Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Ya can't keep a good party down!
The fine folks of San Benito County, California have decided they have had enough, and the time to do something about it is now!
What have these intrepid folks done? They have formed a Green Party chapter. Now how's that for a positive attitude!
The entire story can be had by clicking the link above, or peeking behind the "Read more! link...
From the
Hollister Free Lance
Green Party Coming to San Benito County
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By Brett Rowland
Hollister - A Hollister woman and several like-minded San Benito County residents are gathering together to start the first ever chapter of the Green Party in San Benito County and hope to eventually get a candidate for city council on the ballot.
Lucia Navarro, who is leading the group, said she decided to form the chapter last year after former Green party Vice Presidential candidate Peter Camejo came to speak in Hollister.
"So many of us have become disenchanted with the Democratic party and its lack of leadership and courage," Navarro said. "The Green party offers a platform that we can really follow and appreciate."
Although the local chapter only has seven members so far, Navarro said more than 150 San Benito County residents are registered Green.
"Up to now, we've just been planning, doing the boring stuff," she said. "But once we start taking on the issues more people will join us."
Navarro said she thinks the Green Party will resonate well in San Benito because many locals are tired of the Democratic Party. She also expects that the new Green Party Chapter will attract independents.
Navarro said the Green Party is "worlds apart" from the Democratic Party on issues such as the war in Iraq and the death penalty. The Green Party, she said, advocates the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the immediate end to the death penalty in all cases. The Green Party is dedicated to protecting the environment, fighting discrimination, fostering peace and nonviolence and electoral reform.
California has 156,000 registered Greens, but no more than 4 percent of voters in any of California's 56 counties are registered Green. In Nevada County, eight of the 14 elected positions are held by Green Party candidates.
Jeanie Wallace, chair of the Democratic Central Committee in San Benito County, isn't so sure the two parties are that far apart but she welcomed the Greens to the county.
"I think in many ways we are working toward the same ends," Wallace said. "I'm even hoping we can work together on some things - we overlap on a lot of common issues."
Wallace said both parties are interested in protecting the environment and social justice issues.
However, Wallace said she was slightly surprised the Greens would take up in San Benito County because the party usually has more support in urban areas.
California Green Party Spokeswomen Susan King disagreed.
"Rural counties like San Benito are really good for us," she said. "They are usually smaller and represent a real opportunity for us to grow a strong base."
It would much easier and less expensive to run a successful Green Party candidate for city council in a Hollister than Los Angeles, King said.
King also said she believes the newly-formed Green Party chapter in San Benito County is further evidence that the party's appeal is expanding.
"We really are growing," she said. "And the reason is the Democrats and their failure to remember their progressive roots."
The Democratic Central Committee could lose "one or two" members to the Greens, but Wallace said most would stick with a major party.
"I would probably be a member of the Green Party myself if I didn't think the Democrats were more effective," she said.
Sarah Stanley, chairman of the San Benito County Republican Committee, also welcomed the Greens to the county and said the entrance of a new political party was a credit to democracy.
"I wish them the best of luck," she said. "This represents the kind of freedom our democracy allows its citizens."
The Green Party's first meeting will be held Saturday at 1pm at Mariposa Tax Services at 411 San Benito Street. Those interested can contact Navarro at 831-634-0263.
What have these intrepid folks done? They have formed a Green Party chapter. Now how's that for a positive attitude!
The entire story can be had by clicking the link above, or peeking behind the "Read more! link...
From the
Hollister Free Lance
Green Party Coming to San Benito County
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By Brett Rowland
Hollister - A Hollister woman and several like-minded San Benito County residents are gathering together to start the first ever chapter of the Green Party in San Benito County and hope to eventually get a candidate for city council on the ballot.
Lucia Navarro, who is leading the group, said she decided to form the chapter last year after former Green party Vice Presidential candidate Peter Camejo came to speak in Hollister.
"So many of us have become disenchanted with the Democratic party and its lack of leadership and courage," Navarro said. "The Green party offers a platform that we can really follow and appreciate."
Although the local chapter only has seven members so far, Navarro said more than 150 San Benito County residents are registered Green.
"Up to now, we've just been planning, doing the boring stuff," she said. "But once we start taking on the issues more people will join us."
Navarro said she thinks the Green Party will resonate well in San Benito because many locals are tired of the Democratic Party. She also expects that the new Green Party Chapter will attract independents.
Navarro said the Green Party is "worlds apart" from the Democratic Party on issues such as the war in Iraq and the death penalty. The Green Party, she said, advocates the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the immediate end to the death penalty in all cases. The Green Party is dedicated to protecting the environment, fighting discrimination, fostering peace and nonviolence and electoral reform.
California has 156,000 registered Greens, but no more than 4 percent of voters in any of California's 56 counties are registered Green. In Nevada County, eight of the 14 elected positions are held by Green Party candidates.
Jeanie Wallace, chair of the Democratic Central Committee in San Benito County, isn't so sure the two parties are that far apart but she welcomed the Greens to the county.
"I think in many ways we are working toward the same ends," Wallace said. "I'm even hoping we can work together on some things - we overlap on a lot of common issues."
Wallace said both parties are interested in protecting the environment and social justice issues.
However, Wallace said she was slightly surprised the Greens would take up in San Benito County because the party usually has more support in urban areas.
California Green Party Spokeswomen Susan King disagreed.
"Rural counties like San Benito are really good for us," she said. "They are usually smaller and represent a real opportunity for us to grow a strong base."
It would much easier and less expensive to run a successful Green Party candidate for city council in a Hollister than Los Angeles, King said.
King also said she believes the newly-formed Green Party chapter in San Benito County is further evidence that the party's appeal is expanding.
"We really are growing," she said. "And the reason is the Democrats and their failure to remember their progressive roots."
The Democratic Central Committee could lose "one or two" members to the Greens, but Wallace said most would stick with a major party.
"I would probably be a member of the Green Party myself if I didn't think the Democrats were more effective," she said.
Sarah Stanley, chairman of the San Benito County Republican Committee, also welcomed the Greens to the county and said the entrance of a new political party was a credit to democracy.
"I wish them the best of luck," she said. "This represents the kind of freedom our democracy allows its citizens."
The Green Party's first meeting will be held Saturday at 1pm at Mariposa Tax Services at 411 San Benito Street. Those interested can contact Navarro at 831-634-0263.
// posted by Gregg Jocoy @ 9:31 AM 
