November 3: Ballot Access Victory for Alaska Greens

In a major ballot access victory for Alaskan Greens, Superior Court Judge John Reese issued a preliminary injunction that compelled the state to place the Green Party back on the ballot, after they had been removed following the November 2002 elections.

Alaska law states that a political party can achieve ballot status by either receiving 3% of the vote for Governor, or by having registrations equal to at least 3% of those who voted for Governor in the previous election. The Greens qualified for the ballot in 1990, 1994 and 1998 after receiving 3.3%, 3.9% and 3.0% of the vote respectively.

But in 2002, Diane Benson - a Native activist from Chugiak - received only 1.3%, leading the state to decertify the party. Green voter registration at the time stood at approximately 4,700, short of the roughly 6,900 needed in lieu of achieving the 3%.

In Green Party of Alaska v Alaska Division of Elections, 3AN 03-9936, the Alaksa Greens argued that other statewide races should also be able to qualify. They cited Green support in Alaska’s two other statewide races in 2002 - 7.2% by Jim Sykes for U.S. Senate and 6.3% by Russell DeForest for U.S House.

In November 2004, a trial will be held on the constitutionality of Alaska’s practice. Until then, the Greens’ place on the ballot is safe. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Sykes is running for U.S. Senate in the November 2004 elections against Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Tony Knowles .



November 6: First Green Elected in Florida Steps Down After One Term in Cocoa Beach

After a tumultuous three years grappling with the local development community, Florida’s first elected Green - Cocoa Beach City Commissioner Eric Fricker – stepped down from public office, after not running for re-election.

During his time in office, Fricker successfully challenged local runaway high-rise development, particularly as it affects adjacent residential neighborhoods in this popular vacation destination. Fricker helped to limit density and implement the concept of ‘tiering’ the transition between residential and commercial zones.

Not only were these efforts successful locally, but Fricker also made national headlines in the New York Times and Associated Press in doing so. An active surfer, vegetarian and activist in EarthSave, Fricker also helped to increase public green space and democratize the city’s board and commission appointment process.



November 7: Greens Pass 200 Electeds for First Time

With 42 victories in 194 races on November 7th, U.S. Greens passed 200 Green officeholders for the first time in the party’s history. Continuing an upward trend, this builds upon approximately 170 Greens holding elected office after the 2002 elections, 85 after the 2000 elections and 45 after 1996.

Fifteen out of nineteen Green incumbents were re-elected in 2003, including City Councilmembers Joyce Chen (New Haven, CT), Don Cooney (Kalmazoo, MI), Tom Harthan (Emmetsburg, IA), Elizabeth Horton Sheff (Hartford, CT), Eric Kinman (Windsor Heights, IA), Russ Stewart (Duluth, MN), Lew Tremaine (Fairfax, CA), Chuck Turner (Boston, MA) and Brenda Konkel (Madison, WI).

With Turner's re-election, Boston (pop. 590,000) is the third largest U.S. city to have a Green city councilmember, following San Francisco (775,000) and Milwaukee (605,000).

Further north in Portland, Maine, a growing Green stronghold where State Representative John Eder (G-31) was elected in 2002, three additional Greens also won elections - Ben Meikeljohn and Stephen Spring to the School Board and Erek Gaines to the Water Board.

Other highlights from November 7th included the strong showing of Washington state Greens. In Seattle, Sally Soriano was part of a municipal revolution on the School Board, as all four incumbents were replaced for four seats. A public interest lobbyist, Soriano stressed accountability for the Board and more responsiveness and collaboration with the community. In Duvall in King County, Steve Hotchkiss became the first Green elected to a City Council victory in the state.

In two cities - Fairfax, CA (see December 19th) and Kalamazoo, MI won two city council seats each. In Kalamazoo, David Juarez joined incumbent Cooney on the City Commission. Both campaigned on youth issues, maintaining community diversity and fighting poverty through people-based economic development. Juarez became the city's first Latino commissioner.

Fairfax and Kalamazoo join Arcata, Santa Monica and Sebastopol (CA), Madison (WI), Minneapolis (MN) and New Paltz (NY) with at least two Greens currently serving on their City, Town or Village Councils.

Overall, 64 Greens won in 275 races in 2003. New Jersey (51) and Pennsylvania (45) ran the most candidates. Pennsylvania won the most seats (19) increasing their total of sitting Green officeholders to 25, second in the nation to California (67).

Many Pennsylvania Greens ran unopposed for municipal administrative offices. But they also won some higher profile contested victories. Michael Zowniriw defeated a Republican incumbent for Richland Township Supervisor, his candidacy and victory prompting a community-wide debate on sustainability and land-use issues.

At 26 years old, Tom Davidock became one of the youngest Greens elected in the U.S. when he won a seat on the Port Clinton Borough Council in Schuylkill County. And in Lewisburg (Union County), Catherine Scheib was re-elected to Borough Council as a Green, after having joining the Greens in 2000 after being elected the first time as a member of another party.

November 7: Matt Gonzalez Makes San Francisco Mayoral Run-Off

Finishing first among three major progressives and second overall in a nine member field, Matt Gonzalez advanced to the December 9th San Francisco Mayoral run-off elec did well in debate tion. did well in

November 21-22: Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas
November 23: Founding of El Partido Verde Ecologista de Nicaragua


Greens from Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua and the U.S. gathered in Managua to commemorate two special occasions: a meeting of the Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas (Federacion de los Partidos Verdes de las Americas) and the founding of the Green Party of Nicaragua, El Partido Verde Ecologista de Nicaragua.

The Federation meeting welcomed the Nicaraguan Greens as a new member and authorized further contacts with Greens in Guatemala and Costa Rica.

The Federation press conference garnered 5 minutes on the national evening news as well as a photo in El Nueveo Diario, one of Managua’s major dailies.

Officially representing U.S. Greens was Federation co-secretary Julia Willebrand (NY). She was joined by Steve Herrick (MI), Mike Feinstein (CA) and Vivek Anathem (PA). Two Swedish Greens attended as observers: Lotta Hedstrom, Member of Parliament and Agnetha Bostrom, Political Secretary.

One of the purposes of the Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas is to help new Green Parties grow in the Western Hemisphere. That's why the meeting was held in Managua.

On the morning of November 22nd, the founding meeting of the Green Party of Nicaragua - the Partido Verde Ecologista - was held. Party co-founder Edward Martín Salazar Cruz spoke about the role he hoped the new party would play in terms of environment, human rights and democracy in his country.

On the day before the Federation meeting began, the U.S. Green delegation joined an anti-FTAA march in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 1st: Greens Pass 300,000 Registered Voters for First Time

The number of people registered to vote as Greens passed 300,000 nationwide for the first time ever. Through early November 2003, over 302,000 people in 23 States were registered Green (Twenty-seven states in the U.S. have registration by political party. Greens have registrations in 23 of them).

The states with the highest percentage of voters registered Green at that point are: Maine 1.70%, New Mexico 1.19%, California 1.08% and Alaska 1.03%. The District of Columbia has 1.38%.

As of December 2003, the states with the most registered Greens were California 165,722, New York 36,282, Maine 16,169, Oregon 14,275, Pennsylvania 11,084 and New Mexico 10,930.

Since the November 2000 elections, Green registration nationally has grown by more than 50%, up more than 100,000 from 196,000 in October 2000. During that same period, registration in the major parties has been mostly stagnant or decreasing (depending upon the state), with more and more first time voters choosing to register Green or independent.

Green strength is particularly strong among 18-29 year old voters, with young people choosing the Green Party when the decide to register to vote for the first time. This demographic shift bodes well for the Green Party. Instead of trying to convince life-time Democrats and Republicans to switch their affiliations, a new generation will see voting Green as a natural and logical step, in keeping with their own personal value system.



December 9: Gonzalez Finishes Close Second in Historic Mayoral Bid

In a heartbreaking defeat for San Francisco's progressive voters, Matt Gonzalez narrowly lost his first bid for mayor. In a 53%-47% (133,546-119,329) vote, Supervisor Gavin Newsom won the highly contested election.

Though the ultimate results were disappointing, in many significant ways, MGonzalez's campaign was a great success. Despite being outspent 10-1 by his heavily backed Democrat opponent, and after only four months in the race, Gonzalez energized a whole new electorate and managed to attract a large and diverse coalition of voters. His message of clean, fiscally responsible government, and fair and humane solutions to the city's social problems resonated with thousands of voters.

Gonzalez' campaign attracted international attention and represents an historic effort by a Green Party candidate

Though the ultimate results were disappointing, in many significant ways, MGonzalez's campaign was a great success. Despite being outspent 5-1 by his heavily backed Democrat opponent, and after only four months in the race, Gonzalez energized a whole new electorate and managed to attract a large and diverse coalition of voters. His message of clean, fiscally responsible government, and fair and humane solutions to the city's social problems resonated with thousands of voters

Though the ultimate results were disappointing, in many significant ways, Gonzalez's campaign was a great success. Despite being outspent 10-1 by his heavily backed Democrat opponent, and after only four months in the race, Gonzalez energized a whole new electorate and managed to attract a large and diverse coalition of voters. His message of clean, fiscally responsible government, and fair and humane solutions to the city's social problems resonated with thousands of voters

Though the ultimate results were disappointing, in many significant ways, MGonzalez's campaign was a great success. Despite being outspent 10-1 by his heavily backed Democrat opponent, and after only four months in the race, Gonzalez energized a whole new electorate and managed to attract a large and diverse coalition of voters. His message of clean, fiscally responsible government, and fair and humane solutions to the city's social problems resonated with thousands of voters

Though the ultimate results were disappointing, in many significant ways, MGonzalez's campaign was a great success. Despite being outspent 10-1 by his heavily backed Democrat opponent, and after only four months in the race, Gonzalez energized a whole new electorate and managed to attract a large and diverse coalition of voters. His message of clean, fiscally responsible government, and fair and humane solutions to the city's social problems resonated with thousands of voters

December 18: Young Green Officeholder Leads Providence Against USAPATRIOT Act

By a unanimous vote, the City Council of Providence, Rhode Island adopted a resolution condemning the USA Patriot Act.

Sponsored by 23 year old Green councilmember David A. Segal, the resolution called upon Rhode Island's senators and representatives to monitor implementation of the act (and related presidential executive orders) and to work for the repeal of provisions that violate fundamental liberties. This was the last of 22 resolutions successfully sponsored or co-sponsored by elected Greens across the nation in 2003.




December 19: Fairfax Greens Grassroots Makes Difference in Victory

With the official swearing in of its two newly elected members, Fairfax, California now has two Greens on its five-member Town Council – incumbent Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman. Both successfully ran on issues of sustainable development, alternative energy in town facilities and vehicles, improved streets and storm drains, and increased civility at town council meetings.

Tremaine received the highest number of votes ever for local Town Council. In a five-person race for two seats, 53% of all voters cast their ballots for Tremaine, while Bragman attracted 49% to finish second. Tremaine and Bragman were opposed by a candidate slate organized by the local building industry. The two Greens countered this well financed "Civic League" slate -- which outspent them 5-1 -- with an organized Green ‘get out the vote’ (GOTV) operation.

Greens runs a close third in voter registration to the second place Republicans in Fairfax, , with 498 Greens compared to 648 Republicans at election time. With this base. Tremaine and Bragman knew they had a powerful and largely untapped voting block, if they could just activate it.

Over the course of the campaign Bragman, Tremaine and their volunteers telephoned every one of the Fairfax’s registered Greens, then tracked them to the poles on election day. In previous elections, less than a third of local Greens voted. This time over 50% turned out. Bragman’s 101 margin of victory appears to have come from this additional outreach.