<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">>>in the hope of picking up the Green Party endorsement</span><div><br></div><div>I don’t think she ran as NPP for a GP endorsement – – I think she honestly does not agree with the Establishment Democrats, because she is a true progressive. </div><div><br></div><div>The issue at hand is what we are all going to do about having the opportunity to vote for a true progressive in a state office, unencumbered, directly, by Democrat party bosses. She has a great deal of experience working in an alliance of party representatives without compromising her progressive efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>But imagine if Gayle loses by a very small margin, a margin that perhaps could have been overcome a GP endorsement.</div><div><br></div><div>Although that might sound crazy, elections are funny things… We will all have to wonder, had we supported her — instead of being militant about Party allegiance — whether we could have, for the first time in history, put a true progressive into the state government.</div><div><br></div><div>While that situation may seem unlikely, it is a risk we take when we limit our support. A party that purports to be about social justice being unwilling to endorse a woman candidate who has dedicated her life to social justice, only because of her party affiliation - although the risk is slim, the impact will affect millions, should Gayle be able to impact issues like single payer, or rent control, or a public bank, as the billionaire putting his money down is betting on.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div id="AppleMailSignature">Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Mar 26, 2018, at 3:21 PM, Thomas Leavitt <<a href="mailto:thomleavitt@gmail.com">thomleavitt@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">I find it very dubious that anyone not wanting to run as a Green, who is currently choosing to run as a Dem, or any organization choosing to support such a person, would somehow run as an NPP or a P&F instead (or support an NPP or P&F candidate), in the hope of picking up the Green Party endorsement.<div><br></div><div>Progressives are running as Democrats for simple reasons of political pragmatism. Running as a Democrat gains you much easier access to a broad variety of non-Democratic Party / progressive endorsements (such as those from labor), AND gives you access to a broad array of progressive resources that are party-affiliated and reserved, by bylaw, to Democratic Party candidates (bylaws that are bypassed in only the most exceptional situations, and only in non-partisan races). The value of a Green Party endorsement in no way outweighs that, and by the time it even begins to approach being that valuable, we are unlikely to be endorsing non-Greens, simply because the quality of candidates we attract will be so high.</div><div><br></div><div>Socialists run as Peace and Freedom Party candidates, and Socialist Alternative, etc., BECAUSE THEY ARE SOCIALISTS. The Green Party specifically IS NOT A SOCIALIST PARTY. It never has been. We are anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian left anarchists, ideologically opposed to conventional Marxist/Leninist statist approaches. We are never going to attract conventional socialist / marxist candidates to run under our banner, because our core principles and historical positioning are incompatible with conventional statist left ideology. We have an "image problem", because of genuine ideological differences.</div><div><br></div><div> Regards,</div><div>Thomas Leavitt</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 2:35 PM, Steve Breedlove <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:srbreedlove@gmail.com" target="_blank">srbreedlove@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Linda and Jane. The idea is to form alliances. Greens have an image problem and I know a lot of movers and shakers who are choosing independent or Socialist Alternative or other. The idea is that to break the two party dictatorship we have to form alliances. It is a great symbolic act to endorse a P&F etc. I would rather endorse a qualified candidate in another left party than some of the candidate that run as Greens, whether based on actual policy or on perception of viability. <div dir="auto">I think the concern that people won't run green is unfounded. People already don't wanna run green which is why many progressive candidates are running Dem with support of more moderate progressive groups like justice dems abd Our Rev and brand new congress.</div></div><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mar 26, 2018 2:12 PM, "Jane Jarlsberg" <<a href="mailto:jjarlsberg@gmail.com" target="_blank">jjarlsberg@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="m_-3559836888029125200quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">I agree with
<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline">Linda Piera-Avila, and no one asked me to write my opinion either!! i have my own mind on these issues, but sometimes someone else is
<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline">better</span>
able to articulate my thoughts for me!! peace, Jane Jarlsberg</span></div></div><div class="m_-3559836888029125200elided-text"><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 25, 2018 at 10:58 PM, Linda Piera-Avila <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lindap_a@verizon.net" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">lindap_a@verizon.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">If a candidate is supportive of our values and doesn’t take corporate donations, that candidate should run as a Green! We will dilute the incentive we have to offer potential recruits if 155 passes. It’s hard enough to vet people who ARE in the Green Party before endorsing them, this will make it even harder if they are not even in our party and this could leave us open to those who would co-opt our ballot line either for their own selfish purposes or worse, to discredit the Green Party. We are a small party - we need to retain our sense as a distinct political party and not give away the store and possibly lose ourselves in the process. <div>Linda Piera-Avila</div><div>Santa Monica</div><div>PS No one asked me to write this. I am very concerned about this proposal on my own! </div><div><br><div id="m_-3559836888029125200m_2568403785595744784m_6559242077259554615AppleMailSignature">Sent from my iPhone</div><div><div class="m_-3559836888029125200m_2568403785595744784h5"><div><br>On Mar 25, 2018, at 3:11 PM, Eric Brooks <<a href="mailto:brookse32@hotmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">brookse32@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<div class="m_-3559836888029125200m_2568403785595744784m_6559242077259554615WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Hi all,<br>
<br>
In response to Michael Feinstein’s previous emails stating the opinion that items 144, 146, 148, 150, 151, and 152 are not correctly on our SGA ballot, Michael’s statements are incorrect.<br>
<br>
Because Item 155 (see below) would enable us to endorse non-Green candidates for statewide office, as long as they do not take corporate donations and are supportive to the Green Party’s values and platform, items 144 through 152 all are properly on our SGA
ballot and votes for those candidates will be counted if item 155 passes.<br>
<br>
I hope this clears up any confusion.<br>
<br>
Eric Brooks<br>
SGA Vote Administrator<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> gpca-votes [<a href="mailto:gpca-votes-bounces@sfgreens.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">mailto:gpca-votes-bounces@<wbr>sfgreens.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>GPCA Votes<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 15, 2018 12:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [GPCA-SGA-Votes] Discuss ID 155: Endorsement Policy Amendment: GPCA Endorsements for General Election Candidates<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Please send your discussion comments to <a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155cc">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Discussion has begun for the following GPCA SGA ranked choice vote:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice Vote ID #155<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice Vote <b>Endorsement Policy Amendment: GPCA Endorsements for General Election Candidates</b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice Vote Administrators: Victoria Ashley, Brian Good, Laura Wells, Eric Brooks, Mike Goldbeck<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Discussion 02/12/2018 - 03/25/2018<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Voting 03/26/2018 - 04/01/2018<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Voting ends at Midnight Pacific Time<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Background</b> <u></u><u></u></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Green Party of California is currently prohibited from endorsing candidates who have good Green values and who take no corporate money: the GPCA needs visibility, in a positive way, and putting our name on endorsement lists of good
candidates is one way to get the Green Party name in the public eye. The GPCA wants to help voters vote for good candidates, even in races where we have no candidate. For instance, the Peace and Freedom Party can and does endorse Green Party candidates in
state and federal races, but the GPCA is prohibited from endorsing Peace and Freedom candidates. The GPCA currently cannot endorse candidates with No Party Preference or any other voter registration, even when we have no candidate running in the race. The
GPCA cannot help voters differentiate between good candidates who are aligned with Green values and take no corporate money and bad candidates (who may speak well) from the two-party system. The current endorsement policy is confusing: county parties are
not prohibited from endorsing candidates who are not Green, but the state party is; in addition, it precludes a possible endorsement even in the face of grassroots interest. The current endorsement policy was promulgated in the pre-Top-Two era, and, if left
unreformed, will further hobble party-building efforts in California.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Changing the endorsement policy would advance the party’s attempts to implement Proportional Representation so that we can have a multi-party system and not a two-party system. By expanding our endorsement options, we will demonstrate that
we will work in coalitions and will endorse candidates who have green values, but who choose other political party affiliations. As it stands, people who want to “throw their hat in the ring” and yet who have no track record with the Green Party or allied
organizations are able to register Green and use our ballot line, and get an automatic advantage in the endorsement process, even though they may not be the best candidate. Moreover, given that there are many public perceptions over which Greens have very
little control, such as being marginalized or cast as “spoilers” or “third-party” candidates who “can’t win,” the endorsement area is one we can control. We can avoid marginalizing ourselves as people who are only interested in the label “Green Party,” not
the green values that we share with millions of ordinary folks in the nation and certainly in California. <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Furthermore, it is common advice in social media, for example (and even in life), that if you want likes, followers and friends, you’ve got to like, follow and friend others, as long as you stay true to your values. We need to reciprocate
and be proactive, not sit back and wait for everyone to switch to “team Green Party,” while we display an unwelcoming attitude. People want a new party, but our current restrictive endorsement procedures make us look as if we do not want to be an “umbrella
party” or “big tent” for all people who are aligned with our values and stances. It looks like we want to remain a small, exclusive “third” party with a narrow “sectarian” view of how change happens.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Accordingly, we recommend the following changes to the GPCA Endorsement Policy.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Proposal</b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">That the current GPCA Endorsement Policy be amended as follows:<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">That the policy be amended from its current text:<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">GPCA CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS (approved by the GPCA General Assembly, June 25, 2006, 43-6-2)<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. The GPCA shall not make any endorsements of General Election candidates who are not Green Party members.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">To read as follow:<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">GPCA CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY FOR ELECTIONS<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. The GPCA shall not make endorsements of candidates who accept corporate campaign contributions or who belong to any political party that accepts corporate campaign contributions.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sponsors: This proposal has been endorsed and sponsored by the Green Party of Yolo County.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Full details will be available at: <a href="http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.sjcgreens.org/<wbr>sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations</a><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Please send your discussion comments to <a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a></b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></blockquote></div></div><span class="m_-3559836888029125200m_2568403785595744784HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>-- </span><br><span>gpca-votes mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a></span><br><span><a href="https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-<wbr>bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-<wbr>votes</a></span><br></div></blockquote></font></span></div></div><br>--<br>
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