Wisconsin Greens continue to look to the future, including the upcoming national Green Party convention in Milwaukee.
Still Green
By
Amy Heart
It is fitting that the June 23-28 national Green Party Convention will be held in Milwaukee this year, as Wisconsin is home to at least 20 Green elected officials. That is the second highest number in the nation, and the highest per capita anywhere in the U.S.
Since the 2000 presidential election, progressives in Wisconsin have been divided over the impact Green presidential candidate Ralph Nader had on the presidential election. I have attended too many “progressive” or “liberal” events where the discussion is dragged down and becomes a blaming match. Quite frankly, we have all wasted too much time fighting with our allies.
The Greens have become a legitimate force in local and state politics, and we are not going away. Communities, organizations, and elected officials are beginning to realize this.
On April 6, in Wisconsin, three Green candidates won their first bid for office, and four Green candidates won re-election. Green-endorsed Dane County Board supervisors Kyle Richmond and Echnaton Vedder and Madison Metropolitan School District Board Member Shwaw Vang won reelection. Larry Harding, incumbent Somers Township Supervisor will also serve another term.
David Machotka, member of UW Oshkosh Campus Greens, was elected to the Winnebago County Supervisory Board. UW-Stevens Point students Philip Peterson and Taniya Fatticci were elected to the Portage County Board of Supervisors. Both Peterson and Fatticci are members of the Portage County Greens and UWSP College Greens. It is not mere coincidence that the three newly elected Green officials are students, as the Greens continue to appeal to youth, instilling hope and a genuine vision for our future.
Since he announced he was running for president as an Independent several months ago, Nader has taken heat from many in the Democratic Party who are arguing he will “give” the election to George W. Bush. While that contention is an insult to our democratic process, it has also served to push the national Green Party even further off the media’s radar screen (which I did not think was possible).
Nader’s maverick move has brought the electoral focus back to the idea of “every four years politics.” The reality is that not matter which party’s banner Nader carries, this singular political move by an, albeit strong, individual cannot alone address a planet in crisis, create a strong progressive movement, or improve our electoral system.
Unlike many who come forward looking for a messenger every four years, the Greens understand that the presidential race is not the be-all, end-all to addressing political concerns. At a time when the media and pundits are myopic in scope, focusing only on the presidential election, the Greens are involved on all fronts.
What is unique and vitally important about the Green Party is that we want to change the face of democracy, not just the face in the White House. We understand the importance of working close to home. To begin to fix our problems, we need to create partnerships, movements, and be in elected offices at the local level.
In communities throughout the nation, individuals who believe in the four pillars of the Green Party are stepping forward to serve in their local government. Here in Wisconsin, the Green Party is growing quickly, and is growing with energy. There is excitement at the local level as our membership grows and we gain elected representation.
Meanwhile, we also recognize that the 2000 national presidential election helped to double our membership and gain recognition for the issues and solutions we brought forward. To keep the Greens on the radar screen, and to take issues like peace, justice and environmental responsibility to a larger audience, we will again play an active role in the presidential election. Yes, the Greens will have a presidential candidate.
At the national convention, the Greens will choose a presidential candidate out of its at least five announced candidates who are seeking the nomination. If you join us in Milwaukee, you will be the first to know who it is.
May 6, 2004
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Amy Heart serves on the Stevens Point City Council and is the Membership and Outreach Coordinator at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.
