[Sosfbay-discuss] GP RELEASE Green Party election advances in Ariz., Conn., Maine, Mich.

Thu May 1 00:02:00 PDT 2008

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [usgp-media] GP RELEASE Green Party election advances in Ariz.,
Conn., Maine, Mich.
From:    "Scott McLarty" <scottmclarty at yahoo.com>
Date:    Wed, April 30, 2008 23:24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, May 1, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
cell 202-904-7614, mclarty at greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805,
starlene at gp.org

Green Party election update: ballot status in
Arizona; record number of legislative candidates
in Maine; statewide meetings in Connecticut and
Michigan apportion delegates for Chicago
convention

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Parties in states
throughout the US are preparing for the party's
National Nomination Convention ("Live Green, Vote
Green"), to take place in Chicago, Illinois, July
10-13.

836 delegates will attend the convention to
choose the Green Party's 2008 national nominees
(http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/Delegation-Size.php).
 Green Party members are working hard to get 51
ballot lines (50 states and the District of
Columbia) for the Green nominees on Election Day.

For 2008 Green Party campaign news, visit:
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/index.shtml

Here are some updates:

• ARIZONA (http://www.azgp.org) The Arizona Green
Party achieved ballot status in April after an
aggressive effort.  This is the third time that
Arizona Greens won a place on the state's ballot,
after 1992 and 2000.

Greens hope to receive at least 5% of the Arizona
vote in the 2008 general election, which would
give the party official recognition for the next
election cycle.  Arizona Greens can also maintain
ballot status if at least 0.66 percent of voters
register Green as of November 1, 2009.

"Arizona Greens have much to celebrate.  This
month [April 2008], we achieved ballot status for
the third time in our history.  And we will soon
celebrate the 18 year anniversary of the Arizona
Green Party -- the party was founded in May,
1990.  We are in the process of recruiting
candidates for state legislature and Congress.
This is the moment that we have been waiting
for!" said Angel Torres, co-chair of the Arizona
Green Party.

More details: Arizona Republic article:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/04/20/20080420greens0420.html

• CONNECTICUT
(http://www.ctgreens.org/index.shtml) Party
members attending the Annual Convention of the
Green Party of Connecticut on April 26 voted for
presidential candidates and delegates to the
Green National Convention.  The statewide meeting
was held at the Greater New Haven Central Labor
Council in New Haven.

Cynthia McKinney received 33 votes, Kat Swift
three votes, Jesse Johnson two votes, and Kent
Mesplay two votes.  Those vote will be divided
among the delegates to the convention.  Write-in
votes included six for independent candidate and
native son Ralph Nader, and one each for two
others.  Connecticut Greens will send 20
delegates to the national convention, to be
apportionate according to the April 26 vote.

Speaking at the event were first-time
congressional candidates Stephen Fournier, 1st
Congressional District
(http://www.fournierforcongress.org), Scott
Deshefy, 2nd District
(http://www.newmenu.org/deshefy4congress_ct); and
Richard Duffee, 4th District
(http://richardduffee.com).  Harold Burbank, 5th
District (http://www.newmenu.org/haroldburbank)
did not attend the meeting.

• MAINE (http://www.mainegreens.org) The Maine
Green Independent Party is running a record
number of candidates for state legislature, with
three candidates for State Senate (which has 35
seats) and ten candidates for State House of
Representatives (151 seats).

In 2006 the party ran two State Senate
candidates, and eight State House candidates.
John Eder served as a member of the Maine House
from 2002 to 2006, the Green Party's most recent
state legislator.

The Maine Green Independent Party is the largest
Green Party in the US in terms of percentage of
the electorate, with 3% of Maine voters
registered Green.

Maine Greens will hold their 2008 annual state
convention in Yarmouth on May 18, at which they
will select 44 delegates to the national
convention.  In the caucuses held earlier this
year Cynthia McKinney took about 80% of the
votes.  Greens who did not have the opportunity
to attend the caucuses will have another
opportunity to vote at the Convention.

For more information, visit the party's web site
(http://www.mainegreens.org).  Inquiries can be
sent to info at mainegreens.org .

• MICHIGAN (http://www.migreens.org) The Green
Party of Michigan, at its statewide meeting on
April 19 in Romulus, unanimously agreed on ten
men and nine women to serve as delegates to the
Green Party's 2008 presidential nominating
convention in Chicago, July 10-13.

Elections co-ordinator John Anthony La Pietra
announced the results of a statewide membership
poll taken to bind the delegates' votes on the
first ballot in Chicago.  Former Georgia
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney received 64%,
earning 13 delegates.  Consumer advocate Ralph
Nader (who announced an independent campaign in
February) finished second with 17% of the vote
and three delegates.  Kent Mesplay of California
and Kat Swift of Texas earned one delegate each;
one vote in the delegation will go to the
convention uncommitted.

The poll also invited party members to list their
preferences beyond first choice.  Mr. La Pietra
reported detailed alternative results (counted
using instant-runoff voting and approval voting)
which delegates may use to help determine their
votes after the first ballot in Chicago.

• Statewide meetings were also held by the
Mountain Party in West Virginia
(http://www.mtparty.org) and the North Carolina
Green Party (http://www.ncgreenparty.org).
Reports from these meetings will be published
soon.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Video of Green presidential candidates
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php
• Links to Green Presidential Candidates' web
sites
http://www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/index.shtml
• Green candidate database for 2007 and other
campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center
http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau
http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• 2008 Green National Convention: Live Green,
Vote Green
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/index.shtml
• Media credentialing
http://www.gp.org/committees/media/kit.shtml

Candidates for the Green Party's 2008
presidential nomination:
• Jesse Johnson, http://www.jesse08.org
• Cynthia McKinney, http://www.runcynthiarun.org
• Kent Mesplay, http://www.mesplay.org
• Kat Swift, http://www.voteswift.org

~ END ~

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