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July 2004 Newsletter
Green Party of Sonoma County (GPSC) News for July:
1. Green Talk: None for July
2. Green Party Picnic - July 18th
3. Green Party National Convention Summary
4. Calendar of Upcoming Meetings and Events
5. Congratulations to our own Mike Sandler
6. Contact information
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GREEN TALK: None Schedule for July
See item 2 for its replacement this month.
Green Talks are free, informal meetings hosted by the Green Party of Sonoma
County on the first Thursday of each month. To get more information, suggest
future topics, or join the Green Talk Working Group, please
email greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or call 542-3037.
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GREEN PARTY PICNIC - July 18th
The Green Talk Working Group has organized a potluck picnic at Susan Chunco's house
beginning at 2:00pm July 18th. Come and socialize a bit with other Greens.
Address: 124 W. Eighth Street, Santa Rosa, phone 546-7857
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GREEN PARTY NATIONAL CONVENTION SUMMARY
Between June 22 and June 28, the Green Party of the United States held it's
Presidential Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Five local GPSC members, Susan
Chunco, Jared Laiti, Veronica Lopez, Skaidra Smith-Heisters and Tim Morgan all
attended the convention as part of the 132 delegates from California. All five
of the delegates took an active role in the convention and campaigns.
The convention accomplished several things.
1. The 2004 Green Party Platform was adopted. Go to http://www.gp.org to view it.
2. The convention nominated David Cobb, an attorney from Eureka, California as the
Presidential candidate and affirmed Patricia LaMarche, a single mother and radio
personality from Yarmouth, Maine as the Vice Presidential candidate.
3. Greens from all over the country meet with other greens and learned from one
another.
4. There are now four progressive voices in the 2004 Presidential campaign.
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If you are interested in learning more about the Cobb/LaMarche campaign go to:
http://www.voteCobb.org
or if you are interested in learning more about the Nader/Camejo independent
campaign go to:
http://www.voteNader.org
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Here is an excerpt from a summary of the convention by Ted Glick of the
Green Party of New Jersey:
Day of Decision
Matt Gonzalez had been decided upon as the Election Administrator by the GPUS'
national coordinating committee.
Gonzalez is the Chair of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and nearly won
last year in a nationally publicized election for Mayor of San Francisco.
In the first round there were no major surprises. David Cobb led with 308 votes,
followed by Peter Camejo with 119, Ralph Nader with 117, no nominee with 109,
Lorna Salzman with 40, Kent Mesplay with 24 and various other candidates with
smaller numbers, including Joann Beeman, a "favorite daughter" and elected drain
commissioner from Michigan.
Both sides were nervous as Gonzalez adjourned the session for lunch. Over lunch
caucusing continued with appeals to hold firm by Camejo to both the California and
New York delegations, two Nader/Camejo strongholds. Cobb campaign leaders felt
hopeful but not certain that they could win on the second round. The outcome
depended primarily on how the 109 first round no nominee votes were cast on the
second round.
Prior to Saturday both the Cobb and Nader campaigns had "worked" the no nominee
delegates. The Cobb campaign argued that those who held that position-people who,
in general, wanted the Green Party to focus its limited resources on local campaigns
this year-should see a Cobb nomination as their second preference, that a Nader
endorsement would be a worse alternative for those who wanted to build up Green
Party strength via local campaigns given David Cobb's first priority of using his
campaign to build the Green Party.
The convention readjourned about 2:30 to start the second round of voting. It was
reported that there were four options for delegates. One option was David Cobb.
Another was no nominee. The third was Kent Mesplay, and the fourth was Joann Beeman.
There were no other options because, unlike the first round, the convention rules
mandated that only no nominee and candidates who signed a statement affirming that
they would accept a GP Presidential nomination would be eligible to receive votes
after the first round. Cobb, Mesplay and Beeman were the only candidates who
signed that statement.
It was obvious to everyone that the big question was whether or not David Cobb and
Pat LaMarche would be able to gain the additional 77 delegates needed to have 50%
plus one. If they failed to do so, that would give a major boost to the Nader/Camejo
side and continue the voting into future rounds.
The first three states, Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, reported no movement toward
Cobb. But the fourth state, California, was a different story. Cobb gained 22 votes
as compared to the first round, going from 13 to 35. The pro-Cobb delegates cheered.
As the reports continued, a clear trend began to emerge. Cobb was holding his own
in every state, gaining one, two or three up until Maine, home state of Pat LaMarche,
which thrilled the pro-Cobb delegates by going from 7 in the first round to 18
in the second.
A few states[sic] later, Minnesota gave Cobb an additional 10 delegates as compared to
the first round, and as the reports continued the Cobb vote kept gaining ground.
By the time it got to Virginia, he was right there with, unofficially, 77 additional
votes. When Virginia gave him six more votes that pretty much sealed it. All that
was needed was for the same trend to continue, for Cobb to lose no ground in the
remaining four states.
When Wisconsin went 33-1 for Cobb, a gain of eight votes, everyone knew it was over.
All that remained was for Texas, which had passed when they were called earlier,
to announce that 34 of their 35 votes were for Cobb. Texas is where David Cobb was
born, lived and did Green Party organizing until a year or so ago.
For many the celebration began, genuine joy over a hard-fought victory. Hugs and
kisses and dancing in the aisles erupted until David burst onto the stage and
introduced Pat LaMarche [ed: the Cobb Campaign's Vice Presidential choice from the
State of Maine] for her first speech to the assembled delegates. Following it, David
came to the podium and spoke graciously about Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo as he
called for a strong campaign by the Green Party, indicating his intention to go
to Ohio, Pennsylvania "and New York, if you want me," to help efforts in those
states to get Cobb/LaMarche on the ballot.
For others, the feelings certainly ranged from mixed to deep disappointment. But
as the session was adjourned by Matt Gonzalez, many of us left the convention center
feeling extremely proud not just about the results but about the political maturity
displayed by the convention as a whole in the way we had just dealt with a hugely
difficult, months-long, often-painful issue.
Green and Growing
This was an amazing week, an emotional roller-coaster for those of us immersed in
it. For large numbers of the delegates, it was a strengthening experience and not
just because we successfully navigated the dangerous shoals of decision-making
regarding the big Presidential question.
There were the many dedicated activists we met from all over the country who we
know will keep building this important organization at the key, local, grassroots
level for months and years to come. There were the local Green elected officials
like Matt Gonzalez, Jason West, Joyce Chen and Brenda Konkel and many others that
we met and interacted with, as well as the candidates running for office all over
the country. There were the valuable workshops and caucuses on a whole range of
issues, the great street party Friday evening, the general spirit of unity and
common purpose that pervaded the deliberations. The women's caucus, youth caucus
and black caucus all took steps forward. International visitors and speakers
reminded us that we are part of an international movement worldwide and that we have
major responsibilities to the world's struggling peoples and threatened ecosystem.
The numbers show it: there is clear, persistent, quantitative growth on the part of
the Green Party of the United States, now with affiliates in 44 states, with 205
Greens in office and ballot-qualified in 22 states and D.C.
But just as important, Milwaukee '04 demonstrated that there is also qualitative growth.
As David Cobb said in his inspiring speech Saturday night, the Green Party is chock
full of "ordinary people doing extraordinary things." In this time of great danger
but also great possibilities, this is no small thing.
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Calendar of Upcoming Meetings and Events
*NOTE* To check for new events and schedule changes, visit the GPSC
on-line calendar at http://www.cagreens.org/c/sonoma/calendar.pl
July --------------------------------------------------------
9 (Fri) GREEN TALKS WORKING GROUP MEETING
7 PM. Contact: greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037
14 (Wed) DEADLINE FOR GPSC NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS FOR JULY
Email an outline for a newsletter article or information on a
Green-related event to pc@sonomagreenparty.org
15 (Thu) GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
7-9 PM, Environmental Center, 404A Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa
The general meeting is held every 3rd Thursday. All interested
Greens are welcome to attend!
Info: info@sonomagreenparty.org
23 (Fri) IT WORKING GROUP MEETING
7 PM. Contact: it@sonomagreenparty.org
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Congratulations to our own Mike Sandler, appointed to the Sebastopol
Planning Commission in early June.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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WORKING GROUPS (WG)
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Bill of Rights Defense WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bordc.shtml
Contact: bordc@sonomagreenparty.org
Bylaws WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bylaws.shtml
Contact: bylaws@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037
Campus Greens - Sonoma State University Chapter
Contact: jaredl@sbcglobal.net
Listserve: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/sonomacampusgreens
(Interested in starting a SRJC chapter? Email jswingaling@hotmail.com)
Electoral Reform WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_er.shtml
Contact: er@sonomagreenparty.org or Jim Housman at 823-7564
Green Talk WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_greentalk.shtml
Contact: greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037
IT (Information Technologies) WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_it.shtml
Contact: it@sonomagreenparty.org
Outreach WG
Contact: outreach@sonomagreenparty.org, darius0@comcast.net or
953-4682
PC (Public Communications) WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_pc.shtml
Contact: pc@sonomagreenparty.org
Tabling WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_table.shtml
Contact: Tim Smith at 206-0260 or Rioryon@aol.com
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LOCALS
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West Sonoma County Green Party Chapter
Contact: Jan Meiswinkel at 524-8818.
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