[statecom] Proposal for approval of GRP Delegation to the 2008 National Nominating Convention

[Yarden]

PROPOSAL

Title:  Proposal to send a full delegation from the Green-Rainbow  
Party (GRP) to the 2008 Presidential National Nominating Convention  
(NNC) of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS)

Sponsors:  Jill Stein,  Elie Yarden,  John Andrews,  Nat Fortune,  MK  
Merelice,  Larry Ely,  Eli Beckerman

Background:  More than a year ago, the State Committee of the GRP  
decided by consensus that the GRP would participate in the  
Presidential Election of 2008, supporting the candidate of the GPUS,  
by using the legal status of the GRP to conduct an open primary  
according to the rules of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and those  
of the GRP.

Accepted by the Commonwealth, by the candidates themselves, and  
recommended by members of the party, six names were placed on the GRP  
ballot by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The results of that  
February 5 presidential primary election are as follows:

Ralph Nader: 744 (39.9%)
Cynthia McKinney: 474 (25.4%)
No Preference: 194 (10.4%)
Kat Swift: 60 (3.2%)
Jared Ball: 42 (2.3%)
Kent Mesplay: 39 (2.1%)
Elaine Brown: 38 (2.1%)
Write-ins 273: (14.6%)
Vote Total: 1864
Three of the candidates have chosen to select their delegates and  
submit them for approval directly.

The CDLC Allocation of delegates, as modified by the decision of the  
State Committee consensus of April 12, is:

Ralph Nader      		15 delegates
Cynthia McKinney  	9 delegates
No Preference     		4 delegates
Kat Swift              		1 delegate
Jared Ball        		1 delegate
Kent Mesplay      		1 delegate
Elaine Brown      		1 delegate

Diversity Goals, in addition to gender parity, specified by the  
Delegate Selection Plan are:
African American         				4 delegates
Latino                       					5 (4) delegates
Asian, Pacific, and Native American   	3 Delegates
Gay. Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender   	5 (4) delegates

In addition to gender parity, we seek to insure that geographic  
distribution criteria be met with regard to Congressional distribution  
requirements - Nader, needing delegates from nine of ten districts,  
and McKinney needing one from the 10th. Congressional District is  
listed next to the name of each delegate. Other considerations of  
diversity apply to income, age, physical condition, to insure that we  
develop the inclusiveness defined by our 10 Key Values and political  
program.

Summary:
This proposal (in accordance with the requirements of the Green- 
Rainbow Party Presidential Nominating Convention Delegate Selection  
Plan, as amended and approved by the Green-Rainbow Party State  
Committee, April 12, 2008) presents three lists of persons who are  
volunteering, under the rules of our delegation and all applicable  
rules of the GPUS, to become delegates of the GRP to the 2008 NNC; and  
thus provides the State Committee with all necessary information.

Proposal:
1. Delegates (and alternates) designated by the candidates.
The State Committee approves the appointment of the following persons  
as delegates pledged to the named candidates.

submitted by and for Kent Mesplay
Rich Zitola - Clinton
Gerald Sykes III (alternate)

submitted by and for Kat Swift
Jamie McLaughlin, Boston, 8th
Anna Wei  (alternate)

submitted by and for Cynthia McKinney
[Note: Cynthia McKinney's campaign has notified the GRP of its intent  
to appoint her delegates and alternates. Those names will be submitted  
to the State Committee for approval when received. Failing receipt of  
a McKinney list, the GRP will do its best to fill her slots.]

2. Delegates (and alternates) selected by the GRP on behalf of
candidates who chose not to select their own delegates.
The State Committee selects  the following persons, submitted by the  
Candidate Development and Legal Committee, as delegates pledged to the  
named candidates. (Personal information available but not displayed
for privacy protection.)

Jared Ball
Wanda Boeke - Pittsfield -1st

Elaine Brown
Annie Butler - Cambridge - 8th

Ralph Nader
1 - Anaelisa Vanegas - Lee 1st
2 - Kenneth Duncan - Pittsfield - 1st
3 - Jill Stein - Lexington - 7th
4 - Nat Fortune - Whateley - 1st
5 - Travis McGee  - Danvers - 6th
6 - Hallett German - Peabody - 6th
7- Andrew Fitzgerald - East Freetown - 4th
8 - Elie Yarden - Cambridge - 8th
[Note: seven more slots still to be filled, with a particular need for
gender parity and other diversity criteria.]

3.  Delegates (and alternates) selected by the GRP to serve as
uncommitted delegates (not pledged to any candidate, and according to
the rules of the convention, free to vote or abstain on all votes
taken by the convention).

The State Committee selects the following persons, submitted by the
Candidate Development and Legal Committee, as uncommitted delegates.

1 - Samantha Zitola - Berlin - 5th
2 - Scott Laugenour - Lenox - 1st
3 - Nancy Lee Wood - Taunton - 4th
4 - John W. Andrews - Lexington - 7th

Budget Impact
The financing of this proposal is directly related to diversity  
goals.  It is desirable that monetary considerations not be the  
determining factor in deciding whether one may volunteer and actually  
attend the Convention. This includes loss of needed income.   
Especially, the youth of the party are likely to require financial  
assistance, as are the jobless without savings.  Limited income might  
be the chief bar to attending for many of our members. People with  
certain disabilities, among them the elderly and infirm, may be unable  
to travel without special assistance that is extremely costly. While  
lack of funds may not be a valid basis for making a decision, the  
study and appreciation of impact is always needed.

Implementation
The full implementation of this proposal could require that the  
Virtual Special State Committee meeting remain in session until July  
to fulfill the remaining open slots.

Until the GRP receives the names of the McKinney delegation, we cannot  
do an analysis of the delegation's diversity, but it remains obvious  
that more women delegates are needed.