http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party candidates to watch on Election Day 2008
• General Green Party election information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• More candidates to watch: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States has identified several candidates who are running significant campaigns at state and local levels. Five such candidates are profiled below.
The Green Party's 2008 national nominees are Cynthia McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente. Ms. McKinney was interviewed on BreakTheMatrix.com on Sunday evening, October 19 (http://www.breakthematrix.com/node/28047) and on Democracy Now!, October 16, following the final presidential debate, from which she was excluded (http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/16/breaking_the_sound_barrier_third).
At least 245 Green candidates will be on ballots on Election Day, November 4. At least 293 Greens have run for public office throughout 2008, including the November 4 election. More Green candidates to watch are listed at: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
• Jesse Johnson, Mountain Party candidate for governor of West Virginia, has participated in three debates and has attracted attention for his promotion of a ban on mountaintop removal mining by West Virginia's powerful coal industry and his leadership on other state issues. Mr. Johnson was endorsed by the Sierra Club on October 3 (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2008/10/06/sierra-club-endorses-jesse-johnson-for-wv-governor/).
"Because of mountaintop removal and the power of the coal companies, West Virginia has become ground zero for global climate change in the US," said Jesse Johnson. "The Interior Department is now relaxing rules on mountaintop mining, which will bring untold devastation to the natural environment and a massive threat to public health, through contamination of water and other resources. I'm the only candidate addressing this crisis, because the Democrat and Republican are too closely allied with the coal companies that are plundering West Virginia."
Campaign web site: http://www.jesse4wvgov.org
Video clip of Jesse Johnson speaking at a West Virginia Youth Commission forum: http://vimeo.com/2013238
• Rebekah Kennedy, Green candidate for the US Senate in Arkansas, is competing against Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor, with no Republican in the race. Despite numerous invitations, Sen. Pryor has avoided facing Ms. Kennedy in a candidates' debate.
http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=9182552
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/240400/
Campaign web site: http://www.kennedy2008.org
• Gordon Clark, Maryland candidate for the US House (District 8, Rep. Chris Van Hollen's seat), is receiving significant attention for his grassroots campaign against a powerful Democrat. (Mr. Van Hollen, though only in Congress five years, is Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.) Gordon raised more campaign funds (all individual) during the second quarter than any other candidate nominated for Congress by an alternative party in the US (http://www.politickermd.com/clarkforcongress/2953/clark-campaign-releases-2nd-quarter-fec-report-total-tops-3rd-party-campaigns-). Mr. Clark came out on top in a candidates' forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters on October 2 (http://www.gazette.net/stories/10152008/montlet175510_32497.shtml) and is now receiving coverage in the mainstream press.
Gordon Clark noted that "Chris Van Hollen went from being a liberal Democrat to a corporate Democrat, and he no longer represents his constituents on an array of issues. Maryland's 8th is one of the most progressive districts in the country, and voters here are looking for a political leader who has a vision for tackling the energy crisis, the faltering economy and the climate crisis of global warming, as well as the willingness to end the war in Iraq and the judgment to stop an expanding war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's becoming clear to many that Mr. Van Hollen, with his numerous close ties to campaign contributors, cannot meet that need -- and that our campaign does."
Campaign web site: http://www.clarkforcongress.net
Video of Oct. 2 candidates' forum: http://www.clarkforcongress.net/press.cfm
More video clips of Gordon Clark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbj-MoxER7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyYZ9Oof_RQ
• Malik Rahim, Louisiana Green candidate for the US House (District 2), is co-founder of the Common Ground Collective, an organization that provides short-term relief to victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf Coast region. Mr. Rahim is a former Black Panther and ran for New Orleans City Council in 2002 as a Green Party candidate.
The election for the 2nd District US House seat will take place on December 6 instead of November 4 because of election delays caused by Hurricanes Gustave and Ike.
Campaign web site: http://www.votemalik.com
Common Ground: http://www.commongroundrelief.org
• Ross Mirkarimi was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (District 5) in 2004 and is running for reelection. Mr. Mirkarimi has sponsored about 40 pieces of legislation addressing crime, making streets safer for pedestrians, improving efficiency of city departments, and the environment. He led efforts to promote medical marijuana clubs in San Francisco.
In March 2007, he introduced legislation prohibiting large supermarkets and drugstores from providing customers with non-biodegradable plastic bags, making San Francisco the first city to regulate such bags. In June 2008, Mr. Mirkarimi sponsored a one-year pilot plan for solar rebate program that provides $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations and lower income residents for installing solar voltaic power on rooftops. He faces two opponents in the current election.
Campaign web site: http://www.rossmirkarimi.com
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 • Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml • Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml • Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers • Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 'Power to the People' Campaign for the White House http://votetruth08.com http://www.runcynthiarun.org "Where's Kenny Rogers When You Need Him? The Big Boys Got Their Bailout, But the Elected Leadership and the Voters Meet at the Election Day Showdown" By Cynthia McKinney, OpEdNews.com, Oct. 7, 2008 http://www.opednews.com/articles/-Where-s-Kenny-Rogers-When-by-Cynthia-McKinney-081007-748.html Cynthia McKinney on video http://www.youtube.com/user/RunCynthiaRun http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=RunCynthiaRun • BreakTheMatrix.com interview, Oct. 19: http://www.breakthematrix.com/node/28047 • Democracy Now! interview, Oct. 16: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/16/breaking_the_sound_barrier_third • Music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx1NPlQjkqo Rosa Clemente on video • Interview: Current TV/Rock the Vote http://current.com/items/89335393_the_organizer_and_green_party_vp_candidate_talks_about_her_inspirations ~ END ~
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