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THE MAINE GREEN INDEPENDENT PARTY
For immediate release: November 6, 2002
Contacts:
Ben Meiklejohn, co-chair 756-7684 greenparty@go.com
Karen Mayo, co-chair 666-3996 mayo@clinic.net
John Rensenbrink, emeritus Green, 725-6955 rensen@gwi.net
Nancy Allen, media wonk, 326-4576 nallen@acadia.net
John Eder campaign office: 207-772-1414
Ben Chipman, Eder spokesperson 207-772-1414
MAINE GREEN JOHN EDER WINS SEAT IN LEGISLATURE; HOLDS HIGHEST ELECTED GREEN OFFICE IN
US; OTHER MAINE GREEN CANDIDATES DO VERY WELL
The Maine Green Independent Party celebrates this election as the emergence of the Green Party as the true opposition party, the peace party, and the only growing political party in the nation.(see September issue of Ballot Access News (www.ballot-access.org)
John Eder will be the first third party representative elected to the State House in a hundred years and the only Green in any state legislature in the United States. He won with 67% of the vote.
"My resounding victory last night demonstrated that grassroots politics still works, and took the Maine Green Independent Party, and the Green Party in the U.S., the next step in its growth," said Eder. "I'm ready to go to work for my constituents and demonstrate that the Green Party's platform can help the quality of life for Mainers."
The Jonathan Carter for Governor campaign's 9% gave the Maine Green Independent Party legitimate party ballot status until the next election for governor in 2006.
The Maine Greens Fall Assembly will be held on November 16 at the Cohen Center on the Town Farm Rd. in Hallowell from 9 A.M.-5:15 P.M. where a panel will discuss "The Elections: What Have We Learned". There will also be work on a history of the Maine Greens.
MORE INFORMATION
Maine Green Independent Party
www.mainegreens.org
Green Party Election Results: http://www.greens.org/elections
The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
National office: 1314 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
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THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
ELECTION RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Contacts:
Dean Myerson, Political Coordinator, 202-319-7191, 301-651-5168 (cell)
Ben Manski, Green Party Co-Chair, 608-239-6915, manski@greens.org
Dan Kinney, Coordinated Campaign Committee Co-Chair, 717-579-6391, dkinney@greens.org
Juscha Robinson, Coordinated Campaign Committee Co-Chair, 734-945-1909, juscha@greens.org
GREEN PARTY CONTINUES STEADY GROWTH IN 2002
2002 victory total sets new record as officeholder total also grows
Washington, D.C. In an election in which conservative forces took control of both houses of the U. S. Congress, the Green Party continued its steady growth. Although some local results are yet to arrive, the party won at least 33 races on November 5, for a 2002 total of 66, our highest, eclipsing the previous best of 58 in 2001. The Green Party's count of elected officeholder stands at 171, pending final results.
The most prominent victories include John Eder's victory in state house district 31 in Portland, Maine. Eder defeated his Democratic opponent by a two-to-one margin. Additionally, David Segal was elected to the Providence, Rhode Island, City Council Ward 1 seat, a working-class and traditionally Democratic district. Victories ranged from Hawaii to Maine and Texas to Minnesota, with North Carolina and Texas both electing their first Green to local office.
"My resounding victory last night demonstrated that grassroots politics still works, and took the Maine Green Independent Party, and the Green Party in the U.S., the next step in its growth," said Eder. "I'm ready to go to work for my constituents and demonstrate that the Green Party's platform can help the quality of life for Mainers."
Eder's victory caps an election in which many Green candidates for state legislative office recorded vote totals over 20 and 30%, and in the double digits in races with both Democrats and Republicans. Additionally, Green candidate AnnDrea Benson in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District won 22%, the best yet for a Green in a House race. And many Greens running statewide improved on the vote total from the Nader campaign in 2000.
"Last night's election demonstrates that the Green Party continues to grow whether the economy is up or down, whatever the issues are, and independent of the plight of the Democratic Party," said Dean Myerson, Green Party Political Coordinator. "The Green Party achieved its core goals of electing a candidate to a state legislature and improving its electoral performance over previous years."
In an interesting turn of events, the party for the Adam Benedetto for Dane County Sheriff campaign, which won 16 precincts, was paid a visit by Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, wishing the Green Party well. "Progressives such as Representative Tammy Baldwin did well last night," said Green Party Co-Chair Ben Manski. "Progressive candidates not only can win, but do win, when they are true to their values."
MORE INFORMATION
John Eder campaign office: 207-772-1414
David Segal: 401-270-6443
Green Party Election Results: http://www.greens.org/elections
Green Party Candidate Endorsements: http://www.greenpartyus.org/endorse02.html
The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
National office: 1314 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
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