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Green Party 101
If you are new to the Green Party learn the basics with this overview article.
Greens in Office
Posted on June 23, 2005
You wouldn´t know it reading the mainstream press, but Green candidates are winning office throughout the country, and making an impact on people´s lives when they do.
On this page we present a few of these elected officials who are making a difference in our community, across the state, and throughout the nation.
As you read about them, remember that these are but a few examples of what the Green Party has accomplished in a few short years.
Around King County
In November 2003, activist, educator, and Green Party member Sally Soriano was elected to the Seattle School Board. Sally was part of a municipal revolution on the School Board, as all four incumbents were replaced for four seats.
Sally is an active member of the Green Party of King County.
Above: Sally Soriano
City Of Duvall Councilor Steve Hotchkiss was elected in 2003. He became the first Green to be elected to a city council position in the state. Update: Steve Hotchkiss resigned from the Duvall City Council on February 1, 2005. In his resignation letter he indicated that he had recently received a promotion and that he no longer had the time to devote to the council.
Other Greens Across Washington State
- Steve Ludwig, Freeholder, District 3, San Juan County.
- James Alfred Smith, School Board, Lopez Island, School #144, Director #2, San Juan County.
- Tim White, Cemetery District, Orcas Island, San Juan County.
Nationwide
As of January 2005, the Green Party has over 220 elected officials in at least 27 states. Here are but a few of the more prominent members. For a complete, up-to-date list, please visit http://www.gp.org/elections/ and click on Greens in Office, in the left-hand bar.
In early 2004 26-year-old mayor Jason West put the city of New Paltz, New York on the map by performing same sex marriages in a courageous act of civil disobedience that eventually landed him in court, charges against him were dropped in June, but were reinstated in February 2005. What you did not hear if you were listening to National Public Radio is that Jason is an active member of the Green Party of New York State.
Urgent Update: The state of New York is about to bring charges against Jason West. The Green Party of the United States urges all citizens and organizations who value human rights to speak out in support of Mayor Jason West. Click here for more information.
Above: Jason West officiating at the wedding of Jay Blotcher and Brook Garrett. Photo by Eve Waltermaurer.
Community activist Chuck Turner was first elected to the Boston City Council in 1998, representing the predominantly minority/immigrant neighborhoods of Roxbury and Dorchester, as well as parts of the South End and Fenway. Since taking office, Chuck has fought for civil rights, economic justice, and police accountability, among other issues.
Above: Chuck Turner addressing an anti-war rally on October 27, 2001 (that´s right, 2001).
Chuck was an activist for decades, before becoming an elected official. He has brought that fire to his new job. In October 2001, barely a month after the atrocities of September 11, the Democratic-controlled city council voted 12 to 1 in support of George W. Bush´s "war on terror." Chuck Turner cast the sole vote in opposition.
Chuck was a founding member of the Massachusetts Rainbow Coalition Party, which merged with the Green Party of Massachusetts in 2002 to create the Green-Rainbow Party, our affiliate in that state.
In October 2005, popular Madison, WI Council President Brenda Konkel easily won election to a third term on the Common Council. In an election where the Democratic [sic] Party and the Madison Chamber of Commerce funded an unprecedented voter suppression campaign targeting several Green incumbents, they did not even bother to run a candidate against Brenda!
Above: Brenda Konkel
San Francisco district 5 supervisor Ross Mirkarimi has great shoes to fill, but we couldn´t have found a better person for the job! Ross was elected in November 2004 to replace fellow Green and board of supervisors president Matt Gonzalez, when Matt decided not to run for reelection. Ross had also run Matt´s 2003 campaign for mayor of San Francisco, a race which the Greens lost by a 52% to 48% margin, despite being out-spent 10-to-1 by the Democratic Party machine.
Above: Ross Mirkarimi
An Iranian-American who has spent the past 20 years in San Francisco, Ross has also worked in the District Attorney´s office, focusing on corporate and white-collar crime.
In 2004 Ross was named one of 15 rising stars by Campaigns & Elections magazine.
Maine State Representative John Eder is the Green Party´s highest-ranking elected official. He was elected in 2002, and reelected in 2004 despite a "bipartisan" redistricting plan designed to carve him out of his seat by pitting him against another incumbent.
Above: John Eder
Minneapolis, MN council member, Natalie Jahnson-Lee is one of the highest-ranking African American Greens in office. She was first elected in 2001, unseating 12-year incumbent Jackie Cherryhomes, in what the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder called "the political upset of 2001."
Above: Natalie Johnson-Lee
Thanks to a politically motivated redistricting plan, Natalie will face the only other African American on the city council in the September 2005 election. Interesting to note that Dean Zimmerman, the only other Green member of the Minneapolis city council, has also been pitted against another incumbent. He has had to move in order to run for reelection in his current ward. Can you say gerrymandering?
And they call themselves Democrats!