[Iowa-dx] Local vs. Statewide
hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 11:46:13 -0600
Another place Greens should look to get involved is appointed boards =20
and commissions. These positions offer another They also offer =20
excellent education and experience in how governments and communities =20
really work, and another avenue for Greens to help make a positive =20
difference. For those interested in running for an elected position, =20
serving on a board is a way to gain valuable experience.
\
Quoting Jim Paprocki <jpaprocki@mchsi.com>:
> As a former Cedar Township trustee, I would agree it is fairly easy =20
> to be elected as a Green. However, these township positions are =20
> really unnecessary. The townships in Black Hawk county easily could =20
> be replaced by a county commission that would have the same =20
> responsibilities.
>
> I think Jim O'Loughlin makes a good point with regard to the Soil & =20
> Water Conservation Boards. We want to emphasize environmental and =20
> social concerns while also stressing greater efficiency and cost =20
> effectiveness. There are a number of layers of government that could =20
> be streamlined for greater efficiency and cost saving
>
> Jim Paprocki
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Johnson" <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm>
> To: "Kelley Putman" <kputman@mchsi.com>; "IAGP Discussion" =20
> <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 =20
> year. Even a few Greens in a county like Louisa could make a HUGE =20
> difference in those races.
>
> Rick
>
>
> 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.
>
> Kelley
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> 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
>
>
> OK...Iowa is now firmly in the control of the Democrats. While that =20
> may only be a slight improvement over the previous situation, it is =20
> still an improvement. As with any long journey, one must start =20
> with the first, small step away from the starting point. Our =20
> starting point was a corporate dominated government that was out of =20
> touch with the common Iowan and dominated by far too many =20
> conservative legislators. That was our origin point on the journey.
>
> Where are we now? We will still have a legislature that is far too =20
> friendly with the corporate interests of this state, and still out =20
> of touch for the most part with the needs of the average citizens of =20
> the state. However, even if only marginally, it is an improvement, =20
> and it builds a small bit of momentum for future changes.
>
> The question that is now before us is how do we build on that small =20
> bit of momentum.
>
> For the past three election cycles the IAGP has run candidates for =20
> the top of the ticket. After Ralph Nader's results in the 2000 =20
> campaign we benefitted by having access to the ballot as an official =20
> party AND by having the check-off for our party added to the income =20
> tax forms. I do not have the figures in front of me, but as I =20
> recall the check-off brought in around $3000 for us (Holly please =20
> correct me if I am wrong).
>
> Since then we have seen the following:
>
> 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% =20
> (Unofficial)
>
> For a variety of reasons we have not been able to repeat the results =20
> of 2000, in spite of the hard work and money we have put into our =20
> efforts. The best showing of any state-wide candidate under our =20
> banner was in 2002, when Brian Depew pulled in 2.18% of the vote.
>
> I believe it is time for us to re-examine our approach to building =20
> the party in the state. Specifically I would suggest that we turn =20
> 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 =20
> races do not draw the attention that those at the top of the ticket =20
> do, but I believe that we have the people and the infrastructure in =20
> a few counties to have some success with this approach.
>
> Each county will have its own unique situation. For example, =20
> Johnson County might well not run anyone against Joe Bolcom for =20
> several good reasons. However they may have good openings on the =20
> city council, county board, conservation board, or community college =20
> board of trustees that would be excellent places to run candidates. =20
> 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 =20
> move. Under this approach
> there will be no "one size fits all" solution. Each county will =20
> have to work as they see fit from their vantage points.
>
> Yes, this will dilute our money, and possibly our strength in some =20
> areas. However, I believe the chance for success is greater with =20
> this approach. Success under the state-wide approach has been =20
> defined as getting the 2% needed to obtain ballot status. Success =20
> under the local approach might well be better defined as winning the =20
> seat. And if our goal as a party is to see candidates who run =20
> under our banner win elections, it is the local approach that I =20
> feel offers the greatest opportunity for success.
>
> But more importantly for the future of our party, a local approach =20
> 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 =20
> great job (at least from where I sit) in connecting with their =20
> local voters. However other counties have a hard time making such =20
> connections when there is no local candidate to drive interest. =20
> They also have a hard time keeping folks involved if there is =20
> nothing locally to hold their interest (refer
> to my earlier e-mail for thoughts on this).
>
> We've been doing the big picture for several years now. We've =20
> fielded good candidates. We've campaigned well. We've all worked =20
> hard to support the candidates. We've made new contacts and tried =20
> to hold their interest. But in the end has our party shown growth?
>
> Should we take a breather from the top of the ticket races and focus =20
> during the next cycle on local races, local party-building =20
> activites, and connecting with other progressive groups in our =20
> communities?
>
> Rick Johnson
>
>
> http://www.fastmail.fm - And now for something completely different.
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
> =20
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------
>