[Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide
Jim Paprocki
jpaprocki@mchsi.com
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 10:44:51 -0600
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C70A35.690072D0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
As a former Cedar Township trustee, I would agree it is fairly easy to =
be elected as a Green. However, these township positions are really =
unnecessary. The townships in Black Hawk county easily could be replaced =
by a county commission that would have the same responsibilities.
I think Jim O'Loughlin makes a good point with regard to the Soil & =
Water Conservation Boards. We want to emphasize environmental and social =
concerns while also stressing greater efficiency and cost effectiveness. =
There are a number of layers of government that could be streamlined for =
greater efficiency and cost saving
Jim Paprocki
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Richard Johnson" <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm>
To: "Kelley Putman" <kputman@mchsi.com>; "IAGP Discussion" =
<iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide
That was certainly the case in some townships in Louisa County this =
year. Even a few Greens in a county like Louisa could make a HUGE =
difference in those races.
=20
Rick
=20
=20
On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:54:27 -0600, "Kelley Putman" <kputman@mchsi.com>
said:
For those who live in a rural area, Township Clerk and Township Trustee
positions can be won with as few as two write-in votes sometimes.
=20
Kelley
=20
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Richard Johnson" <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm>
To: "IAGP Discussion" <iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:46 PM
Subject: [Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide
=20
=20
OK...Iowa is now firmly in the control of the Democrats. While that may =
only be a slight improvement over the previous situation, it is still an =
improvement. As with any long journey, one must start with the first, =
small step away from the starting point. Our starting point was a =
corporate dominated government that was out of touch with the common =
Iowan and dominated by far too many conservative legislators. That was =
our origin point on the journey.
=20
Where are we now? We will still have a legislature that is far too =
friendly with the corporate interests of this state, and still out of =
touch for the most part with the needs of the average citizens of the =
state. However, even if only marginally, it is an improvement, and it =
builds a small bit of momentum for future changes.
=20
The question that is now before us is how do we build on that small bit =
of momentum.
=20
For the past three election cycles the IAGP has run candidates for the =
top of the ticket. After Ralph Nader's results in the 2000 campaign we =
benefitted by having access to the ballot as an official party AND by =
having the check-off for our party added to the income tax forms. I do =
not have the figures in front of me, but as I recall the check-off =
brought in around $3000 for us (Holly please correct me if I am wrong).
=20
Since then we have seen the following:
=20
2002 - Governor/Lt. Governor: Jay Robinson/Holly Hart - 1.4%
2004 - President/Vice President: David Cobb/Patricia La Marche - 0.076%
2006 - Governor/Lt. Governor: Wendy Barth/Richard Johnson - 0.74% =
(Unofficial)
=20
For a variety of reasons we have not been able to repeat the results of =
2000, in spite of the hard work and money we have put into our efforts. =
The best showing of any state-wide candidate under our banner was in =
2002, when Brian Depew pulled in 2.18% of the vote.
=20
I believe it is time for us to re-examine our approach to building the =
party in the state. Specifically I would suggest that we turn our =
attention away from the top-of-the-ticket races and focus on putting =
candidates into down-the-ballot races. I know that these races do not =
draw the attention that those at the top of the ticket do, but I believe =
that we have the people and the infrastructure in a few counties to have =
some success with this approach.
=20
Each county will have its own unique situation. For example, Johnson =
County might well not run anyone against Joe Bolcom for several good =
reasons. However they may have good openings on the city council, =
county board, conservation board, or community college board of trustees =
that would be excellent places to run candidates. Here in Des Moines =
County we have a representative that may be vulnerable, and running =
someone from the Green Party might be a good move. Under this approach
there will be no "one size fits all" solution. Each county will have to =
work as they see fit from their vantage points.
=20
Yes, this will dilute our money, and possibly our strength in some =
areas. However, I believe the chance for success is greater with this =
approach. Success under the state-wide approach has been defined as =
getting the 2% needed to obtain ballot status. Success under the local =
approach might well be better defined as winning the seat. And if our =
goal as a party is to see candidates who run under our banner win =
elections, it is the local approach that I feel offers the greatest =
opportunity for success.
=20
But more importantly for the future of our party, a local approach gives =
us an opportunity to connect with and mobilize Greens in our counties. =
Johnson, Linn, and a handful of other counties are doing a great job (at =
least from where I sit) in connecting with their local voters. However =
other counties have a hard time making such connections when there is no =
local candidate to drive interest. They also have a hard time keeping =
folks involved if there is nothing locally to hold their interest (refer
to my earlier e-mail for thoughts on this).
=20
We've been doing the big picture for several years now. We've fielded =
good candidates. We've campaigned well. We've all worked hard to =
support the candidates. We've made new contacts and tried to hold their =
interest. But in the end has our party shown growth?
=20
Should we take a breather from the top of the ticket races and focus =
during the next cycle on local races, local party-building activites, =
and connecting with other progressive groups in our communities?
=20
Rick Johnson
=20
=20
http://www.fastmail.fm - And now for something completely different.
=20
_______________________________________________
Iowa-dx mailing list
Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org
http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx
http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web
_______________________________________________
Iowa-dx mailing list
Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org
http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx
=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C70A35.690072D0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2900.2995" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV>As a former Cedar Township trustee, I would agree it is fairly easy =
to be=20
elected as a Green. However, these township positions are really =
unnecessary.=20
The townships in Black Hawk county easily could be replaced by a county=20
commission that would have the same responsibilities.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think Jim O'Loughlin makes a good point with regard to the Soil =
&=20
Water Conservation Boards. We want to emphasize environmental and social =
concerns while also stressing greater efficiency and cost effectiveness. =
There=20
are a number of layers of government that could be streamlined for =
greater=20
efficiency and cost saving</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jim Paprocki</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>From: "Richard Johnson" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:seiowagreen@fastmail.fm">seiowagreen@fastmail.fm</A>></=
DIV>
<DIV>To: "Kelley Putman" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:kputman@mchsi.com">kputman@mchsi.com</A>>; "IAGP =
Discussion"=20
<<A=20
href=3D"mailto:iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org">iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org</A>></=
DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:30 PM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Re: [Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>That was certainly the case in some townships in Louisa County this =
year. Even a few Greens in a county like Louisa could make a HUGE=20
difference in those races.<BR> <BR>Rick<BR> <BR> <BR>On =
Thu, 16=20
Nov 2006 18:54:27 -0600, "Kelley Putman" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:kputman@mchsi.com">kputman@mchsi.com</A>><BR>said:<BR>F=
or those=20
who live in a rural area, Township Clerk and Township =
Trustee<BR>positions can=20
be won with as few as two write-in votes=20
sometimes.<BR> <BR>Kelley<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>----- =
Original=20
Message ----- <BR>From: "Richard Johnson" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:seiowagreen@fastmail.fm">seiowagreen@fastmail.fm</A>><B=
R>To:=20
"IAGP Discussion" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org">iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org</A>><B=
R>Sent:=20
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:46 PM<BR>Subject: [Iowa-dx] Local vs.=20
Statewide<BR> <BR> <BR>OK...Iowa is now firmly in the control =
of the=20
Democrats. While that may only be a slight improvement over the =
previous=20
situation, it is still an improvement. As with any long journey, =
one must=20
start with the first, small step away from the starting point. Our =
starting point was a corporate dominated government that was out of =
touch with=20
the common Iowan and dominated by far too many conservative =
legislators. =20
That was our origin point on the journey.<BR> <BR>Where are we =
now? =20
We will still have a legislature that is far too friendly with the =
corporate=20
interests of this state, and still out of touch for the most part with =
the needs=20
of the average citizens of the state. However, even if only =
marginally, it=20
is an improvement, and it builds a small bit of momentum for future=20
changes.<BR> <BR>The question that is now before us is how do we =
build on=20
that small bit of momentum.<BR> <BR>For the past three election =
cycles the=20
IAGP has run candidates for the top of the ticket. After Ralph =
Nader's=20
results in the 2000 campaign we benefitted by having access to the =
ballot as an=20
official party AND by having the check-off for our party added to the =
income tax=20
forms. I do not have the figures in front of me, but as I recall =
the=20
check-off brought in around $3000 for us (Holly please correct me if I =
am=20
wrong).<BR> <BR>Since then we have seen the =
following:<BR> <BR>2002 -=20
Governor/Lt. Governor: Jay Robinson/Holly Hart - 1.4%<BR>2004 - =
President/Vice=20
President: David Cobb/Patricia La Marche - 0.076%<BR>2006 - Governor/Lt. =
Governor: Wendy Barth/Richard Johnson - 0.74% =
(Unofficial)<BR> <BR>For a=20
variety of reasons we have not been able to repeat the results of 2000, =
in spite=20
of the hard work and money we have put into our efforts. The best =
showing of any=20
state-wide candidate under our banner was in 2002, when Brian Depew =
pulled in=20
2.18% of the vote.<BR> <BR>I believe it is time for us to =
re-examine our=20
approach to building the party in the state. Specifically I would =
suggest=20
that we turn our attention away from the top-of-the-ticket races and =
focus on=20
putting candidates into down-the-ballot races. I know that these =
races do=20
not draw the attention that those at the top of the ticket do, but I =
believe=20
that we have the people and the infrastructure in a few counties to have =
some=20
success with this approach.<BR> <BR>Each county will have its own =
unique=20
situation. For example, Johnson County might well not run =
anyone=20
against Joe Bolcom for several good reasons. However they may have =
good=20
openings on the city council, county board, conservation board, or =
community=20
college board of trustees that would be excellent places to run=20
candidates. Here in Des Moines County we have a representative =
that may be=20
vulnerable, and running someone from the Green Party might be a good =
move. =20
Under this approach<BR>there will be no "one size fits all" =
solution. Each=20
county will have to work as they see fit from their vantage=20
points.<BR> <BR>Yes, this will dilute our money, and possibly our =
strength=20
in some areas. However, I believe the chance for success is =
greater with=20
this approach. Success under the state-wide approach has been =
defined as=20
getting the 2% needed to obtain ballot status. Success under the =
local=20
approach might well be better defined as winning the seat. And if =
our goal=20
as a party is to see candidates who run under our banner win elections, =
it is=20
the local approach that I feel offers the greatest opportunity for=20
success.<BR> <BR>But more importantly for the future of our party, =
a local=20
approach gives us an opportunity to connect with and mobilize Greens in =
our=20
counties. Johnson, Linn, and a handful of other counties are doing a =
great job=20
(at least from where I sit) in connecting with their local voters. =
However=20
other counties have a hard time making such connections when there is no =
local=20
candidate to drive interest. They also have a hard time keeping =
folks=20
involved if there is nothing locally to hold their interest =
(refer<BR> to=20
my earlier e-mail for thoughts on this).<BR> <BR>We've been doing =
the big=20
picture for several years now. We've fielded good =
candidates. We've=20
campaigned well. We've all worked hard to support the =
candidates. =20
We've made new contacts and tried to hold their interest. But in =
the end=20
has our party shown growth?<BR> <BR>Should we take a breather from =
the top=20
of the ticket races and focus during the next cycle on local races, =
local=20
party-building activites, and connecting with other progressive groups =
in our=20
communities?<BR> <BR>Rick Johnson<BR> <BR> <BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.fastmail.fm">http://www.fastmail.fm</A> - And now for =
something=20
completely=20
different.<BR> <BR>_______________________________________________<B=
R>Iowa-dx=20
mailing list<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org">Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org</A><BR><A=
=20
href=3D"http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx">http://lists.gp-=
us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.fastmail.fm">http://www.fastmail.fm</A> - Access your =
email=20
from home and the web<BR></DIV>
<DIV> _______________________________________________<BR>Iowa-dx =
mailing=20
list<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org">Iowa-dx@lists.gp-us.org</A><BR><A=
=20
href=3D"http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx">http://lists.gp-=
us.org/mailman/listinfo/iowa-dx</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR> ----------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C70A35.690072D0--