Archive -- 2004
December 9, 2004, Cobb Demands Recount of Ohio Vote
David Cobb, the Green Party presidential candidate, and Michael Badnarik, the presidential candidate of the Libertarian party, have demanded a full recount of all of the votes cast in Ohio for President in the 2004 election. Click here for the speech given earlier this month by John C. Bonifaz, founder and general counsel of the National Voting Rights Institute, containing further information on the recount effort in Ohio.
November 8, 2004, Michigan Greens Keep Growing -- Even in a "Rebuilding Year"
Despite Fierce Top-Down Pressures to Abandon Alternative Parties, Voters Continue to Show Interest -- Especially at the Local Level
Four Statewide Candidates Top Threshold, Keep Party on Ballot; Myatt Gets 90,000 Green Votes for Oakland County Executive
Moreno Top Choice in Mount Pleasant, Re-Elected to City Commission; Green-Endorsed Kestenbaum Upsets Incumbent to Win Washtenaw Clerk.
Charlevoix Drain Commissioner Beemon Swamped by Business Lobby After Her Lead Role in People's Campaign to Keep Wal-Mart Out.
Party Welcomes Passage of Ferndale IRV Initiative, Restoration of People's Control Over Detroit Schools with Defeat of Proposal E; Disappointed by Vote for Discriminatory State Proposal 04-2.
November 1, 2004, Michigan Greens Call on Discouraged Voters, Groups to Exercise Voting Rights Denied to Carter, Others
On the eve of another critical Election Day, the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) urges "discouraged" voters and communities to vote on Tuesday, November 2 -- in honor of the late Maurice Carter and all others unjustly denied their right to vote.
"Maurice Carter's life sentence was commuted after 28 years -- for health reasons, not because he was innocent -- but his right to vote never got off the critical list," commented GPMI elections co-ordinator John La Pietra. "He never got to taste that freedom again."
Michigan Greens have been working with the Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO) in Benton Harbor, where Carter was wrongly convicted of shooting and wounding a white police officer. Recently, GPMI helped BANCO get a copy of a 2004 legal manual for protecting Michigan voters' rights all through the election process -- "from registration to a ballot that counts".
BANCO has registered over 1,000 new voters this year -- and turned them out to pass the school system's first bond millage in almost as many years as Carter had been in prison.
October 24, 2004, Green Party of Michigan Urges "No" Vote on Proposal 04-2
Candidates, Party Leaders Defend Equal Right to Marriage as an Issue of Social Justice, Respect for Diverse Beliefs, Only Statewide Political Party in Coalition for a Fair Michigan
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) is calling on Michigan voters to keep discrimination out of the state Constitution by voting "no" November 2 on statewide Proposal 04-2. Michigan Greens have come out against the proposed Constitutional amendment to ban "same-sex marriage or similar unions" several times this year, opposing it in the Michigan Legislature and before the State Board of Canvassers.
September 20, 2004, Presidential Candidate David Cobb Energizes Michigan Greens
Keeps Promise to Visit Battleground State, Kicks Off "Green Tour"
Raises Money, Attention for Own Campaign, Michigan Green Candidates
Promotes Values of Growing Green Party in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, West Bloomfield, Ann Arbor.
Running Mate Pat LaMarche Will Also Visit Michigan, Stay in Detroit Homeless Shelter October 3 as Part of "Left Out Tour".
September 14, 2004, Green Presidential Candidate David Cobb Coming to Michigan
Kicking Off "Green Tour" with Visit to State September 15-16 Cobb Will Speak on "The Need for Clean", Green Initiatives
David Cobb, Presidential candidate of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS), will campaign across the state with homegrown Michigan Green candidates on a two-day visit this week (Wednesday and Thursday, September 15-16). With this visit to the battleground state, Cobb kicks off his "GREEN Tour" -- subtitled "The Need for Clean". Appearances scheduled in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor/Saint Joseph, and Ann Arbor are aimed at helping draw attention to the 41 other Greens on Michigan's November 2 ballot, and help the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) grow at its grassroots.
August 30, 2004, Jim Wilber Endorsed by Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents to War
County Clerk Candidate Vows to Work for Peace and Justice
Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents to War (KNOW) has voted unanimously to endorse Green Party candidate Jim Wilber for the office of Kalamazoo County Clerk. The vote was held at KNOW's bi-monthly planning meeting earlier this month. According to Tom and Nancy Small, KNOW's founders, "Jim Wilber, as Green Party candidate for Kalamazoo County Clerk, shares many values with Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents of War: commitments to non- violence, to economic justice and equal rights for all people, and to care for the environment.
August 23, 2004, Greens Support Candidates, Issues at Summer Quarterly Meeting
Will Offer Statements: Against Ban on Same-Sex Marriage, For Nader Ballot-Access Rights to Board of State Canvassers, Backing Verified Voting, Plugging Gaps in Water Legacy Act; Also Supporting Social Forum Movement, Million Worker March
Preparing for September Visit by Presidential Candidate Cobb, Planning Ways to Help Full Slate with Busy Campaign Schedules.
August 12, 2004, Michigan Greens Offer Choices to Voters, Challenge to Duopoly
Mair, Nominated for Grand Traverse Clerk, 42nd GPMI Candidate; Seagraves Charts Matching Views of Major-Party Opponents, Pushes for a Spot in All 7th District Congressional Debates; Reichardt on Ann Arbor Ballot Despite City's Grumblings; Party Welcomes Approval of Petition to Restore Dove-Hunting Ban
August 3, 2004, Jim Wilber Kicks Off Green Party Campaign for County Clerk
Will Defend Marriage Rights for All -- Including Same-Sex Couples
Vows to Open Office to Poor by Expanding Hours and Waiving Fees, Educate Citizens to Get Registered -- and Ready -- to Vote
July 27, 2004, Eleven More Greens Qualify for the Michigan Ballot
39 Candidates in the GPMI Column, Two More Non-Partisan; A New Record, Even Before Grand Traverse Caucus August 2; Drain Commissioner Beemon Has Company on Charlevoix Ballot; Reichardt Snubbed by Ann Arbor City Officials; Seagraves Holds Debate, Earns Rival's Respect as South Central Green Party Forms
[full release & contact info] [full list of candidates & contact info]
July 19, 2004, 30 Greens on Michigan Ballot -- and Counting . . .
Candidates Run from President to Township Trustee; With Seven County Caucuses to Go, May Break Record
Green not only means go -- this election year, it also means grow. Last month in Milwaukee, the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) helped put David Cobb and Pat LaMarche on ballots across the nation as the Green ticket for President and Vice President. That followed GPMI's state convention near Traverse City in May, when the party nominated 11 candidates for the Michigan ballot . . . and endorsed two more Greens running for non-partisan offices. Now, it's only halfway through July, and the Cobb/LaMarche cam paign has company from 29 other Green campaigns in Michigan. This past weekend, local Greens added four more nominees in caucuses for Genesee and Tuscola Counties, to boost the total to 30. And there are seven more county caucuses scheduled between now and the August 3 deadline.
July 12, 2004, Michigan Greens Back Access for Nader, Choices for Voters
Call on Both Major Parties to End Hypocrisy, Let Nader on Ballot in State, US; "Why Not Two Candidates for Peace and Equality?"
Referring to the Bush/Kerry options, Paul Felton, co-chair of the Detroit Green Party states, "We already have two candidates for war and inequality in the race. Why not have two candidates for peace and equality?" GPMI is "proud of our selection" of David Cobb and Pat LaMarche -- people who will "build the Green Party organizationally while speaking out for our values." ... "At the same time, GPMI wishes to express our profound respect for Ralph Nader and our support for his right to run for President...".
July 2, 2004, Home from Nominating Cobb-LaMarche Ticket at Milwaukee Convention, Michigan Greens Get Back to Focusing on State Candidates, Issues
Will Campaign for Stronger Water Protections; IRV, Open Debates, Election Reforms; Universal Health Care; Affirmative Action; Peace
Kalamazoo Kicks Off a Month of County Caucuses at 4th Coast Café.
The national convention nominated home-grown party organizer David Cobb of Texas and California for President, and single mother turned radio host and Maine gubernatorial candidate Patricia LaMarche for VP. Cobb and LaMarche won with 53% of the delegates on the second ballot, to 40% for supporters of a national endorsement (not a nomination) of Ralph Nader and his running mate, progressive financier and two-time Green candidate for California governor Peter Camejo. Turtle Island Institute founder Kent Mesplay was third with 5-1/2%, and Michigan favorite-daughter candidate JoAnne Bier Beemon fourth at 1%.
Beemon's strong convention speech drew support from inside and outside her home state's delegation... as she told a reporter from home, "The real thrill for me was to be able to stand up in front of 1,000 people and talk about the beauty of the Jordan River Valley and the hard-working, grassroots environmental movements that are working to protect the natural resources of northern Michigan."
[full release & contact info] and [convention pictures]
June 21, 2004, Michigan Greens Moving "Forward 2004!" into National Convention
Diverse Views, Presidential Preferences in Delegation Heading to Milwaukee June 23-28; More Candidates, Progress on Issues at Home
* 32 delegates and 18 alternates from Michigan are going to Milwaukee June 23-28 for the national nominating convention of the Green Party of the United States to decide who will be nominated (or endorsed) as a candidate for the President of the United States.
* GPMI member David Newland of Bellaire was elected to the Antrim County community's school board.
* GPMI member Jim Moreno led his fellow Mount Pleasant City Commissioners to pass a resolution calling for a governor's commission to study providing health care for all in Michigan.
* GPMI and individual Greens have worked with the Highland Park Human Rights Coalition (HPHRC), the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO), and the Sweetwater Alliance to defend the city's water system against corporate takeover.
* Last week, after a formal presentation by Ferndale for Instant Runoff Voting (F-IRV), the Ferndale City Council voted 5-0 to get city staff working on what would be needed to use IRV in mayoral elections.
June 14, 2004, Greens: "Legal Birth Definition Act" Should Be Rejected by Courts
Proposed Ban on So-Called "Partial-Birth Abortions" Would Chill Access to Abortion, Make Legal Right Meaningless
Act Ranks Religious, Political Views Over Health, Social Justice.
June 10, 2004, Greens Still Say NO to Hunting Michigan's Bird of Peace
Party Calls on Granholm to Keep Campaign Promise, Veto HB5029, Cites 1998 Resolution Passed by House; Senate Has One This Year
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) is calling on Governor Jennifer Granholm to honor a 2001 campaign promise and veto House Bill 5029, which would open a hunting season on the mourning dove -- recognized by the state House as the Michigan Bird of Peace.
May 29, 2004, Green Party Congressional Candidates Have Their Own Perspectives -- But Share a Platform . . . and Values
When Jason Seagraves criticized corporate influences within the Democratic Party, one of his opponents for the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District -- who'd come to town from New York with a hat to throw in the ring and a bag of money to throw at the hat -- suggested that Seagraves should go join a third party.
Last weekend, Seagraves took that suggestion, and joined the Green Party of Michigan ticket at the GPMI state nominating convention, making four congressional candidates running on the Green Party ticket in the state.
May 28, 2004, Michigan Greens Stand Against "Civil Rights" Scam -- Now or in '06
Resolution Adopted at State Convention Opposes "Step Backwards"
Representatives of the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) welcomed reports yesterday that backers of a ballot proposal supporting institutionalized racism and discrimination had stopped trying to get the scheme on the 2004 ballot.
May 27, 2004, Green Party of Michigan Nominates 11 for November at Convention
More to Come -- from County Caucuses Across State; Olson, Attorney in Suit to Shut Ice Mountain Plant, Urges GPMI to Keep "Giving a Voice" to Water; Presidential Straw Poll Guides National Delegates
There will be Greens on the ballot for at least four seats in Congress, and one Green each running for the State Board of Education and the three major university boards. Two Green candidates were nominated for state representative, and one for county commissioner. And more candidates are yet to come this summer, from nominating caucuses in at least ten counties across the state.
GPMI voted to give its delegation to the national convention (June 23-28 in Milwaukee) flexibility in considering the results of a Presidential-preference straw poll . . . and taking appropriate action if Greens nationwide do not nominate or endorse a Presidential ticket.
May 18, 2004, Michigan Green Party Holding State Nominating Convention
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) will be holding its 2004 state nominating convention May 22-23 at the Eagles Ridge Conference Center in Peshawbestown, just outside of Traverse City.
May 13, 2004, Presidential hopeful David Cobb in Ypsilanti
David Cobb, who is seeking the Green Party nomination for US President, will be speaking on Thurs May 13 at 7pm in Ypsilanti. Also featured will be Keith Agdanowski (Ypsilanti City Council, 3rd Ward) and Greens running for local offices, tables set up by local "green minded" organizations, and a raffle where you will have the opportunity to win fun and useful prizes. In addition, we will be providing refreshments and munchies for your enjoyment.
Where: Gallery 555 (www.555arts.org) is located at 200 East Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti.
Full invitation, map & flier [320K PDF]
April 26, 2004, Jo Anne Bier Beemon selected for Northern District Chair on the Executive Board of the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners
Jo Anne is the Drain Commissioner of Charlevoix County, and she now represents the twenty one northern counties of the lower peninsula. Beemon was the first Green Party candidate elected in Michigan (in November 2000).
[full release, photo & contact info]
April 26, 2004, Michigan Greens Endorse Lawsuit to Win Health Care for All
Case Filed by Michigan Legal Services April 20 to Gain Recognition of Right Defined in State's Constitution
Mar 26, 2004, Green Party candidate Peter Camejo to speak in Detroit Monday, March 29: "The Green Rising: Electoral Alternatives for Progressives in 2004"
Monday, March 29 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. at The International Institute, 111 E. Kirby, Detroit (across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts).
Mar 8, 2004, Michigan Greens Oppose Petition to Limit Reproductive Choice
Proposed Ban on So-Called "Partial-Birth Abortions" Would Put Religious, Political Motives Ahead of Health, Social Justice; Proposers "Out of Touch with Excruciating Reality" Some Women Face
The Green Party of Michigan is taking the occasion of International Women's Day to go on record at the state Legislature as opposing the current petition drive to ban so-called "partial-birth abortions". GPMI has sent an excerpt from its platform -- which supports "the right of women to accept or refuse an abortion for themselves" -- to the Michigan House and Senate Fiscal Agencies.
Feb 29, 2004, Michigan Greens Stand Up For Gays', Lesbians' Right to Marry
Oppose House, Senate Resolutions Aiming to Put Discrimination Into the State Constitution; Call for Repeal of 1996 Ban; Join with Other Greens Against Federal-Level Discrimination
Feb 23, 2004, Michigan Greens Focus Firmly on 2004 Elections, Issues
Select 16 Delegates to National Convention in Milwaukee; Hold "Campaign School" for Candidates, Workers at All Levels
GPMI Hears from "Water Warriors", Highland Park Human Rights Coalition; Signs Onto Statement of Unity to Ban Shut-Offs
The Green Party of Michigan selected 16 national-convention delegates, and held a half-day "campaign school" for candidates and campaign workers in elections at all levels, at the quarterly GPMI state membership meeting this weekend in Flint.
Two of the Greens' seven Presidential candidates -- public-interest attorney David Cobb and Dr. Kent Mesplay, founder of the Turtle Island Institute "virtual university" -- took part in a public forum Saturday afternoon at the meeting. The forum was videotaped for a special edition of the cable-access program "In the Green."
Feb 19, 2004, Two Presidential Candidates Coming to Forum in Flint Saturday
Cobb, Mesplay to Speak to Michigan Greens, Court Delegates for GPUS National Nominating Convention in Milwaukee June 23-28
2000 US Senate Candidate, "In the Green" Host Abel Is Moderator "Campaign School", Shadow Cabinet, Water Issues Also High on Agenda
Two Presidential candidates are coming to Flint on Saturday for a candidate forum -- as part of a quarterly statewide membership meeting (SMM) of the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) this weekend at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center. The forum between public-interest attorney David Cobb and Dr. Kent Mesplay, founder of the Turtle Island Institute "virtual university", will start at 1pm. Other candidates, including Peter Camejo, Carol Miller, and Lorna Salzman are planning later visits to Michigan.
Feb 12, 2004, Green Presidential Candidate Forum Saturday, Feb. 21 in Flint
Michigan Greens Starting the Process of Selecting 32 Delegates for GPUS National Nominating Convention in Milwaukee June 23-28
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) will host a forum for candidates for the Green nomination for President, starting at 1 pm on Saturday afternoon, February 21 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Flint.
Jan 20, 2004, Greens Go Forward with Their Vision of the State of the State
Focus on Water for Life, Security Through Peace, Equal Justice Free and Fair (and Verifiable) Elections; Praise, Rap Granholm
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) has videotaped a response to the 2004 "State of the State" address, which will be cablecast with the speech by Governor Jennifer Granholm Tuesday night on Michigan Government Television (MGTV). You can find a local MGTV cable station in your area at: http://www.mgtv.org/location_search.cfm.
Advance copies of the half-hour videotape can be obtained by news organizations from Eric Borregard at "In the Green".
