Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.MIGreenParty.org
** News Release **
** ------------ **
March 11, 2022
For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------
Robin Laurain, Co-Chair
(313) 815-2025
Destiny Clayton, Communications Manager
John Anthony La Pietra, Elections Co-ordinator Pro Tem
Michigan Greens Announce Opening
of "Recognized Candidates" List
===============================
To Give Those Seeking Nominations Official Status
While Keeping GPMI Party Organization Impartial
Media, Interest Groups Invited to Cover Green Candidates
As They Do Candidates Trying to Get On Fall Ballot by Primary
Candidates who want to represent the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) on
the November 8 ballot can now qualify to be on a formal list like the
ones state and local governments promote for parties included in the
August primary.
GPMI has adopted a procedure for candidates to be recognized as seeking
the Green nomination for their target offices until the state nominating
convention April 23-24 (or a county caucus held sometime between now and
the primary).
The steps to qualify as recognized, and the benefits a candidate gets
from becoming recognized, are posted on line at the party Website:
As Green candidates meet these qualifications, their campaign contact
information will be posted on a "Recognized Candidates" list at the
site, and on GPMI social-media pages.
GPMI believes candidates who qualify to be recognized by the party will
be just as serious as anyone else -- and just as qualified to be
supported by voters, covered by the media, and considered by any
public-interest groups for their endorsement. (However, all three
groups should be aware that Greens do not take PAC money.)
"To be recognized, a candidate will have to show they're ready to run a
solid, legitimate Green campaign," notes GPMI Elections Co-ordinator Pro
Tem John Anthony La Pietra.
"They'll have to meet or exceed what the laws require them to do to
register their candidate committees. They'll answer a GPMI candidate
questionnaire, and tell us about their backgrounds and how their views
of the issues match up with our Ten Key Values and our platform. And
they'll need personal endorsements from other Michigan Greens.
"We'll post their names and campaign contact info online to recognize
their efforts -- and to let the people, the press, and candidate
evaluation committees across Michigan know there's another list of
candidates they should be finding out about."
Recognition is not a guarantee of nomination, but brings benefits which
may help candidates get nominated. Some will give priority to
recognized candidates at the state party convention -- though on an
impartial basis, La Pietra notes. "No rigging of the nomination process
here! Greens believe in Grassroots Democracy, so we make sure it's our
participating grassroots members deciding who gets nominated -- or
whether to nominate anyone at all."
La Pietra says GPMI will maintain and update the list at least until
candidates start being nominated. The Green statewide nominating
convention will be held April 23-24, just after the deadline for
Democrats and Republicans to get on the primary ballot. Others will be
nominated, for offices serving only voters within their counties, at
county caucuses which may be held anytime until Primary Day August 2.
State law keeps Green candidates out of the primary. Many interest
groups have built their endorsement processes around the primary filing
deadline, and seem to view candidates on the primary lists maintained by
the Bureau of Elections and the state's 83 county clerks as the only
real candidates.
This is another reason GPMI is creating its own initial list of serious
Green candidates. La Pietra hopes interest groups and the media will
use the list. "We'll watch to see if the media and the public-interest
groups take us up on this new set of candidate information we're
offering them -- when they're already publicizing other candidates.
"If they want to help their respective audiences cast informed ballots,
they should jump at the chance."
For more information about the Green Party of Michigan, its actions,
and its 2022 platform, please visit:
Website: http://www.MIGreenParty.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/migreens
Twitter: https://twitter.com/migreenparty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/migreens/
# # #
created/distributed using donated labor
Green Party of Michigan
PO Box 2754
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
(313) 815-2025
GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan
politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its own
structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
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