Green Party of New York

Green Party of New York
Chairman	Eric Jones Peter Lavinia
Founded	1992
Ideology	Green politics
National affiliation	Green Party of the United States
Official colors	Green
Website
gpny.org
Politics of the United States Political parties Elections

The Green Party of New York is a ballot-qualified political party in New York, which was founded in 1992. It is a part of the national Green Party movement. The party regained ballot status for at least four years when Howie Hawkins received over 50,000 votes in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

History

The Green Party of New York had its roots in local Green organizing of the mid-1980s. In 1998 the Green Party in New York achieved ballot status when its candidate for governor, Al Lewis, received over 50,000 votes.^[1] Ralph Nader received 244,030 votes for President on the Green Party line in 2000.^[2] As provided under electoral law, the party formed a State Committee, several County Committees, and set up county organizations. The party lost ballot status in 2002, when gubernatorial candidate Stanley Aronowitz received 41,727 votes, fewer than the 50,000 votes required.^[3]

From 2003-2004 the Green Party had a city council majority (3 of 5 seats), in the Village of New Paltz.^[4] This was the third-ever Green city council majority in the United States. New Paltz also elected a Green mayor Jason West in 2003.

The party's petition for the 2004 Presidential election was successfully challenged, and no Green Party candidate appeared on the ballot in 2004. National Green Party nominee David Cobb received 138 votes in New York as a write-in candidate. Meanwhile, Nader received 15,626 votes, appearing on the "Peace and Justice Party" ballot line.^[5]

In the 2006 election, the party nominated Malachy McCourt for governor and failed to obtain ballot status by garnering only 40,729 votes, less than the required 50,000. Down-ticket candidates Rachel Treichler for Attorney General and Julia Willebrand for Comptroller fared better, but these votes do not count towards earning ballot status, and neither of these candidates were elected. The party also nominated Howie Hawkins for Senate who constantly criticized incumbent Democrat Hillary Clinton for, among other things, her pro-war stance.

Nominated candidates

Recent elections

The Green Party candidate for president in 2008 was former Georgia congresswomen Cynthia McKinney, who ran with hip-hop activist and New York resident Rosa Clemente. The all-woman of color ticket received 12,729 votes in New York.^[6]

Billy Talen ran for Mayor of New York City in 2009 as the Green Party candidate. He receive 8,902 (0.8%) votes.^[7]

Howie Hawkins ran as the Green Party candidate for Governor of New York, against six other candidates. His running mate was Gloria Mattera, of Brooklyn.^[8]

Colia Clark ran for Senator of New York against Chuck Schumer.^[9]

Current elections

Ian Murphy ran as the Green Party candidate for New York's 26th congressional district special election, 2011^[10]. The seat was vacated by Chris Lee who resigned amid a scandal involving his response to a personal ad on Craigslist and the transmittal of shirtless photos.

Platform

The platform of the party is based upon the Four Pillars of the Green Party that originated with European Green Parties. The Pillars are included in and expanded on in the Ten Key Values of the Green Party.

The official Green Party platform ^[11] in New York is set by The Green Party of New York State Committee.^[12]

Current issues

The Green Party of New York advocates a ban on hydraulic fracturing, which was brought up in the gubernatorial debate by Howie Hawkins.^[13] Hawkins also pushed for a ban on genetically modified foods.^[14]

Current officeholders

On March 18, 2008, there were three Green mayors in New York, Mike Sellers of Cobleskill, New York,^[15] David Doonan of the Village of Greenwich ^[16] [2] and Jim Sullivan was elected on March 18 as Mayor of the Village of Victory in Saratoga County ^[17]

List of officeholders

• Rome Celli - School Board, Brighton (Monroe County)
• David Doonan - Mayor, Greenwich (Washington County)
• Jennifer Dotson - Common Council, First Ward, City of Ithaca (Tompkins County)
• Mary Jo Long - Town Council, Afton (Chenango County)
• Edgar Rodriguez - Board of Education, New Paltz Central School District (Ulster County)
• Mike Sellers - Mayor, Village of Cobleskill (Schoharie County)
• Jim Sullivan - Mayor, Village of Victory (Saratoga County)

See also

• Howie Hawkins
• Julia Willebrand
• Malachy McCourt
• Stanley Aronowitz

References

1. ^ http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/1998/GOVWEB.pdf
2. ^ http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2000/wpres2000.pdf
3. ^ http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2002/general/2002_gov.pdf
4. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
5. ^ http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2004/president04.pdf
6. ^ http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/PresidentVicePresident08.pdf
7. ^ http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/results.html
8. ^ http://www.howiehawkins.com/2010/
9. ^ http://www.coliaclark.org/
10. ^ http://www.murphycanhascongress.com/
11. ^ Platform. "Green Party New York » Platform". Web.gpnys.com. http://www.web.gpnys.com/?page_id=205. Retrieved 2010-09-04. 
12. ^ "Green Party New York » Committees". Web.gpnys.com. http://www.web.gpnys.com/?page_id=177. Retrieved 2010-09-04. 
13. ^ http://www.web.gpnys.com/?p=8444
14. ^ http://www.web.gpnys.com/?p=8416
15. ^ Greens holding elected office - US
16. ^ http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/03/18/news/latest/doc47e086fb4fc0a372129450.txt
17. ^ "Green Party of the United States | Candidate Details". Gp.org. 2009-03-18. http://www.gp.org/elections/candidates/details.php?record=4484. Retrieved 2010-09-04. 

External links

• Green Party in New York web site