Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
News Release For More Information Contact:
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November 10, 2002 Marc Reichardt -- Chair/Treasurer, GPMI
phone: 734-668-9628
e-mail: press@migreens.org
>>> Michigan Greens Review 2002 Election, Look to the Future <<<
>> -------------------------------------------------------- <<
>> More Candidates, Votes Than 2000; Back on the Ballot in 2004 <<
> <
> Goals: Spread Message of Green Values, Work on Issues, Build Support <
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) reviewed the progress and
problems of the 2002 campaign at its post-election wrap-up meeting
Saturday at the Wesley Foundation building on the Central Michigan
University campus in Mount Pleasant.
Unofficial returns show that all 11 statewide Green candidates won
enough votes to keep the party on the Michigan ballot for 2004. The
top vote-getter among them, U-M Regent candidate Susan Fawcett,
received over 120,000 votes. So did Donnelly Hadden, nominated at the
Greens' August convention for the state Supreme Court -- technically a
non-partisan race.
That figure is over 12,000 more than Scott Trudeau got in his race
for a seat on the U-M Board in 2000 -- even though turnout was heavier
in that Presidential year, and national figures Ralph Nader and Winona
LaDuke drew extra attention to the new Green option on the state
ballot.
In all, 33 candidates represented GPMI on the ballot at all levels
in the state -- and about a dozen of them briefed the meeting on what
went right and wrong with their campaigns, and their recommendations
for future races. Comments ranged from broad and lofty targets to
such simple suggestions as getting post-office boxes and getting
better media coverage by learning how to ask for it . . . and asking
for it.
The party will continue to reach out to the estimated 150,000
voters in Michigan who supported at least one Green candidate -- and
to those who were frightened away from voting for Greens by talk of
"wasted" votes and "spoiled" elections, as Nader was accused of doing
in the 2000 presidential race.
Attendees agreed that it is the current plurality voting system,
which does not work well when there are more than two candidates for
an office, that enables minor parties to "spoil" races for the major
parties -- and vice versa. Greens back instant-runoff voting (IRV), a
system used around the world and starting to spread across this
country. IRV lets voters express their full preferences, and ensures
that those who win elections are actually supported by a majority of
votes cast without the time and expense of a second round of voting.
Working with Others on Issues of Peace and Justice
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During the lunch break, the attendees helped their hosts rebuild
and re-install a peace sign at CMU's Wesley Foundation building. The
sign, which says "No War in Iraq -- Not in Our Names", has been
vandalized four times in the past week and a half: at various times,
it has been knocked down, spray-painted over, and even burned.
Peace is one of the top issues Greens are working on, and building
coalitions around -- for many, it is *the* top issue. Reform of
elections and campaigns -- including IRV -- is another major issue. A
third is control of water -- "production" (actually extraction) by
Perrier/Nestle in Mecosta County already, and possible "profitization"
of the Detroit water system through an unelected authority.
These issues and others mentioned at the meeting tie into the
Greens' highest principles, the Four Pillars. Ecological wisdom is
the Pillar for which Greens are best known, but the other three are
just as important: social justice, grassroots democracy, and
non-violence.
Attendees agreed on the need to promote Green values through
working visibly as individual Greens with like-minded groups on these
issues and more. The party is also growing in its own right; new and
revived local groups are starting up in several areas, including Mount
Pleasant.
Several candidates promised they would be back. So will the
party, which easily retained its position on the ballot for 2004, has
paid off its campaign debts, and is already planning its next
statewide meeting -- in Detroit in February.
Anyone wanting to find or start a GPMI local in their area, or
make a donation to the party, can contact the Green Party of Michigan
Committee at 548 South Main Street; Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or by calling
734-663-3555. The party also has a Web site at:
http://www.MIGreens.org e-mail: info@MIGreens.org
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
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The Green Party of Michigan was formed in 1987 to address
environmental issues in Michigan politics. There are Greens organized
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state Green Party
sets its own goals and creates its own structure, but US Greens agree
on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom,
Grassroots Democracy,
Social Justice,
Non-Violence,
Sexual Equality,
Decentralization,
Community-Based Economics,
Future Focus,
Respect for Diversity, and
Personal and Global Responsibility.
created/distributed using donated labor
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A complete list of GPMI candidates in 2002 can be found at:
http://www.migreens.org/mi-cand.htm
Those seeking quotes can either contact the candidates directly or reply
to this message.
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Other Contacts:
page created 17 Nov 2002