Becoming the first California Green to be elected to three 4-year terms, Bob Ornelas won re-election to the Arcata City Council in November, finishing third out of seven candidates for three seats.
The 47-year-old business owner of a local brewery, Ornelas stated his reasons for running for a third term in his official ballot statement. Citing his love of the community, Ornelas detailed "a long history of successful efforts to provide for affordable housing, senior housing, support for the creation of new businesses, environmental protection, sustainable forestry, educational opportunities, a low crime rate and safe parks and great recreational programs."
Ornelas was the first California Green ever elected to a city council, back in 1990. He stepped down after one term, and fellow Green Jason Kirkpatrick ran and took his place in 1994. Then in 1996, Ornelas and Green Jennifer Hanan were both elected, joining Kirkpatrick to form the first Green Party city council majority in U.S history. The three received national and even global attention over the next two years, providing an exceptional opportunity to publicize Green approaches to governance. The pinnacle of local Green electoral success, it has been an uneven ride ever since.
In 1998 Kirkpatrick stepped down, then Jennifer Rice - the Green most thought would win if she ran - decided not to run, preferring to remain a sustainable community development activist rather than serve in elected office. Without a ready replacement, Green Brad Freeman stepped in and lost by 182 votes in what many felt was a very winnable race. Freeman ran an extremely low-key campaign, choosing to spend less than $100 overall and running with the theme of "no cash, no trash, and no splash." In 2000, Hanan stepped down herself, and four Greens ran for the three seats, finishing third through sixth. In fourth place, just 70 votes behind Ornelas, was Green Dwain Goforth, 47, a former Arcata Planning Commissioner and a member of the 1994 Arcata Budget Task Force. Goforth also served on the committee that established the city's skate board park. He described his political philosophy as "progressive and populist,: while maintaining that good ideas can come from across the political spectrum.
The Arcata Eye's editor endorsed Goforth, calling him a smart, friendly fellow with good values and a "400-pound brain." They were "highly impressed by his methodical approach to issues before the planning commission, thinking five steps ahead to predict the subtle interplay and ramifications of future events." Goforth was also endorsed by the Humboldt State University Lumberjack, the North Coast Journal, and the Eureka Times Standard.
Finishing fifth were Greens Susan Brinton - 867 votes behind Ornelas - and Ron Hagg, 1,320 votes behind.
Did the presence of four Green candidates running for three seats cost the Greens a second seat?
Ornelas pointed out that with the incumbent popular mayor virtually assured of re-election, this left the four Greens - including Ornelas - to essentially run for two seats, competing against themselves as well as two additional candidates in a zero sum game.
Ornelas himself was a point of departure, with some local Greens strongly supporting him and others just as strongly in opposition. His advocates praised his record. His opponents pointed to what they termed Ornelas' penchant for irreverent remarks, as well as his confrontation of speakers during city council meetings.
Local Greens were ultimately split on election strategy and there was no consensus plan to organize around. Part of this was the candidates. Part of it was the local group itself, which was in transition with a mix of old and new Greens, including many who came in as a result of the Nader campaign and had a minimal connection to city council politics.
After a very difficult endorsement meeting, the Humboldt County Green newsletter was sent out with a 'no endorsement', recommending only a "closer look" at four candidates - the incumbent Democratic mayor, Goforth, Ornelas, and the independent challenger who ultimately finished second. The result was that different Greens backed different slates. For good measure, Brinton supported Goforth and Hagg supported Ornelas.
The lack of a Green slate made it difficult to organize the Nader volunteers, because there was nothing specific to tell them, nor could any recommendation be placed on the Nader/LaDuke literature.
Thus there was 'vote-splitting' among Green candidates as well as a lack of prioritization among them because of the lack of a party endorsement. Add to this the support for two non-Greens in the party's newsletter and this all meant a great loss of synergy among local Greens.
As to why Ornelas himself ultimately beat Goforth, a numbers of factors may account for the narrow 70 votes difference - less than 1/2 of 1% of the vote.
As an incumbent, Ornelas had name recognition and a record to run on. He also received the most financial support he'd ever had in his three city council campaigns - nearly $5,000 - enough to pay for lawn signs all over town, a citywide mailer and a campaign staffmember. This compared to $800, hand-made signs and no direct mail or staff for Goforth.
Although Goforth's campaign was gaining momentum at the end, it simply got started later - and reached fewer voters - than it needed to win. By contrast, Ornelas walked door-to-door more than he had in 1996. The local Democratic Central Committee also endorsed Ornelas, while not inviting Goforth to speak. Goforth suggested his vocal support for Nader was a reason why.
Ornelas was endorsed by the two largest county newspapers - the Times-Standard and the Humboldt Beacon. Ornelas also enjoyed the support of the building trades and the operating engineers union.
Ornelas received significant exposure the Sunday before the election, appearing on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition (NPR). NPR came to town to walk door to door with Ornelas, meeting residents and hearing him campaign. Hoping he would give them outrageous quotes, instead Ornelas was - in his own words - "laid-back and sensible, passionate, informed, and ever supportive of the Green Party and grassroots democracy."
Despite all of this, it may have been Goforth's stand on homeless that cost him the election. According to The Arcata Eye "Goforth's support for a nomadic campground for transients is being blamed by way of morning-after wisdom for his loss, with some including Goforth himself, believing it had tipped the balance in favor of Ornelas."
Were there scenarios in which Ornelas and Goforth could both won?
A large number of voters - 52% according to the Eureka Times Standard - "bullet voted" - choosing only one or two candidates, forgoing their third choice. This meant there were many uncommitted votes that could be had with the right strategy. What was that strategy?
First, a clear Green endorsement for both Ornelas and Goforth was necessary. This would have led to better support by the entire Green local, including those working on Nader.
Second, cooperation between the Ornelas and Goforth campaigns themselves was essential, as well as coordination with the mayor's campaign. Third, the factor of Brinton and/or Hagg's presence in the race has to be considered Ornelas finished 373 votes out of second place and Goforth 443. Brinton and Hagg picked up 3,721 votes between them.
What is the future of Arcata's Greens? There were certainly bright spots in 2000. In addition to holding onto Ornelas' seat, Nader/LaDuke received 23% in the city of Arcata and 12.7% in Humboldt County overall, and numerous new volunteers came in as a result of the campaign.
Green registration also jumped 29% countywide in just nine months, from 3,742 on January 10th to 5,259 as of October 10th, 2000. The 6.8% of all county voters that this made up is the highest percentage of registered Green voters for any county in the U.S.
The major city council campaign issues were housing, economic development, the growth of Humboldt State University (and the lack of planning and coordination with the city), and the population of street people in the forest and on the town's plaza. These are issues upon which Greens have a clear perspective, that could find sympathy among Arcata's voters.
But it appears the answer to the Greens' prospects will lie more in the organization of Arcata's Greens, than in their philosophy. When focused, they have won seats. When scattered they have not.
