Green Party of Arkansas
Encyclopedia
The Green Party of Arkansas is the state party organization for Arkansas
of the Green Party of the United States
.
With the November 2008 election of Richard Carroll
as representative for the 39th District (Little Rock) in the Arkansas House of Representatives
, the Arkansas Green Party gained its first ever state representative in the state's history and currently the only elected state representative of any U.S. Green Party.
Greens achieved their first electoral victory in Arkansas in 1992 when Stephan Miller was elected Alderman for Fayetteville
, Ward 1. He was joined on the City Council in 1996 by Randy Zurcher when he was elected to represent Fayetteville, Ward 2.
In 2006 the party ran candidates for statewide offices for the first time. Jim Lendall
, their candidate for governor, was an Arkansas legislator for eight years as both an independent and Democrat, before joining the party in the spring of 2005. All of the Green candidates were denied ballot access when the party turned in petitions containing 10,000 signatures. The party went to court with the help of the state ACLU in order to get on the ballot. The state required 10,000 petition signatures for independent candidates, but signatures from 3% of those who voted in the previous gubernatorial or presidential election for Third Party
candidates. On 23 August 2006 a federal judge in Little Rock agreed and declared the Third Party rule unconstitutional, ordering the state to place Green Party candidates on the ballot.
2008 was the first time the Green Party had a separate primary ballot in Arkansas. There were four candidates filed to run in the presidential primary Cynthia McKinney
, Kent Mesplay
, Kat Swift
, and Jared A. Ball. In January 2008, Ball withdrew from the campaign and endorsed McKinney, but his name was not removed from the ballot.
The presidential primary was held on Super Tuesday
, February 5, 2008. The results of the primary were as follows :
Jared A. Ball (Green) 81 10.34%
Cynthia McKinney (Green) 157 20.05%
Kent Mesplay (Green) 61 7.79%
Kat Swift (Green) 46 5.87%
Uncommitted (Green) 438 55.94%
Over half of the Green primary voters choose to an uncommitted slate of delegates. The large number of uncommitted votes may indicate support for Ralph Nader
, dissatisfaction or unfamiliarity with the candidates on the ballot. Nader subsequently announced that he would not seek the Green nomination.
The Green Party of Arkansas nominated a record number of candidates for the 2008 state and local elections, exceeding the endorsements of the People's Party in 1892.
The 2008 campaign was remarkable for the number of Green candidates facing otherwise unopposed incumbents. Rebekah Kennedy who in 2006 ran for Attorney General
ran for the United States Senate
versus incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor without Republican opposition. Kennedy received 206,504 votes for 20.54% of the vote, her percentage was the best ever for a Green candidate for Senate and the vote total was the second best. Like wise, Abel Tomlinson, a University of Arkansas graduate student, was the sole challenger to Republican John Boozman
for the 3rd Congressional district seat. Tomlinson received 58,850 votes (21.4%). Green Deb McFarland (64,398 votes, 23.2%) opposed Democrat Vic Snyder
in the 2nd Congressional district, and received the best percentage ever for a green candidate for US house. Joshua Drake (32,603 votes 13.8%) sought the 4th Congressional district seat against Democrat Mike Ross.
State Rep. District 33 - Conrad Harvin
State Rep. District 39 - Richard Carroll
(won)
State Rep. District 42 - Gene Mason
State Rep. District 50 - Brian Barnett
State Rep. District 68 - Mary Boley
State Rep. District 90 - Wendy Crow
Chicot County Assessor
- Elizabeth McCoy
Pulaski County JP
District 6 - Wainnette Copass
Sebastian County JP District 4 - Richard Suits
Fayetteville City Council - Bernard Sulliban (non-partisan position)
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
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...
.
With the November 2008 election of Richard Carroll
Richard Carroll (politician)
Richard Carroll is an American politician. He ran for District 39 of the Arkansas House of Representatives on the U.S...
as representative for the 39th District (Little Rock) in the Arkansas House of Representatives
Arkansas House of Representatives
The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 26,734...
, the Arkansas Green Party gained its first ever state representative in the state's history and currently the only elected state representative of any U.S. Green Party.
Greens achieved their first electoral victory in Arkansas in 1992 when Stephan Miller was elected Alderman for Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
, Ward 1. He was joined on the City Council in 1996 by Randy Zurcher when he was elected to represent Fayetteville, Ward 2.
In 2006 the party ran candidates for statewide offices for the first time. Jim Lendall
Jim Lendall
Jim Lendall is an American politician, activist, and nurse. Lendall was the 2010 Green Party candidate for Arkansas governor.Lendall, a former State Representative, from Little Rock was elected to four terms in the state legislature as both a Democrat and an independent...
, their candidate for governor, was an Arkansas legislator for eight years as both an independent and Democrat, before joining the party in the spring of 2005. All of the Green candidates were denied ballot access when the party turned in petitions containing 10,000 signatures. The party went to court with the help of the state ACLU in order to get on the ballot. The state required 10,000 petition signatures for independent candidates, but signatures from 3% of those who voted in the previous gubernatorial or presidential election for Third Party
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
candidates. On 23 August 2006 a federal judge in Little Rock agreed and declared the Third Party rule unconstitutional, ordering the state to place Green Party candidates on the ballot.
- Governor - Jim LendallJim LendallJim Lendall is an American politician, activist, and nurse. Lendall was the 2010 Green Party candidate for Arkansas governor.Lendall, a former State Representative, from Little Rock was elected to four terms in the state legislature as both a Democrat and an independent...
- 12,774 1.65% - Attorney General - Rebekah KennedyRebekah KennedyRebekah Kennedy is an Arkansas politician affiliated with the Green Party and was a candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2008 election cycle. She unsuccessfully ran for State Attorney General during the 2006 and 2010 election cycles....
- 33,386 4.40% - Secretary of State - Ralph 'Marty' Scully - 22,773 2.99%
- State Treasurer - Brock Carpenter - 28,861 3.82%
- Auditor of State - Michael Bolzenius - 106,515 15.13%
- Commissioner of State Lands - Robert David Lewis - 126,135 18.08%
2007 - 2008
The party began its party petition for 2008 on July 28, 2007. Under a law passed earlier this year, party petitions require 10,000 valid signatures and must be completed in any 60-day period that the group chooses. in 2006 the law permitted four months. On September 26, 2007 the Green Party of Arkansas submitted 17,197 signatures to the secretary of state's office. Assuming there are at least 10,000 valid signatures, the Green Party would then be a qualified party in Arkansas for 2008, able to nominate for all partisan office in the state, by convention. The secretary of state's office had 30 days to check and verify the signatures, and on October 17, the Arkansas Green Party was notified that its petition has been certified.2008 was the first time the Green Party had a separate primary ballot in Arkansas. There were four candidates filed to run in the presidential primary Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia Ann McKinney is a former US Congresswoman and a member of the Green Party since 2007. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for President of the United States...
, Kent Mesplay
Kent Mesplay
Kent Mesplay is the California delegate to the Green National Committee and unsuccessfully sought the 2004 Green Party Presidential nomination which he lost again in 2008.-Personal:...
, Kat Swift
Kat Swift
Kat Swift is a United States political activist, former co-chair of the Green Party of Texas, and spokesperson for the Green Party's National Women’s Caucus. She announced her intention to seek the 2008 Presidential nomination of the US Green Party at the 2004 Green Party National Convention in...
, and Jared A. Ball. In January 2008, Ball withdrew from the campaign and endorsed McKinney, but his name was not removed from the ballot.
The presidential primary was held on Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday
In the United States, Super Tuesday, in general, refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated...
, February 5, 2008. The results of the primary were as follows :
Jared A. Ball (Green) 81 10.34%
Cynthia McKinney (Green) 157 20.05%
Kent Mesplay (Green) 61 7.79%
Kat Swift (Green) 46 5.87%
Uncommitted (Green) 438 55.94%
Over half of the Green primary voters choose to an uncommitted slate of delegates. The large number of uncommitted votes may indicate support for Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
, dissatisfaction or unfamiliarity with the candidates on the ballot. Nader subsequently announced that he would not seek the Green nomination.
The Green Party of Arkansas nominated a record number of candidates for the 2008 state and local elections, exceeding the endorsements of the People's Party in 1892.
The 2008 campaign was remarkable for the number of Green candidates facing otherwise unopposed incumbents. Rebekah Kennedy who in 2006 ran for Attorney General
Arkansas Attorney General
The Arkansas Attorney General is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement/legal officer and lawyer for Arkansas. The position is elected every four years, e.g...
ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
versus incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor without Republican opposition. Kennedy received 206,504 votes for 20.54% of the vote, her percentage was the best ever for a Green candidate for Senate and the vote total was the second best. Like wise, Abel Tomlinson, a University of Arkansas graduate student, was the sole challenger to Republican John Boozman
John Boozman
John Nichols Boozman is the junior U.S. Senator for Arkansas . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for .Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was the brother of state Senator Fay Boozman...
for the 3rd Congressional district seat. Tomlinson received 58,850 votes (21.4%). Green Deb McFarland (64,398 votes, 23.2%) opposed Democrat Vic Snyder
Vic Snyder
Victor F. "Vic" Snyder is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
in the 2nd Congressional district, and received the best percentage ever for a green candidate for US house. Joshua Drake (32,603 votes 13.8%) sought the 4th Congressional district seat against Democrat Mike Ross.
2008
- U.S. SenateUnited States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008The 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Pryor decided to run for a second term. No Republican filed to challenge him. His only opponent was Green party candidate Rebekah Kennedy...
- Rebekah KennedyRebekah KennedyRebekah Kennedy is an Arkansas politician affiliated with the Green Party and was a candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2008 election cycle. She unsuccessfully ran for State Attorney General during the 2006 and 2010 election cycles....
(20.6%) - U.S. Congress Second DistrictArkansas's 2nd congressional districtArkansas's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district located in the central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas and includes the state capital of Little Rock as well as its suburbs and surrounding areas....
- Deb McFarland (23.3%) - U.S. Congress Third DistrictArkansas's 3rd congressional districtArkansas's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The district covers Northwest Arkansas and takes in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith....
- Abel Tomlinson (21.5%) - U.S. Congress Fourth DistrictArkansas's 4th congressional districtArkansas's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the southern half of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Notable towns in the district include Camden, Hope, Hot Springs, Magnolia, Pine Bluff, and Texarkana....
- Joshua Drake (13.8%)
State Rep. District 33 - Conrad Harvin
State Rep. District 39 - Richard Carroll
Richard Carroll (politician)
Richard Carroll is an American politician. He ran for District 39 of the Arkansas House of Representatives on the U.S...
(won)
State Rep. District 42 - Gene Mason
State Rep. District 50 - Brian Barnett
State Rep. District 68 - Mary Boley
State Rep. District 90 - Wendy Crow
Chicot County Assessor
Assessor (property)
An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
- Elizabeth McCoy
Pulaski County JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
District 6 - Wainnette Copass
Sebastian County JP District 4 - Richard Suits
Fayetteville City Council - Bernard Sulliban (non-partisan position)
2010
- U.S. SenateUnited States Senate election in Arkansas, 2010The 2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S...
- John L. GrayJohn Gray (Arkansas)John L. Gray is an Arkansas politician and businessperson. Gray is the mayor of Greenland, Arkansas and the Green Party's candidate for United State Senate in 2010. He is also a retired engineer. He was born and raised in Morrilton, Arkansas... - Attorney General - Rebekah KennedyRebekah KennedyRebekah Kennedy is an Arkansas politician affiliated with the Green Party and was a candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2008 election cycle. She unsuccessfully ran for State Attorney General during the 2006 and 2010 election cycles....