Independent Greens of Virginia

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The Independent Greens of Virginia, (also known as the Indy Greens), is the state affiliate of the Independence Party of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia, formed in early 2004. Fiscally conservative founders Carey Campbell and Joe Oddo, along with other members of the Rail Now faction of the Green Party of Virginia (GPVA), staged a hostile takeover of the northern Virginia chapter of the GPVA by bringing enough supporters to the meeting to form a temporary majority. The state meeting of the GPVA responded by refusing to recognize Campbell's installation as chair^[1] and by disaffiliating the chapter and expelling Campbell from the party.^[2] Campbell and Oddo then formed their own statewide party.

The party, separate from the national Green Party, affiliated itself with the Independence Party of America on January 10, 2008.^[3]. The platform of the Independent Greens differs from the Green Party in advocating fiscal conservatism. It also focuses on transportation issues, running on the slogans "Fiscally Conservative, Socially Responsible" and "More Trains, Less Traffic."

Contents 1 Philosophy and positions 1.1 Regional rail promotion 1.2 Fiscal conservatism 2 2005 elections 3 2006 elections 3.1 U.S. Senate 3.2 U.S. House of Representatives 4 2007 elections 5 2008 elections 5.1 Presidential Debates 5.2 Independence Party of America 5.3 Bloomberg for President petitions delivered 5.4 Congressional candidates 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Philosophy and positions

The Indy Greens say they encourage non-politicans to run for office, as a form of civic responsibility: "More candidates, less apathy". Any qualified candidate can run under the party label; candidates are taken on "first come, first served" basis. The party's goal is to offer voters the option of non-partisan candidates, by permitting average citizens to run for office. The campaigns are intended to be grassroots-financed and run. The strategy of running as many candidates as possible may have the advantage of combining efforts when gathering signatures for candidates for various offices in the same district.

[edit] Regional rail promotion

"More trains, less traffic" is an initiative to introduce a high-speed train system to Virginia, in an effort to reduce oil consumption within the state's borders.

[edit] Fiscal conservatism

As fiscal conservatives, the party echoes United States Comptroller General David Walker's call for an auditable accounting system at the Pentagon. The Indy Greens favor balancing the federal budget and paying off the federal debt. The party supports term limits for U.S. Senators and Representatives.

[edit] 2005 elections

In February 2005 Independent Greens endorsed State Senator Russ Potts, the major independent candidate in the Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005.

In July 2005 the party filed paperwork with the Virginia State Board of Elections claiming fifteen candidates as its nominees. Only six of those candidates were in fact the candidates of the party; the remaining nine were independent candidates or candidates of other third parties. All nine disavowed the Independent Green designation for their ballot lines, and some stated they had never heard of the party.^[4]

[edit] 2006 elections

[edit] U.S. Senate

Their most prominent candidate in the 2006 election was retired Air Force officer Gail Parker who ran in the U.S. Senate election. The contest was a close race between Jim Webb and incumbent George Allen. Parker considered backing out late in the race if one of the other candidates would commit to funding new passenger rail systems and a new accounting system at the Pentagon, and agree to balancing the federal budget and paying off the federal debt.^[5] She charged that the Republicans were indebted to the oil industry and that the Democrats to the automobile industry.^[6]

Parker ultimately did not back out or make any official endorsements, but she did offer some last-minute support to Webb.^[7] Parker garnered 26,106 votes, 1% of the total, but greater than the 7,231 difference between the two leading candidates.^[8]

Comedian Stephen Colbert found her campaign jingle worthy of a post-election sing-along on his television show The Colbert Report.^[9] Colbert also joked that Parker, whose real first name is Glenda, purposely changed her name to Gail just so it would rhyme with "light rail" to make the campaign jingle flow.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

As in 2004, in 2006 the party nominated or endorsed candidates in all eleven of Virginia's congressional districts for the November 2006 general election. To get their candidates on the ballot the Indy Greens of Virginia collected over 70,000 petition signatures.^{[citation needed]}

The party's 4th congressional district candidate Albert Burckhard received the second most votes of any third party candidate for Congress.^[10] According to the Virginia State Board of elections, Burckhard received 46,344, almost 25% of the vote.^[11] Burckhard was greatly helped by the fact he was the only opponent^[12] of incumbent Randy Forbes, who was involved in controversy over campaign contributions and associated with Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, and Americans for a Republican Majority.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 2007 elections

In 2007 the Independent Greens endorsed or nominated candidates in nearly 20% of the state house and senate races. In Fairfax county (pop. 1,100,000) the party endorsed or nominated candidates on the ballot in 10 of 15 races and on election day received over 110,000 votes. Delvis McCadden received over 35% of the vote in his Roanoke race,^[13] for the best showing of any Independent Green ever endorsed or nominated.

In Virginia's 1st congressional district special election, 2007, the party endorsed Lucky Narain, a U.S. Army reservist and Peace Corps veteran, with a Masters degree from Carnegie Mellon University in early November.^[14] Narain welcomed and acknowledged the support and endorsement.^[15] At the Virginia Independent Party state December meeting, he was elected 1st Congressional District Chairman, and member of the central committee. On election day Narain received 1.9% (1,253 votes) of the vote. That is a slight increase from the 1.4% of the vote the Independent Green 2006 1st District congressional candidate retired U.S. Marine Col. Marv Pixton received.^[16].

[edit] 2008 elections

[edit] Presidential Debates

The party organized presidential forums, or debates, before the major parties. Their first was January 22, 2007, at Randolph Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Participants scheduled were Gail Parker, Cindy Sheehan and Libertarian candidate Daniel Imperato of Florida, who saw himself as a potential unity/fusion nominee for Independent Greens, Libertarians, and Constitutionalists.^[17] But many state affiliates of these parties will only place party members on their ballots.

Ten more Indy Greens presidential forums were planned for 2007, at universities and colleges. The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia hosted the second on February 5, 2007. Kent Mesplay of California, the 2004 Green Party (GPUS) Presidential candidate running again, accepted an invitation. Other invitees included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel neither of whom responded.

On July 10, 2007, the party hosted an event at the National Press Club.^[18] The party claimed over 50 Independent Green candidates for state and local office gave brief speeches in the first hour. Most of these candidates were actually members of the Green Party United States or independents. Former CBS newsman Marvin Kalb served as moderator for a presidential debate at the same event, with Daniel Imperato, Kent Mesplay, Ohio journalist Joe Schriner, West Virginia actor and film producer Jesse Johnson, and Gail Parker, acting as a placeholder for Michael Bloomberg. The 2004 Green Party vice presidential nominee Pat LaMarche moderated another part of the debate.^[19]

During a three week, eleven state tour in August 2007, Gail Parker made a campaign appearance in Oklahoma where she spoke out on pro-rail issues and in favor of a Bloomberg fusion campaign.^[20][21] Parker assisted Arkansas Greens by gathering 160 petition signatures (of over 17,000) to get on the ballot.^[22]

In late August 2007, Michael Bloomberg came to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Afterwards he met with Gail Parker and other leaders of the Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg for President.^[23] On January 1, 2008, in Independence, Virginia, the party became the first state party in the nation to launch a petition drive to put Bloomberg on the ballot for president.^{[citation needed]} The vice-presidential candidate listed on the petition is Gail Parker, as a placeholder candidate.^[24]

[edit] Independence Party of America

On January 10, 2008, the Virginia Independent Green Party affiliated itself with the Independence Party of America, a new national party headed by Frank MacKay of the Independence Party of New York.^[25] The New York Observer reported talks by Independence Party and Independent Green leaders about supporting a Bloomberg run for the Presidency have been underway for months.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Bloomberg for President petitions delivered

On April 14, 2008, the party delivered 10,000 petition signatures to the Virginia State Board of Elections to put Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President.^[26]. The vice-presidential candidate listed on the petition is Gail Parker.^[24] The party has also collected ballot petitions with Ron Paul listed as the vice-presidential candidate.^[26]. On February 28, 2008, Bloomberg stated "I am not — and will not be — a candidate for president," and added that he is "hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership. The most productive role that I can serve is to push them forward, by using the means at my disposal to promote a real and honest debate."^[27] Since the state of Virginia requires candidates to accept their placements on the ballot in writing, a new candidate will have to be selected for placeholder candidate Bloomberg. The addition of Ron Paul as a VP candidate on some petitions may complicate the petition process (or force it to start over) since Virginia allows only one placeholder candidate for each office and Gail Parker has already appeared as a placeholder candidate for over 10,000 petition signatures. Further complicating matters is the fact that Ron Paul has said numerous times he will not be a third party candidate,^[28][29] and has rejected a resolution from the Libertarian Party calling on him to run.

[edit] Congressional candidates

On April 1, the Parker for Senate campaign submitted 10,731 petition signatures^{[citation needed]} to put Glenda "Gail" Parker on the ballot for U.S. Senate. The petitions still must be verified by the State Board of Elections.^[30][31].

On May 7, 2008, the Nathan Larson for Congress campaign delivered to the Virginia SBE the first 1,070 petition signatures to put Nathan Larson on the ballot for the Virginia's 1st congressional district election, 2008. Supplementary filings have also been made, and the State Board of Elections has certified him for the ballot. He was nominated by the Libertarian Party on May 3, but he has been endorsed by the Indy Greens as well.^[32]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Indy Greens of VA official website
• Gail Parker for US Senate

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