Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence Green Party of Michigan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ www.migreens.org ** News Release ** ** ------------ ** August 6, 2006 For More Information, Contact: ----------------------------- John Anthony La Pietra, Elections Co-ordinator/GPMI jalp@triton.net 28 Michigan Greens Will Stand on the Ballot November 7 for Peace, Jobs, and Justice ======================================= 20 Nominated Over the Weekend at GPMI State Convention in Shaftsburg; 8 More in Caucuses Party Renews Opposition to "Civil Rights" Scam MCRI, Hunting of Michigan's Bird of Peace; Also Says "No" to Hasty, Fiscally Irresponsible Repeal of SBT The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) nominated a score of candidates for this fall's general election, and took positions on three statewide issues, at its 2006 state convention at Woodhull Township Hall in Shaftsburg. The twenty candidates from the convention join eight more who were already nominated in local and county caucuses. All will campaign on the party's central theme for 2006: "Peace, Jobs, and Justice." Several candidates nominated at the convention are members of a "Stop the War" slate of peace activists from across Michigan. They joined with the Greens to give more voters across Michigan more chances to voice their opposition to the perpetual-conflict policies of politicians as usual. GPMI Elections Co-ordinator John Anthony La Pietra noted the significance of the convention's timing. "Today is the 61st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. It's a day to remember that military might doesn't make us right -- a day to think about choosing peace instead." Michigan Greens also renewed their support for the state bird of peace, voting unanimously to promote a "no" vote in this fall's referendum on shooting mourning doves. Governor Granholm and the Legislature struck a deal in 2004 to end the state's 99-year ban on dove-hunting, but opponents turned in almost 300,000 signatures on petitions to let the voters decide. And GPMI continued its opposition to another statewide ballot question, once again unanimously rejecting the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative". Misnamed and misleading, MCRI would force state agencies to turn a blind eye to institutionalized racism and discrimination. It would end the collection of data showing the lingering effects of institutionalized racism, and gut programs like Affirmative Action that would "address and redress discrimination", in the words of a 2004 GPMI resolution. Both these votes repeated positions Michigan Greens had taken at their last convention in 2004. This year, they added another "no" vote on a state issue which may or may not be on the November ballot: the proposal to dump Michigan's Single Business Tax (SBT) all but immediately -- and without the financial discipline of stating how to plug the hole SBT's departure would leave in the budget. La Pietra and other Michigan Greens will finish the task of getting GPMI's candidates on the November 7 ballot by turning in required paperwork to the Bureau of Elections and several county clerks on Monday. State law requires Greens to nominate by caucuses and conventions, rather than letting them take part in this coming week's public primary votes. "It's a bit ironic," said La Pietra. "We're the party that supports clean elections and public financing of campaigns, but we're the ones shut out of the publicly financed and promoted primary elections." But Green candidates will be included on this fall's general-election ballot, under the party's sunflower symbol. And well before then, they will be listed -- alongside the candidates of other parties kept out of the August primaries -- on the State Bureau of Elections Web page of candidates for Tuesday, November 7: http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/candlist/06GEN/06GEN_CL.HTM GPMI's home page is at: http://www.migreens.org # # # created/distributed using donated labor Green Party of Michigan 548 South Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 http://www.migreens.org 734-663-3555 GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan politics. Greens are 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 Community Economics Decentralization Feminism Respect for Diversity Personal/Global Responsibility Future Focus/Sustainability *==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==* *==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==* Candidates Nominated at GPMI 2006 State Convention August 5-6, 2006 * Woodhull Township Hall, Shaftsburg ----------------------------------------------------- Douglas Campbell Governor David Frank Skrbina Lieutenant Governor Lynn Meadows Secretary of State David Sole US Senator David J. Newland US Representative/Congressional District 01 Rodger William Gurk US Representative/Congressional District 03 Kenny R. Mathenia US Representative/Congressional District 05 Aaron Stuttman US Representative/Congressional District 08 Matthew Abel US Representative/Congressional District 09 [Oakland County] Candace Ruth Caveny US Representative/Congressional District 10 Arthur William Myatt US Representative/Congressional District 12 Aimee Smith US Representative/Congressional District 15 Kevin Anthony Carey statewide/State Board of Education Jacob Woods statewide/State Board of Education Edward Arthur Morin statewide/University of Michigan Board of Regents Lauren Elizabeth Spencer statewide/Michigan State University Board of Trustees Margaret Guttshall statewide/Wayne State University Board of Governors Michael William Merriweather statewide/Wayne State University Board of Governors Lloyd Clarke State Senator/District 32 [Gratiot & Saginaw Counties] Pete Van Jr. State Representative/District 088 [Allegan County] Nominated Earlier at County Caucuses ------------------------------------ James Wolbrink State Senator/District 05 [Wayne County] Richard T. Kuszmar State Senator/District 09 [Macomb County] Kyle McBee State Senator/District 13 [Oakland County] William J. Opalicky State Senator/District 14 [Oakland County] Kristen Hamel State Rep/District 001 [Wayne County] Fred D. Vitale State Rep/District 003 [Wayne County] Derek M. Grigsby State Rep/District 007 [Wayne County] Pete Schermerhorn Ann Arbor City Council/Ward 3 [Washtenaw County]
Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
posted to web 7 August 2006