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Green Party of Delaware
Press Release October 24, 2002
Green Party Denounces Gordon, Calls for his resignation citing ethical and possible illegal use of government employees to influence election outcomes
J. Roy Cannon
Green Party of Delaware
(302)738-9963
jcannon11@comcast.net
Newark, Delaware The Coordinating Council of the Green Party of Delaware (GPDE) today condemned Tom
Gordon's use of county employees to campaign against political opponents on government time and at tax
payer expense.
"We call for Gordon's immediate resignation from the office of County Executive", said Kass Sheedy, GPDE
Coordinating Council Member. "It's insane to justify his unethical if not illegal actions by saying they are
necessary to 'defeat candidates that threaten his clean government initiatives'. This is different in degree but
not intent from how Saddam Hussein conducted his recent referendum in Iraqi", concluded Ms.
Sheedy.
"I'm not surprised by Tom Gordon's recent statements", said Craig Shumaker, Green Party candidate for NCC Executive in 2000. "During my campaign, one of my volunteers told me how Gordon had tried to force him to contribute $600 to his 1996 campaign and to volunteerš for his reelection during work hours. When he refused, this NCC cop was assigned a very difficult beat and eventually retired. Today's admissions by Gordon are typical of his idea of 'politics as usual'.
"Gordon's actions undermine some of the basic foundations of our democracy and the electoral process", said Karen Lienau, GPDE Coordinating Council member and National Representative to the Green Party of the United States. "People should be elected to office by the people, not manipulated into it by those in power. Are Tansy and Powell really the winners of the recent primary elections or are they the reflection of one person's, Tom Gordon's, will?"
At a press conference today, Attorney General candidate Carl Schnee was asked to denounce Gordon's practice of using county employees to foster the election of candidates for public office. He was unable to do so. In contrast, Green Party candidate, Vivian Houghton, stated unequivocally, "Tom Gordon's behavior is reprehensible and as Attorney General, I will do everything in my power to prevent government officials from abusing their power. Gordon and others like him are the reason so many people have lost faith in their elected officials."
Bernard August , GPDE Consumer and Environmental Affairs Committee and Coordinating Council member said,
"Tom Gordon's 'rationalizations' are the clarion call for his resignation! Being a former Chief of New Castle County Police involved in this type of scandal is shameful and shameless at the same time. It finally proves how deep political corruption is in our county government and all of it's violations. Now comes the mindless excess spending of our tax dollars because of it!"
The seven members Green Party of Delaware Coordinating Council are the elected leaders of GPDE and include representatives from each local throughout the state. Craig Shumaker mounted a grassroots campaign for NCC Executive in 2000 during which he found a large number of people unhappy with Tom Gordon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Green Party of Delaware
www.gpde.org
(302)738-9963
gpde_greenrep2001@yahoo.com
Green Party of the United States
www.greenpartyus.org
866-41GREEN
Committee to Elect Vivian Houghton Attorney General
800 West Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
652-0670 agcandidate@vivianhoughton.com
www.vivianhoughton.com/vivian
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