[GPCA Updates] ADVISORY: Greens mourn loss of longest serving Green in public office...

[Green Party of California Updates]

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
http://www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 15, 2008


Green Party mourns loss of Dona Spring, Berkeley
City Council member since 1992; she's called an
‘inspiration' as longest serving Green in office

BERKELEY  (June 15, 2008) – Greens statewide and across the nation are
mourning the loss of Berkeley City Councilwoman Dona Spring – she was the
longest-serving Green Party officeholder in the country. Ms. Spring died
Sunday after a decades-long fight with rheumatoid arthritis. She was 55.

Ms Spring was first elected to the Berkeley City Council in 1992, and
easily won re-election in 2006. A champion of the rights of the disabled,
tenants, animals and the planet, Ms. Spring was known as one of the most
outspoken progressives in the city, the state and the nation. Just a month
ago she went to the UC Berkeley in her wheelchair to support tree-sitters.

Forced recently to attend city council meetings via teleconference because
her disease had so debilitated her that even her wheelchair would not
suffice, Ms. Spring was hospitalized last week with pneumonia and never
recovered. Her friends said she was in horrible pain from her disease, yet
she never ever complained.

"She (was) definitely a role model," Berkeley Rent Board commissioner and
Green Pam Webster said in media reports, noting that Ms. Spring helped
blaze a trail for Greens in the politics.

"The Green Party of California mourns the passing and celebrates the life
of one of our finest leaders, Dona Spring. She was a smart and capable
politician who remained the conscience of the Berkeley City Council. Her
first campaign was galvanizing. She never failed us," said Hank Chapot, a
member of the East Bay Greens.

Dona Spring's first victory came shortly after the Green Party qualified
for the ballot in 1990-92, said Chapot, adding that her election "was the
harbinger of great Green electoral victories to come. Her suffering,
emotionally wrenching to Dona, her friends and colleagues, coupled with her
activism, represent the best in human nature. She was an inspiration,"
added Chapot.

A 70-minute documentary of Ms. Spring's life will be shown Friday (7:30
p.m. at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists). The Green
Party of California hopes to have a special presentation about her life at
its state convention in August.

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