<html>
  <head>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
  </head>
  <body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <p>FYI - the GP Alameda County has had for many years a policy of
      never endorsing Demopublican or Republicrat candidates for
      partisan office. However, we have many times endorsed Independent
      or PF candidates when we did not have a Green candidate in the
      race.  I can only remember one instance of endorsing someone over
      a Green, and that was the very unusual situation of a guy in
      So.Cal who was a sort of "fake Green", i.e. he had been PF and
      changed to Green just to run for state office.<br>
    </p>
    <p>It seems reasonable to me for GPCA to endorse Independents or
      PFers, in some cases.   In other words, I don't see any point in
      being dogmatic about demanding Green registration.  Didn't most of
      y'all support Ralph Nader, who has never been a Green Party
      member?</p>
    <p>cheers,<br>
      BobM<br>
    </p>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/26/18 14:35, Steve Breedlove
      wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAD8g7i7wRQk2KqCf9F1TsFSEQ8iu6+F1GsVjGZjWBja1pn+a6g@mail.gmail.com">
      <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="gmail_extra"><br>
        <div class="gmail_quote">On Mar 26, 2018 2:12 PM, "Jane
          Jarlsberg" <<a href="mailto:jjarlsberg@gmail.com"
            moz-do-not-send="true">jjarlsberg@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br
            type="attribution">
          <blockquote class="quote" 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="elided-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" target="_blank"
                      rel="noreferrer" moz-do-not-send="true">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_2568403785595744784m_6559242077259554615AppleMailSignature">Sent
                          from my iPhone</div>
                        <div>
                          <div class="m_2568403785595744784h5">
                            <div><br>
                              On Mar 25, 2018, at 3:11 PM, Eric Brooks
                              <<a href="mailto:brookse32@hotmail.com"
                                target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                                moz-do-not-send="true">brookse32@hotmail.com</a>>
                              wrote:<br>
                              <br>
                            </div>
                            <blockquote type="cite">
                              <div>
                                <div
                                  class="m_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</span></p>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </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"
                                        target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true">mailto:gpca-votes-bounces@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"
                                        target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a><br>
                                      <b>Subject:</b> [GPCA-SGA-Votes]
                                      Discuss ID 155: Endorsement Policy
                                      Amendment: GPCA Endorsements for
                                      General Election Candidates</span></p>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </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"
                                                target="_blank"
                                                rel="noreferrer"
                                                moz-do-not-send="true"><span
                                                  style="color:#1155cc">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</span></a></span></b><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"></span></p>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"
                                          style="background:white"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"> </span></p>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>
                                        <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:</span></p>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                      </div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice
                                        Vote ID #155</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice
                                        Vote <b>Endorsement Policy
                                          Amendment: GPCA Endorsements
                                          for General Election
                                          Candidates</b></p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Ranked Choice
                                        Vote Administrators: Victoria
                                        Ashley, Brian Good, Laura Wells,
                                        Eric Brooks, Mike Goldbeck</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Discussion 
                                        02/12/2018 - 03/25/2018</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Voting 
                                        03/26/2018 - 04/01/2018</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Voting ends
                                        at Midnight Pacific Time</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Background</b> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </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.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </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.  </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </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.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Accordingly,
                                        we recommend the following
                                        changes to the GPCA Endorsement
                                        Policy.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Proposal</b></p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">That the
                                        current GPCA Endorsement Policy
                                        be amended as follows:</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">That the
                                        policy be amended from its
                                        current text:</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </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)</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">2. The GPCA
                                        shall not make any endorsements
                                        of General Election candidates
                                        who are not Green Party members.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">To read as
                                        follow:</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">GPCA
                                        CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY FOR
                                        ELECTIONS</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </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.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Sponsors:
                                        This proposal has been endorsed
                                        and sponsored by the Green Party
                                        of Yolo County.</p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal">Full details
                                        will be available at: <a
                                          href="http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations"
                                          target="_blank"
                                          rel="noreferrer"
                                          moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations</a></p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Please
                                          send your discussion comments
                                          to <a
                                            href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org"
                                            target="_blank"
                                            rel="noreferrer"
                                            moz-do-not-send="true">
                                            gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a></b></p>
                                    </div>
                                  </div>
                                </div>
                              </div>
                            </blockquote>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="m_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"
                                    target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                                    moz-do-not-send="true">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a></span><br>
                                <span><a
                                    href="https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes"
                                    target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                                    moz-do-not-send="true">https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes</a></span><br>
                              </div>
                            </blockquote>
                          </font></span></div>
                    </div>
                    <br>
                    --<br>
                    gpca-votes mailing list<br>
                    <a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org"
                      target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"
                      moz-do-not-send="true">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a><br>
                    <a
                      href="https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes"
                      rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"
                      moz-do-not-send="true">https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes</a><br>
                    <br>
                  </blockquote>
                </div>
                <br>
              </div>
              --<br>
              gpca-votes mailing list<br>
              <a href="mailto:gpca-votes@sfgreens.org" target="_blank"
                rel="noreferrer" moz-do-not-send="true">gpca-votes@sfgreens.org</a><br>
              <a
                href="https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes"
                rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"
                moz-do-not-send="true">https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes</a><br>
            </div>
          </blockquote>
        </div>
        <br>
      </div>
      <br>
      <fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
      <br>
    </blockquote>
    <br>
  </body>
</html>