[Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide
David Grimesey
dude_93@hotmail.com
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 03:35:20 +0000
<html><div style='background-color:'><P>I like this idea the same way it is important for people to run for smaller office first and then go up the ladder. By starting a the community level you will get to know the people at the local level and then move up. THat is how we build our base.</P>
<P>DAVE<BR><BR></P><BR><BR><BR>
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<DT><EM>I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. </EM>Charles DeGaulle</DT></DIV>
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From: <I>"Kelley Putman" <kputman@mchsi.com></I><BR>To: <I>"Richard Johnson" <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm>,"IAGP Discussion" <iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org></I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: [Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide</I><BR>Date: <I>Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:54:27 -0600</I><BR>>For those who live in a rural area, Township Clerk and Township Trustee<BR>>positions can be won with as few as two write-in votes sometimes.<BR>><BR>>Kelley<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>----- Original Message -----<BR>>From: "Richard Johnson" <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm><BR>>To: "IAGP Discussion" <iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org><BR>>Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:46 PM<BR>>Subject: [Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide<BR>><BR>><BR>>OK...Iowa is now firmly in the control of the Democrats. While that may<BR>>only be a slight improvement over the previous situation, it is still
an<BR>>improvement. As with any long journey, one must start with the first,<BR>>small step away from the starting point. Our starting point was a<BR>>corporate dominated government that was out of touch with the common<BR>>Iowan and dominated by far too many conservative legislators. That was<BR>>our origin point on the journey.<BR>><BR>>Where are we now? We will still have a legislature that is far too<BR>>friendly with the corporate interests of this state, and still out of<BR>>touch for the most part with the needs of the average citizens of the<BR>>state. However, even if only marginally, it is an improvement, and it<BR>>builds a small bit of momentum for future changes.<BR>><BR>>The question that is now before us is how do we build on that small bit<BR>>of momentum.<BR>><BR>>For the past three election cycles the IAGP has run
candidates for the<BR>>top of the ticket. After Ralph Nader's results in the 2000 campaign we<BR>>benefitted by having access to the ballot as an official party AND by<BR>>having the check-off for our party added to the income tax forms. I do<BR>>not have the figures in front of me, but as I recall the check-off<BR>>brought in around $3000 for us (Holly please correct me if I am wrong).<BR>><BR>>Since then we have seen the following:<BR>><BR>>2002 - Governor/Lt. Governor: Jay Robinson/Holly Hart - 1.4%<BR>>2004 - President/Vice President: David Cobb/Patricia La Marche - 0.076%<BR>>2006 - Governor/Lt. Governor: Wendy Barth/Richard Johnson - 0.74%<BR>>(Unofficial)<BR>><BR>>For a variety of reasons we have not been able to repeat the results of<BR>>2000, in spite of the hard work and money we have put into our efforts.<BR>>The best showing of
any state-wide candidate under our banner was in<BR>>2002, when Brian Depew pulled in 2.18% of the vote.<BR>><BR>>I believe it is time for us to re-examine our approach to building the<BR>>party in the state. Specifically I would suggest that we turn our<BR>>attention away from the top-of-the-ticket races and focus on putting<BR>>candidates into down-the-ballot races. I know that these races do not<BR>>draw the attention that those at the top of the ticket do, but I believe<BR>>that we have the people and the infrastructure in a few counties to have<BR>>some success with this approach.<BR>><BR>>Each county will have its own unique situation. For example, Johnson<BR>>County might well not run anyone against Joe Bolcom for several good<BR>>reasons. However they may have good openings on the city council,<BR>>county board, conservation board, or
community college board of trustees<BR>>that would be excellent places to run candidates. Here in Des Moines<BR>>County we have a representative that may be vulnerable, and running<BR>>someone from the Green Party might be a good move. Under this approach<BR>>there will be no "one size fits all" solution. Each county will have to<BR>>work as they see fit from their vantage points.<BR>><BR>>Yes, this will dilute our money, and possibly our strength in some<BR>>areas. However, I believe the chance for success is greater with this<BR>>approach. Success under the state-wide approach has been defined as<BR>>getting the 2% needed to obtain ballot status. Success under the local<BR>>approach might well be better defined as winning the seat. And if our<BR>>goal as a party is to see candidates who run under our banner win<BR>>elections, it is the local
approach that I feel offers the greatest<BR>>opportunity for success.<BR>><BR>>But more importantly for the future of our party, a local approach gives<BR>>us an opportunity to connect with and mobilize Greens in our counties.<BR>>Johnson, Linn, and a handful of other counties are doing a great job (at<BR>>least from where I sit) in connecting with their local voters. However<BR>>other counties have a hard time making such connections when there is no<BR>>local candidate to drive interest. They also have a hard time keeping<BR>>folks involved if there is nothing locally to hold their interest (refer<BR>>to my earlier e-mail for thoughts on this).<BR>><BR>>We've been doing the big picture for several years now. We've fielded<BR>>good candidates. We've campaigned well. We've all worked hard to<BR>>support the candidates. We've made new contacts and
tried to hold their<BR>>interest. But in the end has our party shown growth?<BR>><BR>>Should we take a breather from the top of the ticket races and focus<BR>>during the next cycle on local races, local party-building activites,<BR>>and connecting with other progressive groups in our communities?<BR>><BR>>Rick Johnson<BR>><BR>>--<BR>>http://www.fastmail.fm - And now for something completely different.<BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>Iowa-dx mailing list<BR>>Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org<BR>>http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx<BR>><BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>Iowa-dx mailing list<BR>>Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org<BR>>http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2746??PS=47575" target="_top">Get the latest Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta version. Join now.</a> </html>