Cliff Thornton
Encyclopedia
Clifford "Cliff" W. Thornton, Jr. (b.January 16, 1945; Hartford, Connecticut
) is an American
drug policy reform advocate and Green politician serving as one of the seven current (as of November 2007) co-Chairs of the Green Party of the United States
.
candidate for Governor
receiving 9,583 votes for just under one percent of the vote.
In 1995, Thornton founded www.Efficacy-online.org, a non-profit organization, to educate the world about drug policy reform.
Thornton retired from Southern New England Telephone Corporation, in Connecticut in 1997 where he was a middle-level manager.
Thornton ran for Governor of Connecticut in 2006. He was the first African American candidate to appear on the General Election Ballot for Governor of Connecticut.
In the last five years,2003-2008 Thornton has spoken to over 400,000 people on drug reform in some 750 venues all over the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. Thornton also has completed over 400 hundred radio shows and numerous television spots on drug policy reform as it relates to health, race/class and economics. He is described as "America's foremost anti-Drug War African American activist" by Amherst College's online newspaper
. Thornton also speaks on education, and health care.
In 2007, Thornton received the Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action from the Drug Policy Alliance
.
Thornton and his wife Margaret now live in Glastonbury, Connecticut
. He has five daughters and two granddaughters. Thornton, an Army veteran, earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Waterbury's Post University
in 1986.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drug policy reform advocate and Green politician serving as one of the seven current (as of November 2007) co-Chairs of the Green Party of the United States
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
.
Career
In 2006 Thornton was the Connecticut Green Party'sConnecticut Green Party
The Connecticut Green Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the Green Party. The party is committed to grassroots democracy, social justice, non-violence and ecological wisdom. Those are also the four pillars of Green politics. Ralph Nader, perhaps the most well known Green Party figure in the...
candidate for Governor
Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2006
The Connecticut gubernatorial election of 2006 occurred on November 7, 2006. The incumbent, M. Jodi Rell, became Governor when John G. Rowland resigned in 2004...
receiving 9,583 votes for just under one percent of the vote.
In 1995, Thornton founded www.Efficacy-online.org, a non-profit organization, to educate the world about drug policy reform.
Thornton retired from Southern New England Telephone Corporation, in Connecticut in 1997 where he was a middle-level manager.
Thornton ran for Governor of Connecticut in 2006. He was the first African American candidate to appear on the General Election Ballot for Governor of Connecticut.
In the last five years,2003-2008 Thornton has spoken to over 400,000 people on drug reform in some 750 venues all over the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. Thornton also has completed over 400 hundred radio shows and numerous television spots on drug policy reform as it relates to health, race/class and economics. He is described as "America's foremost anti-Drug War African American activist" by Amherst College's online newspaper
Online newspaper
An online newspaper, also known as a web newspaper, is a newspaper that exists on the World Wide Web or Internet, either separately or as an online version of a printed periodical....
. Thornton also speaks on education, and health care.
In 2007, Thornton received the Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action from the Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is a New York City-based non-profit organization, led by executive director Ethan Nadelmann, with the principal goal of ending the American "War on Drugs"...
.
Thornton and his wife Margaret now live in Glastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
. He has five daughters and two granddaughters. Thornton, an Army veteran, earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Waterbury's Post University
Post University
Post University is a small university located in Waterbury, Connecticut. Post University was established in 1890. Prior to May 1990, it was known as Post College...
in 1986.
External links
- Efficacy, Mr. Thornton's drug policy reform site.
- Eliminate Tuition! 2006 campaign commercial
- Free Higher Education 2006 campaign commercial