Green Party chooses Chicago for 2008 national convention

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, August 30, 2007

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805,
starlene@gp.org
Patrick Kelly, Media Coordinator for the Illinois
Green Party, 773-203-9631, media@ilgp.org


Green Party chooses Chicago for 2008 national
convention


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United
States will hold its 2008 national nominating
convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Delegates from state Green Parties and caucuses
in the party's National Committee completed their
vote yesterday, with Chicago taking the lead over
Detroit, Minneapolis, and Oakland.

Greens from all four cities had submitted
proposals for the 2008 convention.  The National
Committee chose the site using ranked choice
voting (also called instant run-off voting)
<http://www.fairvote.org>, a voting reform the
party also recommends for single seat offices
like governor or mayor.

Chicago's proposal can be read at
<http://www.greenconvention2008.com>.  The
convention will take place July 10 to 13, 2008.

"We're very proud that Greens will choose our
2008 presidential nominee in Chicago," said
Patrick Kelly, media coordinator for the Illinois
Green Party and coordinator for the Chicago bid.
"Our Green candidate for Governor of Illinois,
Rich Whitney, drew over 10% in the 2006 election
-- after Gov. Blagojevich spent $800,000 in
taxpayers money trying to keep the Green Party
off the ballot.  The 2008 convention will show
Chicago that we're here to stay."

"Our intention is to run a strong presidential
campaign with our nominee on every ballot line in
the country," added Phil Huckelberry, co-chair of
the Green Party of the United States and
Chicagoan.

Green leaders are planning a press conference in
Chicago next week, at which they will discuss the
convention site and the Green Party's plans for
2008 in greater detail.  Press conference details
will be announced soon.

"We were quite impressed with the presentations
from all four cities, and we know Greens faced a
hard choice," said Ruth Weill, co-chair of the
Green Party's Annual National Meeting Committee.
"We thank all of them and congratulate Chicago,
and we look forward to seeing everyone -- and the
media too -- in Chicago next summer."

The Green Party held its 2007 national meeting in
Reading, Pennsylvania, in July.  Several
candidates for the Green presidential nomination
introduced themselves to the party during the
meeting, and more candidates are expected to
announce soon.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green Party News Center
http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau
http://www.gp.org/speakers
• 2007 national Green Party meeting in Reading,
Pa.: video footage, blog and media coverage
http://www.gp.org/meeting2007/

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http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_07_09.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0710-03.htm
http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html