[GPCA Updates] GPCA PRESS RELEASE: Green Candidate Does Well in 72nd AD Race

[Green Party of California Updates]

Green Party Assembly candidate garners 13 times party registration in Special 
Election; Urges winner to adopt Instant Runoff Voting to save taxpayers money

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS RELEASE

SANTA ANA (January 13, 2010) - Green Party State Assembly candidate Jane Rands 
collected an astounding 13 times her party's registration here Tuesday night 
in the 72nd Assembly District seat vacated by a lawmaker nabbed who boasted 
about sexual exploits with lobbyists.

Ms. Rands said the relatively high vote for an underfunded political party 
reflects growing voter disenchantment with the GOP and Democrats, and special 
interest money.

Ms. Rands finished third in the heavily Republican district, but her 1,963 
votes accounted by 6.1 percent of the total vote - far above the .47 Green 
registration.

GOP candidate Chris Norby won with 20,292 votes but spent more than $254,000 
(to Rands' few thousand dollars). Democrat John MacMurray had 10,018 votes.

"As the first Green Party candidate to ever run for State Assembly in the72nd 
District it is exciting to see voters responding to a campaign funded by 
individuals and not lobbyist groups. By continuing to refuse corporate and 
union money the Green Party can be part of the solution to Sacramento's 
lobbyist driven agenda, and instead work for a future of clean renewable 
energy, real mass transit, conservation based water plans and single payer 
health care for all Californians," Ms. Rands said.

She also urged winner Norby to save taxpayer money by adopting Instant Runoff 
Voting.

"The state of California might have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars 
spent on the second round election if they had adopted Instant Runoff Voting. 
IRV would not only give the voters a chance to rank their ballot choices, but 
would eliminate the 'spoiler effect' and save money at the same time. I call 
on the election's victor, Chris Norby, to introduce this legislation," Ms. 
Rands added.

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The Green Party of California
Web: http://www.cagreens.org
EMail: gpca at greens.org