2012 Green National Convention   ...3 of 12 >
July 13, 2012--Green Party media coordinator Scott McLarty introduces candidates for state and local office.  Greens currently have over 130 elected officeholders serving in positions ranging from city councilpersons to members of various boards and districts in 23 states and District of Columbia.  In 2012 about 220 Green candidates are on the ballot.  Seated (L to R) are Jesse Townley, member of the Berkeley (CA) Rent Board; Melissa Schlag, candidate for State Senate in Connecticut; Candace Caveny, candidate for State Board of Education in Michigan; and Karen Morian, candidate for State Representative in Jacksonville, Florida.  
David Marshall, member of the Portland (ME) City Council, moderates the panel.
Audrey Clement talks about her campaign for the Arlington (VA) County Board. 

These candidates are immersed in local issues.  Clement's platform would seek to "transform Arlington into a leading Green environmental community" through a host of measures.  Schlag, who founded Citizens for Protection of Public Lands in Haddam, CT, leading an effort against a land swap, declared "we deserve democracy."  Caveny, of Lapeer, MI spoke on subjects ranging from anti-bullying and CPR training in athletic departments to the shortfall in funding and reopening a closed school for virtual learning.  Townley noted that four of the nine members of the Berkeley Rent Board are Greens, and said they are working very hard on foreclosure issues.  Morian, a teacher, lambasted Florida Gov. Rick Scott for taking millions of dollars out of the university system and for turning down funding for high speed rail and rejecting the Medicaid expansion.

Others present included Larry Carter Center (standing on the right), a candidate for South Carolina House District # 114 against Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell.  "Our democracy is on life support," stated Center.  He said it is important for Green candidates to bring in people from other parties.  Center is a long-time Green; he noted that when he first ran for City Council in Des Moines, Iowa in 1987 he had green signs.  Sue Edward (standing on the far right) is a candidate in the July 17 special election for South Carolina Senate District # 41.
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