legislation in the U.S. Congress; bills that will make a wide range of improvements to our society and at the same time create millions of needed jobs. Print out, sign and circulate the petition at http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/2719966/1993193480/name/Petition%20Oct.%20.doc Find out more about the National Jobs For All Coalition at http://www.njfac.org/
Run For Office in 2010!
If you, or someone you know would like to run for office in Ohio as a Green Party candidate contact Logan Martinez at loganmartinez@hotmail.com, (937) 275-7259. Join those Greens who have run for Governor/Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, US Congress, Ohio House and Senate, City Council, Township Trustee and Board of Education. More and more Green candidates qualify for the ballot every year and you could be the next Green to be elected!
Want Real Health Care Reform? Join SPANOhio.
SPANOhio, The Single Payer Action Network Of Ohio is a non-profit coalition of labor, political, health care provider, business and citizen groups and individuals working for universal healthcare in Ohio and The Health Care For All Ohioans Act. Now, more than ever it is apparent that the job of fixing our broken system and guaranteeing health care rights for everyone will fall to the states and Ohio is at the forefront of the struggle. Find out how you can be a part of this important effort at http://spanohio.org/
As Always,
Peace
From gp.org:
Wins on Nov. 3, 2009
California
Pam Hartwell-Herrero wins her race for Fairfax Town Council, Marin County, CA. She finished first of seven candidates for three seats with 1,031 votes or 19.76%. http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/rv/main/CurrentElection/Results.htm She joins incumbent greens Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman to form the third Green Party Majority on a City Council in California (Arcata 1996-1998) and Sebastopol (2000-2006) and fourth in US Green History (New Paltz, New York 2003-2004)
Jim Harvey won his re-election to Montara Water and Sanitary District, San Mateo County, CA.
Paul Perkovic won his re-election to Montara Water and Sanitary District, San Mateo County, CA.
Curtis Robinson won his re-election to Marin County Board of Education Member, Trustee Area 6, CA. He finished first of two candidates with 2,385 votes or 61.01%. http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/rv/main/CurrentElection/Results.htm
Dana Silvernale won her race for Northern Humboldt Union High School District, CA. She finished third of four candidates for three seats with 3,239 votes or 22.7%. http://co.humboldt.ca.us/election/results/2009/Final%20Report.html#c-182
Connecticut
Three greens ran for New Canaan, CT Constable. All were elected! There were six candidates overall for six seats.
Cole Stangler finished fourth with 749 votes
Estela Lopez finished fifth with 666 votes
Hector Lopez was re-elected with 627 votes First, Second and Third received 2,349, 2,403 and 1,608 votes respectively. These are partisan races. http://www.newcanaan.info/filestorage/293/329/687/Election_results_11-3-09.pdf
Maine
Kevin Donoghue won his re-election to Portland City Council, District 1, Cumberland County, ME. He finished first of two candidates for one seat with 1,779 votes or 66%. http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/voter.asp
David Marshall ran unopposed for Portland City Council District 2, Cumberland County, ME.
Maryland
Dan Robinson ran unopposed for re-election to Takoma Park Town Council, Ward 3, Montgomery County, MD. He received 381 votes. http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/election/2009/results/index.html
Christine Nagle won her race for College Park City Council District 1, Prince George’s County, MD. She finished second of five candidates for two seats with 281 votes or 28%. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2009/elections/md/city-councilor/1371/
Massachusetts
In Newburyport, MA:
Question #1 Shall a commission be elected to frame a charter for Newburyport?
Question #1 wins by a large margin Yes: 3,336 No: 1,233
Bruce Menin, who serves on the city’s School Committee, was elected to the Newburyport Charter Commission. He finished fifth of twenty candidates for nine seats with 997 votes.
Chuck Turner won his re-election to Boston City Council, District 7, Suffolk County, MA. He finished first of two candidates for one seat with 5,516 votes or 59.83% http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/currentelections/
Minnesota
Cam Gordon was re-elected to Minneapolis City Council Ward 2, Hennepin County, MN. He finished first of two candidates for one seat.
Annie Young was re-elected to Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Hennepin County, MN. She finished second of four candidates for three seats.
New York
Jennifer Dotson ran unopposed for Ithaca Common Council Ward One, Tompkins County, NY. http://www.tompkins-co.org/boe/2009/General/09%20Results/ITHACA%20CITY%20ALDERPERSON%20WARD%201.pdf
Mary Jo Long was re-elected to Afton Town Council, Chenango County, NY. She finished second of three candidates for two seats with 222 votes. http://www.co.chenango.ny.us/
Ohio
Dennis Spisak was re-elected to Struthers Board of Education, Mahoning County, OH. He finished third of four candidates for three seats with 1,695 votes or 22.1%.
Pennsylvania
Bill Smedley ran unopposed for his re-election to Nippenose Township Constable, Lycoming County, PA. He received 92 votes or 98.92%.
Jay Sweeney ran unopposed for Falls Township Auditor, Wyoming County, PA. He received 99 votes or 92.52%.
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