One of the nation's strongest state Green Parties since 1994, the year 2000 was another year of growth for the New Mexico Green Party. In Santa Fe's municipal elections in March, two Greens were elected. Green candidates did well in the November general election, and statewide Green membership increased by 20% between the June primary and the November election, from 9,332 to 11,674.
The type of campaigning New Mexico Greens do can partially explain the leap in their registrations. Their candidates and campaign volunteers walk door- to-door early in the campaign. This outreach is generally focused on three things: voter registration, voter education, and voter identification. During the months before last spring's Santa Fe municipal election election, the local Greens registered over 500 new voters, primarily in Green city council candidate Miguel Chavez's district. Based on the strength of his community activism combined with a vigorous campaign, Chavez was able to unseat a three-term incumbent.
Also in March, Green Fran Gallegos won reelection to her Santa Fe Municipal Judgeship in a rematch against her predecessor. "Judge Fran" has instituted Therapeutic Jurisprudence, a program involving intensive counseling and community service as an alternative to jail time for first offenders of domestic violence and drug and alcohol related crimes. The program has had great success in both reducing rates of repeat offenders, and in helping people face and deal with their problems. The voters showed their support for this approach by electing her to a second term.
Building on the momentum generated by the municipal elections, two long time Green Party activists decided to run for County Commission in Santa Fe in November - Melissa McDonald (district 2) and Xubi Wilson (district 5). They both focused and spoke out on sprawl, transportation and good government. Their credentials as permaculturists allowed them to speak with authority on issues like grey water recycling and rooftop catchment systems. Their years of local activism on such projects as Friends of Santa Fe Trails (the city's bus system) and the Healing Garden (a project at the municipal court acknowledging victims of domestic abuse) earned them hundreds of campaign volunteers who already knew of their dedication and integrity. This helps explain their great showing as first-time candidates - McDonald received 46% in a two-way race, with Wilson coming in at 23% in a three-way race.
Several factors influenced McDonald's higher result.. One was an anti-incumbent feeling fostered by a hot issue that had previously come before the Commission: building a prison for immigrants in Santa Fe County. Not only was the concept of such a prison inherently objectionable to many residetns, but to put such a prison in a community that is largely Hispanic, with deep ties to old Mexico,was astonishing to many. In addition, it was perceived as a done deal. Cornell Corrections held a job fair before the Commission had awarded the contract, and the press discovered evidence of the outlandish wining and dining Cornell had done for the Commissioners. It also discovered the poor performance of Cornell in its contracts,including overbilling the City of Santa Fe itself.
Considering that they ran in districts that are 60-70% Democrat, Greens are extremely pleased with these results.
Other New Mexico Green candidates also did very well. With vast distances to cover in their races, Cliff Bain (for Public Regulation Commission) and Marvin Gladstone (for State Court of Appeals) attendied local events throughout the state. August through October are months of fiestas, harvest celebrations, and county fairs in New Mexico, and the campaigns traveled every weekend and then some to meet with voters. The Green Party also staffed a booth at the state fair in Albuquerque, registering hundreds of voters and spreading the Green message.
Bain was able to raise energy policy issues and discuss the role of the Public Regulation Commission, and is in the process of creating a citizen oversight group for the PRC. Gladsonte spoke repeatedly about the need to abolish the death penalty and an end to mandatory minimum sentencing.
By addressing issues not generally associated with the Greens, both candidates broadened the perception of the Green Party. Bain receivedt 33% in his second run for PRC while Gladstone received almost 55,000 votes. At 11% Gladstone is also the NMGP's only hope for maintaining major party status and right to hold primary elections. Why?
New Mexico state law has previously been interpreted to allow ay statewide candidate - not just for president or governor - that receives 5% or more of the vote, would maintain the Green Party's major party ballot status. That status has been reaffirmed in '96 and '98 based on the electoral results of candidates for offices other than president or governor. A 1996 Attorney General opinion confirmed this practive. But a recent ruling by a judge denying the Libertarian Party major party status gave the Secretary of State and Attorney General reason to believe they can deny the Greens' party status as well. Because Nader received less than 5% in the New Mexico in 2000, the Greens' major party status is uncertain. While there are several options to consider, there is a very good chance this will be decided in the courts.
Witten by Rick Lass. a fomer state co-chair of the New Mexico Green Party who remains active on the state and national level.
Source: http://www.greenpages.ws/
