[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green Party candidates to watch on Election Day 2008

[Green Party of California Updates]

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

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, October 23, 2008



Green Party candidates to watch on Election Day 2008

• General Green Party election information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml

• More candidates to watch: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States has identified
several candidates who are running significant campaigns at state and local
levels.  Five such candidates are profiled below.

The Green Party's 2008 national nominees are Cynthia McKinney and running
mate Rosa Clemente.  Ms. McKinney was interviewed on BreakTheMatrix.com on
Sunday evening, October 19 (http://www.breakthematrix.com/node/28047) and on
Democracy Now!, October 16, following the final presidential debate, from
which she was excluded
(http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/16/breaking_the_sound_barrier_third).

At least 245 Green candidates will be on ballots on Election Day, November
4.  At least 293 Greens have run for public office throughout 2008,
including the November 4 election.  More Green candidates to watch are
listed at: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php


• Jesse Johnson, Mountain Party candidate for governor of West Virginia, has
participated in three debates and has attracted attention for his promotion
of a ban on mountaintop removal mining by West Virginia's powerful coal
industry and his leadership on other state issues.  Mr. Johnson was endorsed
by the Sierra Club on October 3
(http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2008/10/06/sierra-club-endorses-jesse-johnson-for-wv-governor/).

"Because of mountaintop removal and the power of the coal companies, West
Virginia has become ground zero for global climate change in the US," said
Jesse Johnson.  "The Interior Department is now relaxing rules on
mountaintop mining, which will bring untold devastation to the natural
environment and a massive threat to public health, through contamination of
water and other resources.  I'm the only candidate addressing this crisis,
because the Democrat and Republican are too closely allied with the coal
companies that are plundering West Virginia."

Campaign web site: http://www.jesse4wvgov.org
Video clip of Jesse Johnson speaking at a West Virginia Youth Commission
forum: http://vimeo.com/2013238


• Rebekah Kennedy, Green candidate for the US Senate in Arkansas, is
competing against Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor, with no Republican in the
race.  Despite numerous invitations, Sen. Pryor has avoided facing Ms.
Kennedy in a candidates' debate.
http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=9182552
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/240400/

Campaign web site: http://www.kennedy2008.org


• Gordon Clark, Maryland candidate for the US House (District 8, Rep. Chris
Van Hollen's seat), is receiving significant attention for his grassroots
campaign against a powerful Democrat.  (Mr. Van Hollen, though only in
Congress five years, is Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee.)  Gordon raised more campaign funds (all individual) during the
second quarter than any other candidate nominated for Congress by an
alternative party in the US
(http://www.politickermd.com/clarkforcongress/2953/clark-campaign-releases-2nd-quarter-fec-report-total-tops-3rd-party-campaigns-).
  Mr. Clark came out on top in a candidates' forum sponsored by the League of
Women Voters on October 2
(http://www.gazette.net/stories/10152008/montlet175510_32497.shtml) and is
now receiving coverage in the mainstream press.

Gordon Clark noted that "Chris Van Hollen went from being a liberal Democrat
to a corporate Democrat, and he no longer represents his constituents on an
array of issues.  Maryland's 8th is one of the most progressive districts in
the country, and voters here are looking for a political leader who has a
vision for tackling the energy crisis, the faltering economy and the climate
crisis of global warming, as well as the willingness to end the war in Iraq
and the judgment to stop an expanding war in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  It's
becoming clear to many that Mr. Van Hollen, with his numerous close ties to
campaign contributors, cannot meet that need -- and that our campaign does."

Campaign web site: http://www.clarkforcongress.net
Video of Oct. 2 candidates' forum: http://www.clarkforcongress.net/press.cfm
More video clips of Gordon Clark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbj-MoxER7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyYZ9Oof_RQ


• Malik Rahim, Louisiana Green candidate for the US House (District 2), is
co-founder of the Common Ground Collective, an organization that provides
short-term relief to victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf Coast
region.  Mr. Rahim is a former Black Panther and ran for New Orleans City
Council in 2002 as a Green Party candidate.

The election for the 2nd District US House seat will take place on December
6 instead of November 4 because of election delays caused by Hurricanes
Gustave and Ike.

Campaign web site: http://www.votemalik.com
Common Ground: http://www.commongroundrelief.org


• Ross Mirkarimi was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
(District 5) in 2004 and is running for reelection.  Mr. Mirkarimi has
sponsored about 40 pieces of legislation addressing crime, making streets
safer for pedestrians, improving efficiency of city departments, and the
environment.  He led efforts to promote medical marijuana clubs in San
Francisco.

In March 2007, he introduced legislation prohibiting large supermarkets and
drugstores from providing customers with non-biodegradable plastic bags,
making San Francisco the first city to regulate such bags.  In June 2008,
Mr. Mirkarimi sponsored a one-year pilot plan  for solar rebate program that
provides $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations and lower income residents
for installing solar voltaic power on rooftops.  He faces two opponents in
the current election.

Campaign web site: http://www.rossmirkarimi.com


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database for 2008 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

Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 'Power to the People' Campaign for the White
House
http://votetruth08.com
http://www.runcynthiarun.org

"Where's Kenny Rogers When You Need Him? The Big Boys Got Their Bailout, But
the Elected Leadership and the Voters Meet at the Election Day Showdown"
By Cynthia McKinney, OpEdNews.com, Oct. 7, 2008
http://www.opednews.com/articles/-Where-s-Kenny-Rogers-When-by-Cynthia-McKinney-081007-748.html

Cynthia McKinney on video
http://www.youtube.com/user/RunCynthiaRun
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=RunCynthiaRun
• BreakTheMatrix.com interview, Oct. 19:
http://www.breakthematrix.com/node/28047
• Democracy Now! interview, Oct. 16:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/16/breaking_the_sound_barrier_third
• Music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx1NPlQjkqo
Rosa Clemente on video
• Interview: Current TV/Rock the Vote
http://current.com/items/89335393_the_organizer_and_green_party_vp_candidate_talks_about_her_inspirations


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