[Sosfbay-discuss] 2006 was very good year for Green Party of California

[JamBoi]

THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA       www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Contact: Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524 funking at mindspring.com
	    Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106 saraamir at earthlink.net
	    Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170 civillib at cwnet.com 

2006 was very good year for Green Party of California, which cemented
its position as alternative political party for dissatisfied voters

SACRAMENTO (December 28, 2006)  The Green Party of California said
today
that 2006 cemented its position as the alternative political party for
the growing number of dissatisfied voters in the state.

The party cited significant electoral gains in 2006 ? punctuated by the
upset win by Gayle McLaughlin, who although outspent by about 4-1,
defeated the incumbent mayor of Richmond and became the first-ever
directly elected Green city mayor in California. Her victory gave the
Greens 19 wins during 2006, and they now hold 50 elected offices in the
state, from mayor to numerous city council, boards of education and
other local offices. 
 
Greens, who ran in every state constitutional election and a bevy of
candidates for Legislature, Senate and the House, also made strides. In
particular Sarah Knopp, a high school teacher who came within a few
votes of forcing incumbent Jack O'Connell into a runoff, spent just
$3,000, and finished with 17.3 percent of the vote, and nearly 696,000
votes  the most ever garnered by a Green candidate in California.

Greens running for Congress forced Democrats and Republicans to
confront
the war in Iraq and troubles at home, garnering vote totals many times
the percentage of registered Greens in their district. Barry Hermanson,
running in San Francisco's 12th Assembly district, won about 15 percent
of the vote, the highest by any Green in the U.S. running against
either a GOP or Democratic candidate, but not both.

California's Greens also played key roles in initiatives, including
electoral reform in Oakland. Voters there approved Measure O to
authorize Instant Runoff Voting, which allows voters more freedom to
choose among all candidates, regardless of party. Other important notes
for the GPCA in 2006 included:

 	More participation in party affairs by prominent civil rights and
social justice activists, including 2006 Democratic Party gubernatorial
Primary candidate and death penalty opponent Barbara Becnel, who
re-registered Green following the June election.
 	The adoption of official party planks by the Green Party General
Assembly that would call for amnesty for all immigrants, and allow
undocumented immigrants to vote, strong support for unions, increased
protections for the elderly, an end agricultural commodity dumping and
support for strong measures to clean the state's air.
-30-

___________________

JamBoi
Jammy The Sacred Cow Slayer

"Live humbly, laugh often and love unconditionally" (anon)
http://dailyJam.blogspot.com

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