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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The record number of Green
Party candidates competing in the November election includes more
African-American candidates running for state and local office than ever
before, including city council incumbents and a candidate running for
Governor of New Jersey.
"Not only has the party's growth manifested itself in a vastly
increased number of candidates in 2001, but it has included a growing
presence in the nation's urban cores and its largest cities, alongside
an increasing racial diversity among Green candidates," said Mike
Feinstein, Mayor of Santa Monica, California, who tracks the party's
election campaigns.
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Jerry Coleman, GP candidate
for Governor of New Jersey
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The current list of elected Greens includes Latinos
in some prominent city offices: Municipal Judge Fran Gallegos and City
Council Member Miguel Chavez in Santa Fe, New Mexico; City Supervisor
Matthew Gonzalez and At-Large Board of Education Member Marc Sanchez in
San Francisco, California; and Social Development Commission Member
Robert Miranda in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Elizabeth Horton Sheff (see
below), who is African-American, holds a City Council seat in Hartford,
Connecticut.
"Originally cast in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a rural,
Anglo middle-class environmental party, Greens are now showing an
increasing presence in the nation's urban areas, and are presenting an
increasingly diverse face in its candidates. In 2001, this is most
apparent in the number of African American candidates for the Greens,
particularly in the Northeast. This may come as a surprise to those who
felt the Democrats had a lifetime 'lock' on some constituencies. But it
has not been a surprise to Greens who believe in the party's progressive
agenda and feel that it was only a matter of time (and hard work) before
increasing numbers of people from diverse backgrounds would be attracted
to it."
Some campaigns to watch:
CONNECTICUT
Elizabeth Horton Sheff is running to hold on to her seat in the City
Council of Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Horton Sheff became the first
African American Green elected to public office when she won her Council
seat running on an urban/inner city agenda in 1999. This year she hopes
to be joined in office by several more African American Greens.
Web sites: http://ctgreens.org/hortonsheff/
http://www.ctgreens.org/candidates/hortonsheff.htm
NEW JERSEY
Jerry Coleman is the Greens' "yes!" answer to the New York
Times question "Isn't it time for an African-American candidate for
governor in New Jersey?" A long-time urban activist, Coleman
focuses on environmental justice and racism, affordable housing
(especially for seniors), and a healthy urban environment. Coleman has
been outspoken against racial profiling and police brutality, and
advocates the establishment of civilian police review boards.
Web site:
http://gpnj.org/Campaign2001/Coleman2001.htm
MINNESOTA
In Minneapolis, three African-American Green candidates are running:
three-term incumbent Annie Young, seeking re-election to the Minneapolis
Park and Recreation Board, which controls the city's vast park system;
Brother Shane Price in Ward 3 member of City Council; and Natalie
Johnson Lee for Ward 5. Both Price and Johnson seek to serve some of the
city's poorest residents, focusing on education, local economic
development, housing, justice and the environment. The burden of
maintaining some racial diversity on the City Council there is falling
mostly on the Greens; unless Price, Lee, or the city's lone Democratic
African-American candidate are elected, Minneapolis could end up with no
African-Americans on council for the first time in 30 years.
Brother Shane Price, a Green running for Minneapolis City Council Ward
3, is a minister who once served prison time and has since become the
organizer of an annual march for peace and justice through his
community. Price calls himself a "recovering Democrat."
Natalie Johnson Lee has drawn extensive press coverage as an
African-American woman taking on City Council President Jackie
Cherryholmes. Lee has worked extensively on provision of housing, racial
profiling and other community issues with the NAACP and other community
organizations. She came in a close second to the incumbent in the
primary. Cherryholmes has raised nearly $40,000 from corporate interests
in order to hold her seat in exchange for some well-known
favors.
Minnesota Green activist David Strand said, "The incumbent chose to
skip several high profile African-American community debates after her
first encounter in which Natalie confronted her and spoke truth to
power." Ward 5 is approximately 60% African-American but includes a
portion of pricey downtown condos that Jackie Cherryholmes helped get
city subsidies to build.
Web site: http://www.mngreens.org/
WASHINGTON
Young Han, Green Party candidate for 21st District in the State
Legislature race in Washington State, made the national news earlier
this year when a Republican political consultant tried to infiltrate his
campaign and contribute money, which Han returned. Han is the first
Green Party candidate on the ballot for state legislature in Washington
State.
Han, at 18 the youngest among many young Greens running for office,
represents the growing popularity of the Green Party among voters under
30, the age group with the highest registration in the party. If Han
wins, he'll join another elected Asian-American Green, Shwaw Vang,
Madison (Wisconsin) School Board member who defeated a Democrat in a
head to head race. "At the national level, there is no longer an
opposition party," said Young Han. "There is only a ruling
coalition. Here in Washington State, the major parties are constantly
trying to undermine democracy, but are, thankfully,bickering with each
other as to how to do it. My message of election reform, and instant
runoffvoting in particular, has resonated not only with average voters,
but also with elected legislatorswho don't appreciate what their party
bosses are trying to do. The idea of getting to rank candidates is quite
catchy with just about everyone."
Web site: http://voteforyoung.org/
NOTE: A second Green Party
press release, on Thursday, November 1, will cover more Green campaigns
around the U.S.
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United States http://gpus.org
Green Party election news http://gpus.org/elections.html
Green candidate lists and links http://www.gp.org/patience.html
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