State Green Party Press Release

Green Party of Colorado Not Involved in Plea for Miles.

Colorado Green Party
www.coloradogreens.org

JULY 19, 2004

Media Contact: Kirstin Marr, (303) 870-0293, kirstinmarr@comcast.net

Letter sent to all Colorado registered greens was not an official party activity.

DENVER, CO -- A letter campaign encouraging registered Greens to temporarily register Democrat in an effort to help Democratic Senate Candidate Mike Miles win the August primary was not sanctioned by the Green Party of Colorado. The letter, signed by a small group of registered Greens, asked Greens to register as Democrats for the Primary Election, vote for Democratic Senate candidate Mike Miles, and then re-register as a Green for the General Election.

Though the letter did not name the Green Party of Colorado (GPCO), many Greens who received the letter have assumed that the Party had sent the letters and is endorsing Mike Miles. Lanny Kness, GPCO Co-Chair, stated that the letter has been a topic on its email list serve, and the GPCO has received calls requesting clarification. Kness stated, "The GPCO officers and its Council were not involved in this plea."

Kness clarified, "The Green Party of Colorado respects the autonomy of every political party to conduct its internal affairs without hindrance or influence from outside groups. The Democratic Senate candidate should be selected by registered Democrats, who are committed to the ideals of their party."

On the letter-signers, Kness remarked, "I respect their initiative. But it would have benefited the Green Party of Colorado, if they had included a statement clarifying that the GPCO was not responsible for the mailing and is not endorsing Mike Miles."

Hollie Kopp, Campaign Committee Co-Chair for Bob Kinsey's 4th Congressional District campaign, added "Greens should work to build the Green Party. Democrats are not interested in changing the spoiled electoral system by helping Greens implement public campaign financing and instant runoff voting. If Democrats want our help, they should respond to our long standing requests to fix our democracy."

FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.coloradogreens.org