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Newsletter of the Green Party of Ohio
May 16, 2005
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The Green Party of Ohio Newsletter is emailed on an irregular basis to
our 2,617 Subscribers (circulation figures as of 4/05).
Contents
1. State Party News – A. Local Office Candidates for 2005, B. OSU
Campus Greens Organize Election Reform Forum, C. State Coordinating Committee
Update, D. Notes from May Central Ohio Green Party meeting, E. Organizing
Notices (Volunteer Needs, Donation Details, Locals’ Meeting Schedule)
2. National Party News –
3. Opinion: Balonek Campaign Letter – Mitch Balonek, Green Party
Candidate for Toledo City Council
1. State Green Party News
A. Local Office Candidates for 2005
Warner for Cincinnati City Council
The Southwest Ohio Green Party has endorsed Andrew Warner’s campaign
for Cincinnati City Council Contact his campaign at:
322A Mulberry Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
E-Mail: awarner2@cinci.rr.com
Phone: 614-284-8552
www.votewarner.org
Balonek for Toledo City Councl
The Green Party of Ohio has endorsed Mitch Balonek’s campaign for
Toledo City Council. To support his effort, make checks payable to:
"Balonek for City Council"
PO BOX 2841
Toledo, OH 43606
For more: go to www.nwohiogreens.org
B. OSU Campus Greens Organize Election Reform Forum
Where: Ohio State Union
When: May 21, 2005
9:30 - 9:45 – Registration
9:45-10:00 – Welcome and Introduction
10:00-10:30 – First Speaker (Bill Moss)
10:30-10:40 – 10-Minute Break
10:40-11:40 – 1st Workshop, Ohio Citizen Action on proposed campaign
finance reform
11:40-12:25 – 45 Minute Lunch
12:25-1:30 – Roundtable Discussion – Participants TBA
1:30-1:40 – 10-Minute Break
1:40 – ? Bob Fitrakis
Xx:xx – Conclusion and Thanks
C. State Coordinating Committee Update
Meeting planned for 5/21 in Columbus
D. Notes from the COGP Meeting 05/03/05
Attending: Kai Hammermeister (Host), Cheryl + Melvin Hill, Rick Wilhelm,
Geoffrey Tolle, Stuart Wright, Susanne Hayes
Setting an Agenda for the Party
Given the uncertainty about which COGP officers might be attending the
next meeting, the attendees at this meeting thought it best to attend
the next meeting with an agenda. We discussed a number of ideas and arrived
at two agenda item: recruitment and goals.
Goals
* Think Local - We're a small group (at the moment). The biggest changes
that we are likely to generate will occur at a local level - homes, neighborhoods,
places of worship, schools, commission areas, villages, townships, and
cities.
* Voting Reform - Work on improving voter education, voter access, and
even the processes of voting at a local level (such as the school board
elections).
* Minority Representation - One of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party
is Social Justice. True social uplift can only come from within. We must,
therefore, work to increase minority participation in the COGP.
* Candidate Grooming - To be a legitimate and effective party, we must
strive to put Green Party candidates in political positions. We need to
develop clear goals, effective strategies, and good candidates.
* Trash / Recycling Reform - The financial cycle that led up to the new
system of trash containers and trucks will end eventually. The COGP should
work to position itself in the planning process of the next generation
of city waste disposal.
* Traffic Calming Measures - The cities of the Columbus area have implemented
a number of effective traffic calming measure throughout the Central Ohio
region but they have been primarily placed in wealthier neighborhoods
for aesthetic reasons. The COGP should work to convince these communities
to extend the calming measures to poorer areas where their function will
serve an important safety function as well as the
aesthetic functions.
* Housing Policy - A specific example of the social disparity in Columbus'
housing policy - the diversion of funds from much needed repairs to the
inner city sewer system to outlying regions (e.g., Darby Creek Watershed)
where it helps to fund urban sprawl.
Recruitment
* Sponsor or co-sponsor public debates, talks, and voter education sessions
- We need to show the public that engaging the public in policy formation
is one of the 10 Key Values of the Green Party (Grassroots Democracy).
At the same time, we need to show that we are knowledgeable about public
policy issues and that we can offer insightful, effective,
and thoughtful solutions to many of the problems that afflict our homes,
cities, and regions.
* Time and Location - The time and location of the COGP meetings has been
misleading. Settle on a time and place (first Tuesdays at the North Side
Library). Correct the published information in local publications. Increase
publications that carry the announcement about the meetings. Also, there
may be interest in a second , parallel meeting during the month to accommodate
people who cannot make it to the Tuesday
night meetings (e.g., second shift workers).
* Coalition Building - As a fledgling party (again), we must forge connections
with the various environmental, social, and even business groups around
the Central Ohio region. Not only will this provide us with a wider information
base on which to develop our party policies but, as we grow, we will strive
to be the party that our "partners" turn to during local government
policy development.
* "Tupperware" Recruitment - One way to bring in more recruits
is to more effectively bring the democratic process into the home. We
can develop a Green Party program that can be presented to small groups
of friends and/or neighbors after the fashion of Tupperware parties or
Eco-Team meetings. These parties would strive to make the political process
more interesting, accessible, and more a part of everyday life.
They would also provide the beginnings of more easily accessible political
(moral) support groups.
* Recruitment Booths - We need to enlist volunteers to man booths at
various upcoming festivals, gallery hops, and the like. This is mainly
a place to gather contact information on interest people and to disseminate
information on the Green Party and, most specifically, advances that the
COGP is making.
* Information - Updated and expanded web-site. Flyers (including the Ten
Key Values of the Green Party), brochures, informational leaflets. All
these oriented around recruitment and developing an interest, not just
in the democratic process, but in the condition of
the world itself.
* Radio Program - [Longer term goal] Develop radio spots or a weekly
radio program to promote Green Party policies and awareness in the listeners.
What Do We Need for the Next Meeting?
* Officers - We need to get as many of the current officers of the party
to the next meeting as possible - if for no other reason, to find out
who still is an officer. We need to request that any current officers
who can no longer maintain their posts notify us by the next meeting so
we can develop replacements as soon as possible. Also, we need to request
the presence of as many former officers as possible. Given what appears
to be the shattered state of the COGP, we will need as much experience
as is possible.
* Publicity - In addition to straightening out the meeting time and place
with various publications, we should also announce this re-kickoff June
meeting in as many venues as possible including the many local weekly
publications and in various meeting places such as churches, synagogues,
organic food stores, recycling centers, etc. A short flyer would be useful
to hand out for this purpose. We don't want to overstate what this meeting
will be but the more people we get to the first meeting, the more people
we will retain after first meeting die-back.
* Boothing Opportunities - Bring a list of any venues that you can think
of that might be worth setting up a booth. ComFest, Juneteenth, Festival
Latina, Gallery Hop, Jazzfest, and local county and produce festivals
have been suggested. Occasional presences at local farmers' markets has
also been suggested but we need definite names and contact
information.
* Ideas - The June meeting will be a re-kickoff meeting of the COGP. During
the May meeting we developed a short list of primary goals and recruitment
needs. However, these are only preliminary and have not been discussed
at any length. We need more input, we need more ideas, we need good ideas
of how to achieve these goals, we need to decide where they fit in the
Green Party's 10 Key Values, and we need to prioritize
them by importance and achievability.
The June meeting will be mostly brainstorming with an initial round of
prioritization (for those goals and recruitment needs that we just can't
wait on). Bring friends! Bring family! Bring ideas!
We will need a facilitator familiar with the "rules" of brainstorming,
a timekeeper, and several note takers.
E. Donations - Volunteer Needs – Locals’ Meetings
1) Donations to support our efforts and candidates can be made via Paypal
at www.ohiogreens.org or mailed to:
The Green Party of Ohio Political Action Fund
PO Box 754
New Albany, OH 43054
Include your name and address.
2) Regularly Scheduled Locals’ Meetings
Central Ohio Green Party (Columbus & Vicinity): First Tuesday of
every month, 7 PM – the meeting room of the Northside Branch of
the Columbus Public Library. 1423 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43201 Library
Phone: 614-645-2110
East Central Ohio Green Party: Last Thursday of every month, 6:30 PM,
Room 145 of the County Services Building on South 7th Street, Coshocton.
See www.3rivergreens.org
Northeast Ohio - Right now, there are not regularly-scheduled meetings
up
here in Northeast Ohio, but we will be meeting some time soon. For information,
contact David Berenson, dbberenson@yahoo.com
Summit Greens meet the First Tuesday of each month @ 7:00 PM (locations
TBA). Right now, it is through meetup.com, where it is known as the Akron
Green Party Meetup Group. For more details - green.meetup.com/31/
Southwest Ohio Green Party (Cincinnati & Vicinity): Second Tuesday
of every month, 7:30 PM (6:30 for dinner), 1417 Bercliff (in Northside).
www.swohgp.org for details.
West Virginia Green Party - I would like to invite anyone from the GPO
who lives near Wheeling to join us at the River City Ale Works at 1400
Main Street in Wheeling at 7:00 PM for our Bi-Monthly meeting. Any advice,
comments,
or help that anyone from another state Green Party has to offer us would
be greatly appreciated. Chad Edwards, GPWV State Coordinator, Pleasants
County, West Virginia 304-684-2452
2. National Party News
ELAINE BROWN WILL RUN AS GREEN IN GEORGIA Elaine Brown, the only woman
to lead the Black Panther Party, has declared her intention to run for
Mayor of Brunswick, Georgia, as a member of the Green Party.
http://www.elainebrown.org (currently underconstruction)
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org//press/press.php?annc_id=73§ion_id=2
http://www.greens.org/georgia/
CALIFORNIA New legislation, SB 596, that would create a more "democratic"
voting system, eliminate expensive runoff elections and give voters more
power at the polls won quick approval from the Green Party of California
and consumer groups in a key Senate hearing. The measure would allow local
governments to use preference voting, also called instant runoff voting
(IRV), for single-winner races and 'choice voting' for multi-winner elections.
http://www.cagreens.org
CALIFORNIA Legislation to correct a faulty state law that robbed potential
Green Party congressional candidate Terry Baum of a chance to challenge
Rep. Nancy Pelosi in a heavily-progressive San Francisco district last
year passed the Senate Elections, Reapportionment & Constitutional
Amendments Committee April 6 on a 4-2 vote. SB 1050, authored by Sen.
Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach) ensures write-in votes count even if voters
failed to fill in a "bubble," a technical requirement which
helps machines tabulate votes. Terry lost hundreds of votes in the primary
election in March of 2004. Although voting officials acknowledged Baum
had enough write-in votes to win the Green Party nomination, they were
required to thrown them out because current law mandated write-in votes
"shall" not be counted if the bubble is not filled-in.
http://www.cagreens.org
CALIFORNIA Green Party member Aimee Allison's insurgent campaign for
Oakland City Council has made her a top contender for the seat vacated
by Danny Wan, following his resignation in January. "The race has
essentially come down to a contest between three candidates, Aimee Allison,
David Kakishiba and
Pat Kernighan," said Wilson Riles, Jr., former city council member.
"I think pundits will be surprised come election day if they ignore
Aimee's campaign." "I believe the reason so many people are
drawn to our campaign is that we are viewed as City Hall outsiders who
are not controlled by any vested interest," said Allison. "I
think when the votes are counted we are going to surprise a lot of the
so-called experts."
http://www.AimeeAllison.org
CALIFORNIA Three-term Napa City Councilmember Harry Martin, founder and
owner of the Napa Sentinel, has announced this week that he has re-registered
as a member of the Green Party. The decision by Martin boosts Green Party
officeholders to 69 elected seats in California, and 221 offices in the
US. There are now four Green Party mayors, a mayor pro-tem, and a vice
mayor in the state. Greens also hold majorities on several city councils
in California. First elected to the Napa City Council in 1994, and re-elected
in 1996 and 2003, Martin is the longest-serving council member in Napa's
history and has served as vice mayor three times. He is a native of San
Francisco.
http://www.cagreens.org
http://www.feinstein.org/greenparty/electeds.html
CONNECTICUT Miguel Angel Nieves has declared his candidacy for mayor
of New Britain. Nieves is seeking donations and volunteers for his campaign,
and
is also looking forward to hearing from other Greens of Puerto Rican descent.
Contact number: 860-832-8141
http://www.nieves.politicalgateway.com
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nievesformayor
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen
http://www.ctgreens.org/
CONNECTICUT New Haven Green Party co-chair and former congressional
candidate Charlie Pillsbury announced that he will run for Ward 19 alderman
unless current Ward 19 Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards decides to seek reelection.
Pillsbury said he will attend community meetings in the coming weeks,
and plans to begin making phone calls and going door-to-door after Labor
Day. He said he decided to run because he thinks the seat will be open.
Pillsbury, who roomed with Gary Trudeau at Yale and was in part the basis
for the comic character Mike Doonesbury, said he is interested in local
issues such as crime, traffic and schools, but he would also push for
election reform and environmental issues, especially clean air.
http://www.ctgreens.org/
FLORIDA After protests in Miami when the FTAA met there two years ago,
Ft.
Lauderdale recently passed a draconian law which effectively bans free
speech and expression, in preparation for a meeting of the Organization
of American States in June. The city also voted to spend over $2.5 million
on riot gear to ensure that demonstrators will be outgunned, monitored,
arrested, and roughly handled. A local coalition is suing the city to
have the ordinance struck down, with at least one local Green plaintiff.
The Green Party of Florida is also considering becoming a plaintiff, as
is the Broward County Green Party.
http://www.floridagreens.org/
http://www.browardgreens.org
NEW YORK Community activist Judith Einach, endorsed by the Green Party,
launched her campaign for mayor of Buffalo by promising more attention
to "fixing the little things so the big things can fix themselves."
"To build a strong economy we need to include creative or less-tried
but proven methods to generate wealth," she said. Einach, 57, is
project director of Food Ventures, a micro-enterprise development program.
She spoke to about two dozen supporters outside city-owned historic row
that are in disrepair. "We should expect city government to act as
a steward and care for our properties until they are sold to a responsible
buyer," she said.
http://www.judy4mayor.org/judy2/
http://www.gpnys.org/
NATIONAL The Green Party Task Force on Haiti has decided to extend its
campaign to support Haitian democracy and justice into a "Season
of Solidarity with Haiti."
NATIONAL The Green Party of the United States has announced two job openings.
-- The Assistant Fundraising Coordinator will help with the party's fundraising
program. At this time, the position will primarily involve phone banking,
but in the future the position may also involve other fundraising or administrative
tasks.
http://www.gp.org/documents/fundraising_ast.html
-- The Online and Outreach Fundraising Coordinator will coordinate on-line
fundraising and outreach projects with staff and committees.
http://www.gp.org/documents/fundraising_coor.html
3. Opinion
Balonek Campaign Letter
By Mitch Balonek – Green Party Candidate for Toledo City Council
Friends,
The Balonek for City Council campaign is breaking new ground. Our grassroots
approach to local politics is gaining momentum. The Take Back Toledo crew
is working hard to make this campaign a reality.
I would like to share with you some of what has happened.
We have collected more than enough signatures to get me on the ballot,
about 350. We needed 250 to get on the ballot. We are shooting for the
500 maximum signatures, just to be certain to meet the requirements.
We have met with many area organizations and leaders, attended numerous
events and organized several fundraisers. I have learned a lot about the
needs of each community that I will serve as City Councilman. I have much
more to learn, but, rest assured, that my leadership will be at one with
the people.
My campaign is about ending the politics of greed. I will bring love,
compassion, justice and hope for a better Toledo to our city politics.
My campaign will empower citizens. I will be the voice of those who rarely
or never have access to political power. My campaign is about giving dignity
and respect to workers by providing a living wage and educational opportunities
for them and their children to improve their lives.
My campaign is about protecting citizens from challenges to their rights.
My campaign is about building a peaceful community by applying the Golden
Rule and Love your Neighbor to city governance and policing.
We have much work to do, but we can accomplish our dream of a better
community together. Think of how you can contribute.
To join the Take Back Toledo team, reply to this email with your name,
address and phone number and what you can do to help. (We need many
door to door volunteers.) You can also sign up at our web site:
http://www.votebalonek.org
Also, your dollars donation will go a long way to help. Send whatever
you can ($1, $5, $10, $25, $100, $?) to:
"Balonek for City Council"
PO Box 2841
Toledo, OH 43606
We want to purchase and distribute, at least, 100,000 flyers door to
door, 500 yard signs, and we are making TV and radio ads that will be
on our web site but will be ready for the airwaves, if we raise enough
money. Please Give!
Peace,
Mitch Balonek
Publication Details
The Green Party of Ohio Newsletter is published by the Green Party of
Ohio. www.ohiogreens.org The Mission of the Newsletter is to aggressively
promote citizen involvement in making real the Green dream for Ohio and
America as stated in the GPOH Platform, the USGP Platform and those parties’
formal policy positions.
The Mission of the Green Party of Ohio is to focus the political power
of the people to:
1. preserve and restore viable ecosystems,
2. establish social justice and equity,
3. foster participatory democracy,
4. promote and practice nonviolence as a means of conflict resolution,
and
5. ensure the rights of a community-based economic system for all people.
Letters to the editor are accepted but please keep them brief and the
Editor reserves the right to publish or not publish any such letter and
edit them to fit the newsletter format. The Green Party of Ohio Newsletter
does not represent official GPOH policy unless specifically stated. The
Green Party of Ohio Newsletter operates under the guidance of the State
Coordinating Committee Media Committee, which can be contacted through
the State Party Website. Paid for by the Green Party of Ohio Political
Action Fund (OH1066) PO Box 754 New Albany, OH 43054
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