[Pvgreens-discussion] Fw: RE: [ GPCO Council] Fw: Proposal 003-08

Sat Mar 22 14:03:52 MDT 2008

My intention is to vote in favor of this proposal unless the local
directs me otherwise.

I also intend to vote for the other proposal on this matter if it comes
up for a vote.

Sandy

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Tom Kelly" <tkelly733 at earthlink.net>
To: <sandylemberg at juno.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:59:26 -0700
Subject: RE: [ GPCO Council] Fw:  Proposal 003-08
Message-ID: <E1Jd9sJ-0000Er-Lz at elasmtp-banded.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

You just vote.  Each local has 4 council representatives.
It is good practice to ask your local chapter how you should vote.

Thomas D. Kelly
tkelly733 at earthlink.net

-----Original Message-----
From: grns-gpoc-council-bounces at greens.org
[mailto:grns-gpoc-council-bounces at greens.org] On Behalf Of
sandylemberg at juno.com
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 12:54 PM
To: pvgreens-discussion at pvgreens.org
Cc: grns-gpoc-council at greens.org
Subject: [ GPCO Council] Fw: Proposal 003-08

Does our local reach consensus on this, or do I just vote as a Council
member?

Sandy

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Kevin Alumbaugh" <evergreenschoolofmusic at gmail.com>
To: grns-gpoc-council at greens.org
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:56:01 -0600
Subject: [ GPCO Council] Proposal 003-08
Message-ID: <8f5e0be60803221056q7e94b36bp9c728d6ec3575e4c at mail.gmail.com>

Dear Council Members,

This is Proposal # 003-08.

The proposal will be posted for one week of discussion and agreement
seeking.

The posting period will end at midnight Friday, March 28th, 2008.

  A quorum of 75% requires at least one response from eight (7) chapters.
There are currently ten (9) active voting chapters in the Green Party of
Colorado.

 Arapahoe County Green Party    - Active
 Boulder County Green Party     - Inactive
 Denver Green Party             - Active
 Greeley Green Party            - Inactive
 Jefferson Greens               - Active
 La Plata County Green Party    - Inactive
 Mesa County Green Party        - Active
 Poudre Valley Greens           - Active
 Royal Gorge Green Party        - Active
 San Miguel Greens              - Active
 Southwest Greens               - Active
 Summit County Green Party      - Active

  Please read the proposal, and confine any comments to the proposal
only.
Designate your wishes by using "agree", "block" or "stand aside". Any
blocks
will require a vote of the Council.

   Thank you, Kevin Alumbaugh, Current Council Facilitator

----
*1. Date proposed*: 3/22/08. Name of the sponsor: Dave Chandler,
co-chair.
Co-sponsered by Tom Kelly, Co-Chair; Eric Fried, Secretary; Dan Sage,
Treasurer; Claire Ryder, Chair-Denver Greens; Antonio D'Lallo,
Chair-Adams-Jefferson Greens.

*2. Title:* Qualification of Candidates 2008

*3.Text of Proposal*: We resolve here that the bylaws of the Green Party
of
Colorado do not alter or modify 1-4-1304(2)(c) Colorado Revised
Statutes which states:

  (2) Nominations by a minor political party, to be valid, shall be made
in
accordance with the party's constitution or bylaws. No nomination under
this
section shall be valid for any general election held after January 1,
1999,
unless the nominee: ...

(c) Has not been registered as a member of a major political party for at
least twelve months prior to the date of nomination unless otherwise
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the minor political party.

The Green Party of Colorado accepts the interpretation of that law
meaning
that no person will be considered to be qualified as a candidate for
nomination to any office in 2008, who has been either a registered
Democrat
or Republican anytime since May 3, 2007 -- twelve months from the date of
the Party's scheduled nominating convention, May 3, 2008.

We agree and accept the explanation provided to us by the Colorado
Secretary
of State, Elections Division office contained in the following
communications:

 Mr. Chandler,

I agree with your interpretation of section 1-4-1304(2)(b) and (2)(c),
C.R.S.
In both cases, the statute creates affiliation requirements for minor
political party candidates. Additionally, this same statute allows for
the
minor political party to adjust the affiliation requirements by changing
their minor party bylaws. In cases where the party bylaws have not been
amended, the statutory requirement must be followed.

*Therefore, in regards to section 1-4-1304(2)(c), C.R.S., a candidate
must
not have been registered with a major party for at least 12 months before
the date of nomination if no party bylaws are in place that provide
otherwise.* [Emphasis added]

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you,

Kathryn Mikeworth
Colorado Secretary of State
Elections Division
1700 Broadway, Suite 270
Denver, CO 80290

++++++

From: Dave Chandler
Co-Chair, Green Party of Colorado

To: Ms. Kathryn Mikeworth
I am writing to receive from the Colorado Secretary of State's office,
clarification on the meaning of CRS 1-4-1304(2)(c):

 (2) Nominations by a minor political party, to be valid, shall be made
in
accordance with the party's constitution or bylaws. No nomination under
this
section shall be valid for any general election held after January 1,
1999,
unless the nominee: ...

(c) Has not been registered as a member of a major political party for at
least twelve months prior to the date of nomination unless otherwise
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the minor political party.

My interpretation from reading this language would be that a potential
nominee for the Colorado Green Party in 2008, must have not been a
registered Republican or Democrat for at least twelve months before the
date
of our nominating convention this year -- unless our bylaws had already
been
altered to modify that length of time (which they have not). That means a
prospective Green 2008 nominee must have been registered as a member of a
minor party or as unaffiliated for the past year from the date of our
scheduled May 3 convention.

In addition, I would appreciate confirmation regarding CRS
1-4-1304(2)(b):

 (b) Has been affiliated for a period of twelve months immediately
preceding
the date of nomination with the minor political party that is making the
nomination as shown in the registration books of the county clerk and
recorder unless otherwise provided in the constitution or bylaws of the
minor political party;

Our Green Party of Colorado bylaws do already say that a nominee "must be
registered with the Green Party for at least six months before the
general
election or for two months prior to the Green Party of Colorado
nominating
convention, whichever is earlier, in order to be eligible for
nomination."

Therefore, am I correct in understanding that these provisions of the law
mean that a Green Party nominee in 2008 must not have been a Republican
or
Democrat for the past twelve months from the date of our May 3
convention,
but must at least be a registered member of the Green Party of Colorado
for
the length of time our bylaws stipulate, in order to be eligible for
nomination?

I appreciate your assistance in helping us to understand the meaning of
the
current election laws as they regard candidate nominations for minor
political parties.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
________

*4.Background:* Mr. Buddy Moore announced to Adams-Jeffco Greens on
Thursday, February 7, 2008, that he was seeking the Green Party's
nomination
to the U.S. Senate, running against Bob Kinsey. At that meeting, Moore
said
that he had changed his voter registration from Democrat to Green only
the
previous day.

Reading Colorado election law on primaries for minor parties by state
co-chair, Dave Chandler, revealed that a candidate for a minor party
nomination must have not been registered with a major party for twelve
months before their convention unless that law was altered by the party's
bylaws. GPOC bylaws have not been changed to modify that section of the
law.

The communication from the Secretary of State's office in the text of the
proposal is a result of this research into the meaning of the law.

At the regular Adams-Jeffco Greens meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2008,
Mr.
Moore was not recommended for approval by the Coordinated Campaign
Committee
because his recent voter registration with the Democratic Party was
adjudged
by the committee to make him ineligible for a Green Party nomination
under
Colorado state law.

The Adams-Jefferson Greens by consensus chose not to forward Moore's
candidacy to the state convention.

Buddy Moore has nevertheless continued to label himself as a Green Party
candidate for the U.S. Senate, even though he is clearly not qualified
under
the law. He has become increasingly disruptive and a distraction to
important organizing and planning work being done by GPOC activists.

*5.Justification/Goals:* To express compliance with state law on
qualifications of candidates in 2008.

*6.Pros: *Adopting the proposal puts the Green Party of Colorado clearly,
definitively and publicly on record as in compliance with Colorado state
election law.

Adopting the proposal insures and affirms the integrity of our candidate
selection process by demonstrating that we apply the law and our bylaws
equally and fairly to everyone.

Adopting the proposal lets Mr. Moore know clearly, definitively and
publicly
that he is not qualified to seek our party's nomination to any office in
2008.

*7.Cons:* Mr Moore probably will not like this proposal.
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