John, I've copied SF's delegates on my reply to your endorsement request (see below), but we traditionally don't bind their votes. I also don't agree with most of your choices. Let me explain who I'm endorsing and why. First, I completely agree with your assessment about an "old guard" creating an undemocratic conditions on the GPCA CC. The obvious remedy for this is to implement term limits, as Christina first suggested. The fact that her proposal went nowhere, while proposals favored by the "old guard" are quickly agendized, is an example of how business is currently conducted in the GPCA. As another example, I tried to propose a bylaws change about 3 years ago on behalf of SF that would prevent the GPCA from endorsing or nominating a non-Green for president in future elections. I was given the runaround and sent to various committees and working groups, where I was told that due to limited Plenary time, SF wouldn't be able to even present the proposal for several years. Compare this to the treatment Camejo got when he recently placed an almost identical proposal on the agenda. In addition, the "old guard" makes up bylaws as they go along (e.g., the delegate credentialing procedure, or the minimum standards for county elections). That being said, I can't ally myself with the "opposition" either. Both the "old guard" and the "opposition" have extremely unpleasant individuals who engage in petty attacks and name calling on the email list (even while sometimes maintaining a veneer of professionalism), and who generally create an atmosphere that makes it nearly impossible to get anything useful done. From my perspective, the "opposition" has actually behaved worse in this regard: several people within this faction allied themselves with the Left Party last year and spent a lot of time attacking decisions made by the SFGP as well as attacking me personally as the bearer of those decisions. Thus, my endorsements: For CC at-large members, I think Laura Wells and Cat Woods are the best choices. Primarily, this is because I think the CC would function better with more female leadership (especially new leadership). Cat has especially impressed me as one of the most level-headed people on the CC in actually trying to work out a compromise in the LA situation (I didn't agree with her proposal, and think the only solution is for the GA to decertify the LA region until they get their shit together, but at least she tried). I have nothing against Chuck; I just don't think he'd be as helpful as Laura and Cat in resolving the CC's current problems. I don't think Ellen Maisen or any other LA Greens should be on the CC until the county's internal problems are resolved: their participation will simply magnify the factional infighting. For GPUS Delegates, I endorse Ron Dicks and Leslie Bonett. Ron has done great work with the SFGP, and Leslie has been a valuable ally. Both would add much-needed diversity to the delegation. For Treasurer, I endorse Mike Wyman. Although he's seen as a member of the "old guard", he's always been truly professional and competent. There are problems on the finance committee (especially their decision to fund lavish strategy sessions), but I suggest replacing all the other committee members rather than Wyman. JMC On Tue, May 03, 2005 at 08:53:19AM -0700, John Morton wrote:
Dear Fellow Greens,
Most of you are aware that our state party "leadership body", the GPCA Coordinating Committee, needs significant improvement. We have a major opportunity in this regard at the upcoming May 21-22 state plenary meeting in Los Angeles.
A number of us around the state believe that the best candidates in the upcoming election are Laura Wells and Chuck Reutter for At-large state CC members, and Kenny Mostern for state Treasurer. Greg will be getting you more material about this soon.
Right now though, we have three quick questions:
1. Will you be able to ask your county to endorse the Wells-Reutter-Mostern slate for the May 21-22 plenary at your next county meeting? Is your county meeting likely to be "advisory", or will you likely "mandate" delegates to support certain candidates?
2. Given the choices of candidates, would you be willing to be included on a list of Greens supporting Laura Wells and Chuck Reutter for At-large state CC members, and Kenny Mostern for state Treasurer? (Besides Laura and Chuck: Ellen Maisen and Cat Woods are running for At-large state CC member, and besides Kenny: Mike Wyman is running for Treasurer). Note: if you're not quite ready to be included on the list, what questions might you have, etc.? (We're trying to put together this list as soon as possible!).
3. If your region is due to replace its CC rep or alt this year (if so, bylaws require a regional election in the first plenary of the year, unless your region has filed an alternative plan with the CC)? If you are, do you have candidate(s) for your regional seat who would be independent of the "old guard" power bloc, and work to democratize the CC?
Let us know the above asap, so we can begin to coordinate our efforts. Thanks for your help!
John Morton (510-610-1773) Greg Jan Magali Offerman
PS - below is a short explanation of what is happening on the CC now that I recently emailed to the Greens Forum list.
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Greens,
I appreciate Tian's and others' efforts to find a way to overcome the growing disintegration of the CC. After nearly a year as a regional rep to the CC, however, I am convinced that only a structural change will be able to alter the culture of personal power and confrontation that has grown up there.
I am suggesting a remedy that includes both term limits on CC/GPUS reps, and a limit on the number of internal elected/rep/coco positions that any individual can hold at one time.
The reason that there is a deadlock on the CC now is not difficult to understand. While a small group of "old guard" Greens, who have certainly made contributions to the party in the past, continue to try to force their agenda on the rest of the committee, another group of "independents" has decided to fight back. The "old guard", which has over time gained control of the bylaws, finance, and plenary agenda committees, considers any resistance as tantamount to mutiny, and will use every method they can to stop it. This is why, for example, you will find a plenary discussion for changing to simple majority voting in the GPCA, because the 2/3 0r 80% consensus fallback vote can no longer be easily won on questionable proposals in the CC.
As to limits, I realize that there are drawbacks to limiting service of our volunteers, but I think we can live with those, and we may even find that more people will come forward to fill the gaps. What we can no longer live with, and still call ourselves Greens, is the centralization of decision-making increasingly moving into the hands of a few self-selected people.
John Morton
"You who govern public affairs, what need have you to employ punishments? Love virtue, and the people will be virtuous." -- Lao Tsu, quoted in "Walden"
-- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc@sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/