State Green Party Press Release

GPRI Enjoys First Green Primary in Rhode Island History; Cobb Wins.

Rhode Island Green Party
March 3, 2004

(Providence) The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) greeted its first Presidential Preference Primary with great joy.

Green Party Secretary Greg Gerritt commented, "As this was our first presidential primary, it was a bit of a challenge to coordinate. However, the Green Party met the letter and the spirit of the law, distributed information on our candidates, and encouraged voter turnout."

GPRI Co Chair Linde Rachel noted that Green Party participation in the primary exceeded those of the other parties. "With more than 20% of registered Greens voting, a higher percentage than the republican or democratic primaries, it shows our commitment to building a political party focused on Green Values," Rachel said.

Co chair Jeff Toste was encouraged by the turnout in parts of Providence. Likely to run for public office this fall, Toste noted, "Our primary turnout gives us a leg up for our local races. Local candidates are ahead of the curve in where they were at this time in 2002, and in previous election cycles. Sometimes growth is slow and painful, but I'm proud to be part of the third largest political party in the United States."

Cobb Wins First Green Primary in Rhode Island

(Providence) With more than 20% of Green Party registrants in Rhode Island voting in the primary, David Cobb received approximately 53% of the vote and took a rather handy victory in the first GPRI presidential preference primary.

Approximately 22% of voters voted to send uncommitted delegates to the June Green Party National Convention, while 13% of the vote went to Kent Mesplay. Write-ins accounted for 12% of the vote.

Anecdotal reports came in that there were problems with Green registrants being changed from registered Green to registered unaffiliated in some cities and towns. The Green party is gratified that turnout was more than 20% of previously recognized registrants with 134 of 669 Greens voting in the primary. The Green Party of Rhode Island will now go to town officials and check voter registration files in the near future in response to these reports.