[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE: Greens gain city council seats on Election Day: 35% Green win rate in municipal races

[Green Party of California Updates]

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

For Immediate Release:
Monday, November 9, 2009


Greens make gains in city council races across the US on Election Day 2009,
with a 35% victory rate in municipal elections

• Green Party beachhead in California: Greens take a majority of seats on
Fairfax Town Council; see Preliminary Election Day results for Greens at
http://www.gp.org/elections/2009-videos/november-results.html

• 'Send a Green to Congress in 2010': Greens will reach out to voters who are
disappointed by Obama and Dems but haven't forgotten eight years of GOP
misrule under Bush



WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party made a strong showing in city council races
across the US on Election Day, November 3, 2009.

Greens now make up a majority on the Fairfax Town Council in Marin County,
California, where first-place finisher Pam Hartwell-Herrero joins incumbents
Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman.  Fairfax becomes the fourth municipality in
the US to have a Green majority, following Arcata and Sebastopol in California
and New Paltz in New York.

A list of Election Day highlights follows below.  For a comprehensive report
on Green results for Election Day 2009, visit the Green Party's web site
(http://www.gp.org/elections/2009-videos/november-results.html).  More results
will be listed on the page as they come in.

"The strong showing of Green candidates in 2009, especially among municipal
candidates where Greens won 35% of all such races entered, shows that voters
believe that Greens not only have good ideas but can govern effectively.  When
voters are given a positive alternative to the status quo, they will vote for
it." said Green Party co-chair Mike Feinstein, a former Mayor and City
Councilmember in Santa Monica, California.  (35% is based on 47 Green
victories out of 133 municipal races in 2009.)

The Green Party is now turning its attention to the 2010 election.

"Our slogan for the midterm election will be 'Send a Green to Congress in
2010.'  The Green Party will reach out to voters who've been frustrated by the
broken promises of change from the Obama White House and Democratic Congress
but haven't forgotten eight years of disastrous Republican misrule under
George W. Bush.  We're reminding Americans that they have more than two
choices on Election Day.  A few Greens in Congress will change the whole
dynamic of US politics, ending the narrow corporate-approved pro-war range of
two-party ideas," said Ron Hardy, chair of the Green Party's Senatorial
Campaign Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/gscc/index.shtml).


• ELECTION DAY HIGHLIGHTS

CALIFORNIA

Pam Hartwell-Herrero won her race for Fairfax Town Council in Marin County..
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).
  Ms. Hartwell-Herrero joins incumbent Greens Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman to
form the third Green majority on a city council in California, following
Arcata (1996-1998) and Sebastopol (2000-2006).  Fairfax is historically the
fourth city council nationwide with a Green majority (New Paltz, New York, had
a Green city council majority from 2003 to 2004).

CONNECTICUT

John Russell won his race for New London City Council. He finished third of 14
candidates for seven seats.  With three Democrats and three Republicans, Mr.
Russell will be the tie-breaker in council votes.  Ronna Stuller was elected
to New London Board of Education, finishing fifth of out of fourteen
candidates for seven seats.

IOWA

Ray Meyer, state treasurer for the Iowa Green Party, was elected to Chariton
City Council in Lucas County. Ray finished first of three candidates for three
seats with 118 votes or 34.30%.

MAINE

Kevin Donoghue was reelected to Portland City Council, District 1, finishing
first of two candidates for one seat.  David Marshall ran unopposed for
Portland City Council District 2.  (http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/voter.asp)

MARYLAND

Christine Nagle won her race for College Park City Council District 1, Prince
George’s County.  She finished second of five candidates for two seats with
281 votes or 28%
(http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2009/elections/md/city-councilor/1371/).
Dan Robinson ran unopposed for re-election to Takoma Park Town Council, Ward 3
in Montgomery County, receiving 381 votes
(http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/election/2009/results/index.html).

MASSACHUSETTS

Chuck Turner reelected to Boston City Council (District 7), coming in first
out of two candidates for one seat with 5,516 votes or 59.83%
(http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/currentelections/).  Mr. Turner's
reelection comes as a rebuke to an FBI investigation based on accusations that
Massachusetts Greens have called baseless
(http://green-rainbow.org/PressReleases/20081210_GRP_Files_FBI_Request.html).
  Boston is the second largest city in the US with a Green City councilmemer
(population approximately 600,000) following San Francisco (approximately
800,000).

MINNESOTA

Cam Gordon was reelected to Minneapolis City Council (Ward 2), finishing first
out of two candidates for one seat.  Annie Young was re-elected to Minneapolis
Park & Recreation Board, a position she has held since 1989.  Greens in
Minneapolis provide the only diversity on a city council that otherwise has
only Democrats.

NEW YORK

Jennifer Dotson ran unopposed for Ithaca Common Council Ward One in Tompkins
County.
(http://www.tompkins-co.org/boe/2009/General/09%20Results/ITHACA%20CITY%20ALDERPERSON%20WARD%201.pdf).
  Mary Jo Long was reelected to Afton Town Council in Chenango County
(http://www.co.chenango.ny.us).

Two Green candidates for major city councils in New York placed second in
their races, with numbers that show increasing support for Greens and good
prospects for future campaigns: Howie Hawkins for Syracuse City Council, 4th
District (41%); Lynne Serpe, running against 'Democratic machine candidate'
Peter Vallone for New York City Council in Astoria, Queens (23.44%).  In a
six-way race for two seats on the Kent Town Board, Jeff Green came within two
percentage points behind the second place winner.  More information:
http://www.web.gpnys.com/?page_id=251


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and 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
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
United States
Fall 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


~ END ~