STATES

Alaska

The Green Party of Alaska (GPAK) convention, held at the end of April, resulted in a complete change of officers and the retirement of the state's remaining national delegate. The party approved several actions. One action is to survey all registered Greens in Alaska on concerns and ideas. Another, after receiving the survey results, is to begin an outreach campaign (including speakers and presentations) to Green-oriented college campuses in Alaska. A third action is to work toward lifting the exemption on sewage treatment for Anchorage.

The purpose of the GPAK survey is to find out what actions and issues seem to be of greatest importance to its members. The survey will go out at the end of summer in anticipation of organizing for the 2006 elections.

Currently, the state's largest city dumps sewage that has received only primary treatment into Cook Inlet. This pollution endangers the beluga whale population and gives the stinky lie to the "pristine wilderness" image promoted by the state's tourism industry. The problem involves more than simply the city's sewage, as the Matanuska-Susitna Valley also trucks sewage to Anchorage. From there it goes with minimal treatment into the inlet. GPAK will work to get secondary treatment for Anchorage sewage.

GPAK won a summary judgment on its challenge to the State of Alaska against separate ballots for each party. The state appealed, and GPAK awaits the final decision from the Alaska Supreme Court. The judge who gave a preliminary judgment against the state in the ballot access lawsuit retired and was replaced by an appointee of the Republican governor. The new judge ruled against GPAK. The GPAK convention authorized possible necessary actions, including a motion for reconsideration, appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court and filing of a new lawsuit against a new and equally bad law.

Contact GPAK at www.alaska.greens.org.

Arizona

On May 21, a roomful of Arizona Green Party (AGP) leaders from around the state met at a public library in Flagstaff to set priorities. Members brainstormed on the goals of establishing active and stable county Green parties in at least five of 15 counties and of increasing Green registrations statewide. Currently the active Green parties and the bulk of registration are in the two largest counties, Pima and Maricopa, which have more than 85 percent of the state's population. Coconino County Greens are re-establishing themselves after reorganization.

The AGP plans that long-term funding will come from the achievement of ballot access and subsequent check-offs by state taxpayers. The party's immediate fundraising focus is on a sustainer letter and the Green Card, which is now promoted by the Green Party of the United States, with half the proceeds going to the states.

Achieving one of the internal goals set at the May meeting, an activist from Maricopa County who does web work professionally has agreed to update the AGP web page without charge. In addition to discussing other goals at the meeting, members brainstormed and prioritized issues, selecting instant-runoff voting (IRV) and immigration reform as the top two priorities. Proposals for action are requested now for review at the Sept. 10 meeting, which will be hosted by University of Arizona Campus Greens in Tucson.

The Green Party of Pima County (Tucson area) continues to petition for statewide ballot access and IRV. They also sponsored a memorial vigil for Marla Ruzicka. Maricopa County Greens (Phoenix area) are looking at municipal IRV, internal goals, and working towards democratization of institutions. Both major universities, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, have active Campus Greens, who had representatives reporting at the meeting.

Contact AGP at www.azgp.org.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Green Party (CGP) has joined with other environmental groups in deploring General Electric's (GE) latest attempt to paint itself as an environmentally friendly company through its "ecomagination" ad campaign. "GE's effort to greenwash itself will not clean up the Housatonic River," said Tom Sevigny of CGP. "Their record of intransigence and failure to take responsibility for their environmental degradation along the river is what the real GE is all about when it comes to the environment."

CGP has been a leading proponent for the cleanup of the entire length of the Housatonic River. Effectively delaying cleanup efforts for decades, GE has spent millions on public relations, distorting the facts about PCBs in an effort to convince the public that no action is necessary.

"Ecomagination is GE's new corporate marketing doublespeak which is just another attempt to redirect the public's focus from years of despicable PCB pollution that they have yet to adequately remediate," said Audrey Cole of CGP. For more information on this project, contact the Housatonic River Initiative at www.housatonic-river.com.

At the recent annual meeting, CGP elected new officers: Co-chairs Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy and Mike DeRosa; Secretary Barbara Berry; and Treasurer Judy Herkimer. Tim McKee and Tom Sevigny were re-elected as GP-US representatives.

The CGP is seeking candidates for local offices in the November 2005 elections. Candidates have already come forward in New Haven, New London and Hamden, and more are expected. The CGP has also started work on the Bill C. Davis campaign for U.S. representative in 2006 against incumbent Nancy Johnson. Davis is a Broadway playwright, having authored Mass Appeal, Dancing in the End Zone, and Avow. This should be a fantastic campaign!

Contact CGP at www.ctgreens.org.

Georgia

Busy doesn't describe the flurry of activity in Georgia.... The Georgia Green Party (GGP) is in the initial stages of organizing a ballot access initiative this election cycle, maintaining the office of new Development Director Julian Powell and planning for the party's annual convention, which was held on the campus of Georgia State University in Atlanta June 17-19.

Many Greens, in and out of Georgia, are supporting Elaine Brown in her candidacy for mayor of Brunswick, Ga. Brown is a former Black Panther Party co-chair, Oakland City candidate, author, and community activist. Brown will address Georgia Greens at their annual convention, where it is anticipated she will seek the party's formal nod for November's election.

The GGP is also working on several legislative actions. One success has been that the governor just signed a no-smoking bill. However, a disturbing bill sweeping the states, including Georgia, considers a "Pharmacists for Life" measure allowing pharmacists to deny patrons access to contraceptives and other medications. Although Georgia has a voting re-enfranchisement for former prisoners, Greens want affected individuals, who are currently unaware of their rights, to be better informed. Georgia is also facing enormous cuts in Medicaid services.

In spite of the fact that Georgia Greens were initially denied access to their legislators at the capitol's Family Day, stalwart Greens wouldn't take no for an answer and made themselves heard there.

Diligently working with coalitions, the GGP sought the support of representatives to pass legislation ensuring the integrity of the vote. Georgia Greens also helped block legislation that would have allowed water permits to be sold by their holders.

Contact GGP at www.greens.org/georgia.

Louisiana

The Green Party of Louisiana (GPL) is involved in many exciting projects, including getting ballot access. GPL is now closer than it has ever been to becoming Louisiana's newest major political party. Members in New Orleans and Baton Rouge registered 132 new GPL voters in only two weeks at campuses, funk shows and outside the world-famous Jazz Fest. Canvassing with the important local issue of "Save our Wetlands," many people registered Green. This effort brought the unofficial total to 990, and later tabling brought it to the 1,000 threshold required to achieve major party status in Louisiana. The GPL voter registration drive is ongoing and a priority of the state party.

In electoral work, the GPL is developing a comprehensive plan for the city of New Orleans. "The Green Print for New Orleans" provides a progressive and radical vision, ranging from transportation to community building. It also covers agriculture, living wages and public art. "The Green Print" will be available on line soon at our website.

The GPL is also involved in campus organizing. Greens at Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, and Loyola University have been hosting film screenings, voter registrations and festivals to promote GPL's Green vision for Louisiana.

GPL sends "Peace, and Thanks!" to all of the people who have worked for and supported these efforts.

Contact GPL at www.lagreens.org

Minnesota

Residents in the Minneapolis metropolitan area became acutely aware of the Green Party of Minnesota's (GPMN) election strategy in 2004, as three candidates made great strides towards moving the party beyond municipal victories. Jay Pond reeled in over 18,000 votes in the 5th Congressional District race, and Tom Taylor and Becki Smith's legislative house bids added over 800 new party members.

In addition to the metro activity, the Duluth Area candidate Van Presley led the charge in challenging an entrenched federal incumbent in the 8th Congressional District, while four other Minn. house candidates increased the party's visibility in Alexandria/Morris, St. Paul, Moorhead and Hastings.

Greens running for municipal and county races garnered exhilarating percentages of the vote. Minnesota's only indigenous mayor, Elaine Fleming, was re-elected to a second term as mayor of Cass Lake.

2004 electoral Candidates:

Municipal/county races:

• Polly Gower, Soil and Water Supervisor District 3, Winona County
• Mark Wahl, Washington County Soil and Water Supervisor
• Scott Bol, Washington County Soil and Water Supervisor
• Audrey Thayer, Bemidji City Council
• Elaine Fleming, who won her race for mayor of Cass Lake as a write-in candidate, with 125 votes in a four-way race (see above)

Northern Minnesota:

• Glenn Kuehne, Legislative District 11A (Morris, Alexandria)
• Wade Hannon, Legislative District 9A (Moorhead)
• Van Presley, U.S. House, 8th Congressional District, 8,933 votes in a three-way race

Metro Area:

• Jay Pond, U.S. House, 5th Congressional District, 6 percent, 17,987 votes in a three-way race
• Tom Taylor, Legislative District 59A
• Becki Smith, Legislative District 59B
• Roger Westall, Legislative District 67B
• George Bateman, Legislative District 57B

The GPMN currently maintains 23 local and 10 campus organizations throughout the state. Greens hold elected offices as mayor, city council member, park board member, county commissioner and soil and water supervisor in Cass Lake, Duluth, Minneapolis and Winona, respectively.

Contact GPMN at www.mngreens.org

Mississippi

The Green Party of Mississippi (GPM) strongly opposes the destruction of 225,000 acres of water bottoms in the Mississippi Sound for oil and gas exploration. Drilling would destroy wildlife, degrade the barrier islands and ruin the tourism industry on the Gulf Coast. If the barrier islands are damaged, the protection they provide during hurricanes diminishes, and loss of human life is the likely result.

Governor Haley Barbour, a former oil industry lobbyist, received over $300,000 from gas companies and other sources during his campaign for governor. The GPM supports the efforts of Gulf Islands Conservancy and the Sierra Club of Mississippi to prevent drilling and to preserve natural treasures.

GPM is taking part in an investigation of pollutant levels in the waterways from the Dupont Delisle plant in the Bay St. Louis area of Hancock County, which is affecting the fish population. Despite complaints from area residents, Dupont still claims discharges from the plant "pose no apparent public health hazard."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban on oysters and other fish from the Bay St. Louis area affected by the Dupont plant. Economically speaking, the Mississippi Gulf Coast fishing industry would be severely hurt from such a ban. Mississippi shrimpers and fishers export to other parts of the country and abroad. If a ban were enforced, many of the places receiving exported fish would not accept shipments from any Mississippi seller regardless of whether or not the fish were from the Bay St. Louis area.

GPM proudly supported the 15th Annual Heartwood Forest Council, held May 27-30 at Camp Yocona. Heartwood is dedicated to "holding on to our heritage and taking back our native forests." For more information, check out www.heartwood.ofr/fc_home.php.

Contact GPM at www.greenpartyms.org.

New York

Completely encircling the state capitol, New York Greens in April strung up 2,400 juice and water bottles, the number discarded in N.Y. every half-minute, making a visible statement about the importance of passing return-deposit legislation on noncarbonated drink bottles.

Greens statewide participated in anti-war rallies in March, on the second anniversary of the invasion into Iraq. As part of a New York City action, State Co-Chair Gloria Mattera was arrested for civil disobedience in front of a Brooklyn recruitment center.

Albany, N.Y. Greens hosted a conference in April, culminating in an anti-war rally with speeches from Ralph Nader, local activists and a concert by internationally known musician Patti Smith. Workshops included electoral reform and instant-runoff voting, the draft and army recruitment and running for office at the local level. More people than just Greens came to the well-attended events, which also occurred in Syracuse and Glens Falls, with Nader and Smith pulling in the crowds.

State committee members passed three recommendations for national Green Party (GP-US) reforms. The first proposal calls for "one person, one vote" and a procedure for determining state membership size. The second is a selection procedure of delegates to the national convention. The third spells out ways the GP-US can preserve its autonomy from the Democrats and the Republicans in a "declaration of independence."

In September, GPNYS will be hosting a two-day event in New Paltz, home of Green Mayor Jason West, with workshops, a state committee meeting and advisories in running campaigns. Social activities are also planned so the event isn't all work and no play.

GPNYS has received a final order from the U.S. District Court requiring the state to continue to enroll Greens. To join GPNYS, check off the "Other" box on the voter registration form, and write in "Green."

Contact GPNYS at www.gpny.org.

Ohio

The Green Party of Ohio (GPO) has endorsed two candidates for local office in 2005. The Southwest Ohio Green Party endorsed Andrew Warner's campaign for Cincinnati City Council (see www.votewarner.org for details), and the GPO endorsed Mitch Balonek's campaign for Toledo City Council (see www.nwohiogreens.org).

The GPO has been busy with followup from the 2004 presidential election and the recount in Ohio. Former GP-US Co-Chair Anita Rios organized an Electoral Reform Forum in Toledo on March 26. Featured speakers included Bob Fitrakis, editor of the Columbus Free Press (www.freepress.org). Fitrakis is also a local lawyer involved in the election recount and has faced considerable retribution from Ohio's attorney general. An exploratory committee has formed regarding Fitrakis' possible candidacy as a Green for Ohio governor. The other speaker was Balonek, co-chair of the Northwest Ohio Green Party.

The follow-up election meeting focused on organizing volunteers and other concerned citizens who had observed the 2004 recount in various counties in northwest Ohio, and discussing what went wrong with the election and how the recount was executed. They came up with the following plans to support identified reforms:

• Write letters to the editor to make more people aware of this issue and keep the pressure on.
• Bring lawsuits.
• Lobby state and county officials to support transparent voter-friendly voting systems and to promote a system in which each vote counts.
• Support the enactment of legislation to ensure that all votes are counted and that the process is transparent.
• Support Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s proposal for a voter rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Contact GPO at www.ohiogreens.org.

Oklahoma

"Oklahoma! Brand new state, gonna treat you great!" The opening line of the Broadway musical song couldn't be more fitting for the Greens this year. In 2005, the Green Party of Oklahoma (GPOK) received national accreditation, and Tulsa was chosen to host the national GP-US convention.

The July gathering is a chance to raise awareness about the state's small party, which struggles in a sea of red. But GPOK is emboldened by Oklahoma's history of political independence and progressivism.

Presently there are four official locals: Green Country Greens in the Tulsa area, Oklahoma County Greens in Oklahoma City, Cleveland County Greens in Norman (and the University of Oklahoma campus) and the Rural Oklahoma Greens (Greens in areas without a local). There is also a Young Green Party Club at Classen High School in Oklahoma City.

The most pressing concern for the past year has been the problem all third parties in Oklahoma face: extremely restrictive ballot access rules. During the 2004 election campaign, GPOK conducted a David Cobb petition drive. Although the effort fell far short of the 57,000 signatures needed, it garnered media attention.

GPOK later joined with other third parties in supporting the "None of the Above Campaign," which encouraged members to leave the presidential ballot line blank in protest of the exclusion of all third party choices.

After the election, GPOK joined with members of the Libertarian and Constitution parties to form a ballot access reform coalition (www.okballotchoice.org) seeking to amend Oklahoma's draconian laws protecting the two major parties. The coalition did not succeed in getting the bill heard by the House Committee, but is resolved to bring it back next session.

This summer GPOK, among the founding members of a statewide network of progressive organizations, hopes to pool resources towards building a stronger movement for change here and nationally.

Contact GPOK at www.okgreens.org.

Pennsylvania

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) is embracing momentum to move onward and upward. In spite of the Election Bureau purge of the lists of inactive voters, the number of registered Greens in Pennsylvania has grown approximately 20 percent in the last two years. At the May meeting, the GPPA reorganized their committee structure by forming a Membership Committee consisting of representatives from each of the six geographic regions. They will be working together to help plan Green Revival Tours for those counties needing support in organizing or who are in the process of reorganizing.

On the local election front, the GPPA is proud to report 17 candidates running for office this year. Guy Anthony is on the Johnstown ballot for mayor. On June 2, the Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) enthusiastically approved by consensus Titus North, a political science professor at the University of Pittsburgh, as their candidate for mayor of Pittsburgh. The GPOAC needs to gather 1,500 signatures to get North on the November ballot. (Their website is www.gpoac.org.) Lehigh Valley Greens are running Walter Scheirer, a graduate student at Lehigh University who has been politically active since 1990. Scheirer is running for state representative, 131st District, in a special election to fill a vacancy in the general assembly. Ultra-conservative Adams County, with only 162 registered Greens, is leading the GPPA locals with six candidates declared.

The GPPA is also proud to report recovery from website disruption and verbal abuse by disgruntled elements. The end result of these obstacles has been stronger unity within the party. Pa. Greens are looking forward to focusing on local campaigns and hosting programs celebrating the Ten Key Values in the summer months.

Contact GPPA at www.gpofpa.org.

Texas

The Green Party of Texas (GPTX) held its statewide convention June 11-12. An awesome group of organizers from across the state attended, all committed to systemic change to improve the Green Party. Organizing Texas takes a lot of vision and determination, but it is well worth it and can be super fun.

This report comes from the perspective of the Harris County (Houston) Green Party (HCGP), historically the strongest local. The HCGP Steering Committee instituted regular half-day retreats every four to six weeks to develop long-range strategies. The following six critical issues were identified: 1) electoral action, 2) democracy action, 3) increased visibility, 4) alternative economics, 5) community nurturing and 6) HCGP's vision for the future.

Work is underway on the first two critical issues. For electoral action, the current strategy is to prepare a statewide petition drive to get on the ballot for 2006. If running a statewide candidate does not prove feasible, HCGP will field many qualified local candidates, which will require far fewer signatures. GPTX can then concentrate on organizing statewide for the 2007-08 elections.

Kinky Friedman's race for governor as an Independent is an interesting (and oh so Texan!) twist. The Candidates Committee developed a draft calendar to run races and updated a complete database of state and local races. For democracy action, the Verifiable Voting Coalition is seeking to lead a movement to secure the democratic right to vote and to have that vote counted. This nonpartisan initiative aims to nurture the movement.

These and other issues were addressed at the statewide convention by a core group of Greens helping the State Executive Committee. There is a strong desire to work together, and GPTX has the skills and institutional memory to do it.

Contact the GPTX at www.txgreens.org.

Utah

It's festival season again in Utah, and the Green Party of Utah (GP-UT) is busy hosting information tables to get the word out about Green values and recruit new members. In addition, the GP-UT is preparing for the 2006 elections, which should be a new beginning for the Green Party in Utah.

Longtime environmental activist Julian Hatch has agreed to run an all-out campaign against his distant cousin, the eternally incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch. Julian's campaign will likely bring a lot of good attention to the party, and this statewide race will help GP-UT become more of a statewide party.

For most of its existence, the GP-UT has been centered in Salt Lake City, with an isolated but active local in Southern Utah. A major goal of the party is to expand outward to the rest of the state. The party has taken the first step by forming a local in Utah County, the most Republican county in the nation. Come November 2006, GP-UT hopes to run candidates in twice as many counties as in 2004.

Contact GP-UT at www.gput.org.

Vermont

The Vermont Green Party (VGP), at its annual statewide meeting on Saturday, May 7 at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt., became the second state Green party in the nation to pass a resolution designed to call on the Green Party of the United States to deliberate reforms geared toward "one Green, one vote" democracy. Greens passed three related proposals by consensus of all present at the meeting.

Vermont Greens passed by consensus several bylaw changes for the VGP that mandate consensus building for policy decisions and which reformulate the officer and steering committee structure to comprise two co-chairs, a vice-chair, treasurer, secretary, assistant treasurer and four members-at-large.

"It is amazing that after our fall convention in 2004, when members were split almost evenly between supporting the national Green Party nominee for president, David Cobb, and endorsing Ralph Nader, we were able to reach consensus on so many decisions today," said George Plumb, VGP executive director. "This has been perhaps the most productive meeting we've had in our four years of existence."

VGP members also voted to endorse conscientious objection against the occupation of Iraq and to support the mission of the May 10 National Day of Action for GI Resisters. And members consented to allow a more flexible steering committee election process, where up to 10 members and two alternates are elected to leadership posts. Steering Committee members must then elect their own officers. At the subsequent Steering Committee meeting the following officers were elected:

Co-Chairs: Jim Robicsek and Angelique Schultz

Vice-Chair: Craig Chevrier

Secretary: George Plumb

Treasurer: Laura Carotenuto

Assistant Treasurer: Craig Hill

Members-at-Large: Ashley Smith, Greg Delanty, Marc Estrin, and Jimmy Leas

What environmental problem will improve with a growing population? Visit www.VSUSP.org for answers.

Live and vote Green!

Contact VGP at www.vermontgreens.org.

Wisconsin

This April the Wisconsin Green Party (WGP) held its Spring Gathering at Stevens Point in the calm atmosphere of a yoga studio. Members discussed changes to a draft proposal for an agreement between local chapters and the state party. Four chapters have already affirmed the draft. The main points are: 1) automatic reciprocity of membership between the state and local parties, 2) membership fees equally split, 3) monies set aside for future chapter development in areas where no chapters are present.

One of the draft resolutions brought forward by the Four Lakes Chapter was to "Bring the Troops Home," which the membership decided to refine. The WGP Coordinating Committee approved the following resolutions:

"The Wisconsin Green Party hereby supports and encourages the use of local referenda on the Spring 2006 ballot as a means of allowing citizens of our state to express their feelings about the continued presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. We recognize that such referenda would be advisory in nature, but believe that a strong expression of support for troop withdrawal would be difficult for elected officials to ignore.

"We call on Greens, those who have loved ones in Iraq and peace and justice advocates around the state to initiate such referenda by organizing petition drives and/or appearing before local elected bodies to urge the adoption of resolutions which would place the following referendum on the Spring ballot: 'Should the United States begin an immediate phased withdrawal of its troops from Iraq?'"

Three Greens for Democracy and Independence proposals were brought before the membership: 1) Green Party Declaration of Independence, 2) Instituting Internal Democracy in the GP-US, 3) GP-US committee and caucus bylaw change. After discussion on each proposal, three straw polls indicated that there was not enough support to reach consensus.

Contact WGP at www.wisconsingreenparty.org.

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