Green Party of the United States
www.gp.org
Monday, November 7, 2005
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@greens.org
Brent McMillan, Political Director, 202-319-7191, brent@gp.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 116 Green Party candidates are running for office throughout the U.S. in the November 8, 2005
off-year election. Below is a summary of notable races in New York, Georgia, Maine, and Minnesota.
Some Green Party candidates have faced intense and desperate measures by Democrats and Republicans to remove them from the ballot, discredit their campaigns, or weaken their support through redistricting. But many Greens have also received unprecedented endorsements and matching funds in their races for public office.
Pennsylvania is the state with the most Green candidates (29) in 2005. In all of 2005, 174 Greens have competed for public office throughout the U.S. Currently, 224 Greens hold office.
For news about other Green candidates, visit the following sites:
2005 Green Campaign Highlights http://www.gp.org/2005elections
Green Elections Database http://www.greens.org/elections
NEW YORK
Gloria Mattera's <http://www.electgloria.org>
Green campaign for Brooklyn Borough President qualified for 4 to 1 matching funds from New York City's Campaign Finance program.
"I am proud to be the first Green Party candidate eligible for matching funds for this office," said Ms. Mattera. "This demonstrates tremendous support for our campaign from city residents who are tired of watching [incumbent] Marty Markowitz act as a doormat for Bruce Ratner and other developers who want to take over our city. The Campaign Finance Program levels the playing field for candidates such as myself who do not accept corporate campaign contributions, and is a wonderful tool in support of grass roots democracy."
Ms. Mattera and other Brooklyn Greens have worked with local activists in the Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Coalition to head off an attempt by billionaire developer Bruce Ratner to seize homes and businesses to build a sports arena and luxury condominiums. Ms. Mattera is challenging the plan and has publicly exposed secret deals between Mr. Markowitz and Mr. Ratner. Ms. Mattera calls for a moratorium on big scale development of high rises and big box stores until developers agree to involve the community in decision-making and commit to maintaining the integrity of existing neighborhoods.
Audio and video of Ms. Mattera's campaign ads and public appearances can be downloaded at <http://electgloria.org/press.php>.
Robyn Sklar <http://www.sklarforcouncil.com>,
candidate for New York City Council in Queens, also received matching funds of about $27,000, a first for a Green running in New York. On November 6, the Sklar campaign had 150 volunteers distributing water to runners in the New York City Marathon and handing out flyers to the public.
Alice Green <http://nys.greens.org/alicegreen>,
candidate for Mayor of Albany, has been endorsed by the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee and by NOW. On October 28, Ms. Green urged the city to use its cable franchise agreement to promote democracy and community media, and said that she supports requiring the city's agreement with Times Warner to include the establishment of a community media center where local residents can produce and air their own television shows.
On October 14, Ms. Green, who is African American, criticized the police department for not releasing three years' worth of data on traffic stops meant to show whether Afican Americans and other ethnic groups are unfairly targeted. "While the department has made great strides by becoming more professional and cooperative with community leaders, it remains a closed and reactive body that relies too heavily on racial and ethnic stereotyping in its work," she said.
Syracuse Green candidates <http://www.syracusegreens.org>
Howie Hawkins for Mayor, Gary Bonaparte for 2nd District Councilor, David Linton for 17th District Legislator, and Cosmo Fanizzi for 16th District Legislator are offering an alternative, Sustainable Syracuse <http://www.syracusegreens.org/archives/000247.html>,
to a corporate-welfare mall-building boondoggle called Destiny USA, which is backed by local Democrats and Republicans.
GEORGIA
Greens condemned a court decision upholding the removal of Elaine Brown <http://www.elainebrown.org>
from the ballot and from voter rolls in the November 8 election for Mayor of Brunswick, and charged that Ms. Brown's disqualification by challengers was an attempt to crush the right of Brunswick's African American majority to vote for someone who represents their interests. Ms. Brown, a leader of the Black Panther Party in the 1970s, is continuing to appeal the decision by the Glynn County Board of Elections. For more information, read Green Party press releases issued November 4 <http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_11_04.shtml> and October 19 <http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_10_19.shtml>.
Contact: Anita Collins
MAINE
Carol Schiller, candidate for the At Large seat on Portland City Council (the first Green to run for Council in Portland), has been endorsed by the League of Pissed Off Voters. Ms. Schiller, a prominent local civic activist, brought Planned Parenthood to Maine, initiated and organized the University Neighborhood Organization, founded the Greater Portland Neighborhoods Coalition, served as President of the Woodfords-Oakdale Neighborhood Association, and is a mother, former art educator, and arts advocate. She faces two opponents in a town where the Maine Green Independent Party has become a strong political force, with three candidates elected to the school board and John Eder in the state legislature.
Susan Hopkins is running for Portland School Committee, hoping to join current Green School Committee member Ben Meiklejohn, with whom Hopkins has been working on a policy that would limit military recruiters in Portland high schools.
MINNESOTA
Natalie Johnson Lee <http://www.nataliejohnsonlee.com>
and Dean Zimmerman <http://www.votedeanzimmermann.org>,
incumbent candidates for Minneapolis City Council (Wards 5 and 6, respectively), have dealt with intense and desperate tactics by Democrats to weaken the strong Green political insurgence in Minneapolis, including recent gerrymandering of district lines to divide votes for Green. (Democrats have denounced this tactic when used as a weapon against them by Republicans in states like Texas.)
Greens, however, are confident that Lee's and Zimmerman's popularity and accomplishments on Council so far will lead to another pair of wins on Election Day.
Cam Gordon <http://www.camgordon.org>,
who is also running for Minneapolis City Council (Ward 2), received endorsements from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and from Gente de Minnesota. Mr. Gordon earned more than 37% in the primary vote, where he faced four other contenders.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
Coordinated Campaign Committee of the Green Party
http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/