Green Party of Michigan nominates state and federal candidates

Ecological Wisdom      *   Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy   *   Non-Violence


Green Party of Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   www.migreens.org


**  News Release  **
**  ------------  **
   August 6, 2006


For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------
John Anthony La Pietra, Elections Co-ordinator/GPMI
    jalp@triton.net



28 Michigan Greens Will Stand on the Ballot
November 7 for Peace, Jobs, and Justice
=======================================
20 Nominated Over the Weekend at GPMI State
Convention in Shaftsburg; 8 More in Caucuses

Party Renews Opposition to "Civil Rights" Scam MCRI,
Hunting of Michigan's Bird of Peace; Also Says "No"
to Hasty, Fiscally Irresponsible Repeal of SBT



The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) nominated a score of
candidates for this fall's general election, and took
positions on three statewide issues, at its 2006 state
convention at Woodhull Township Hall in Shaftsburg.

The twenty candidates from the convention join eight more
who were already nominated in local and county caucuses.
All will campaign on the party's central theme for 2006:
"Peace, Jobs, and Justice."

Several candidates nominated at the convention are members
of a "Stop the War" slate of peace activists from across
Michigan.  They joined with the Greens to give more voters
across Michigan more chances to voice their opposition to
the perpetual-conflict policies of politicians as usual.

GPMI Elections Co-ordinator John Anthony La Pietra noted
the significance of the convention's timing.  "Today is
the 61st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.  It's
a day to remember that military might doesn't make us
right -- a day to think about choosing peace instead."

Michigan Greens also renewed their support for the state
bird of peace, voting unanimously to promote a "no" vote
in this fall's referendum on shooting mourning doves.
Governor Granholm and the Legislature struck a deal in
2004 to end the state's 99-year ban on dove-hunting,
but opponents turned in almost 300,000 signatures on
petitions to let the voters decide.

And GPMI continued its opposition to another statewide
ballot question, once again unanimously rejecting the
so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative".  Misnamed
and misleading, MCRI would force state agencies to turn a
blind eye to institutionalized racism and discrimination.
It would end the collection of data showing the lingering
effects of institutionalized racism, and gut programs
like Affirmative Action that would "address and redress
discrimination", in the words of a 2004 GPMI resolution.

Both these votes repeated positions Michigan Greens had
taken at their last convention in 2004.  This year, they
added another "no" vote on a state issue which may or
may not be on the November ballot:  the proposal to dump
Michigan's Single Business Tax (SBT) all but immediately --
and without the financial discipline of stating how to
plug the hole SBT's departure would leave in the budget.

La Pietra and other Michigan Greens will finish the task
of getting GPMI's candidates on the November 7 ballot by
turning in required paperwork to the Bureau of Elections
and several county clerks on Monday.

State law requires Greens to nominate by caucuses and
conventions, rather than letting them take part in this
coming week's public primary votes.  "It's a bit ironic,"
said La Pietra.  "We're the party that supports clean
elections and public financing of campaigns, but we're
the ones shut out of the publicly financed and promoted
primary elections."

But Green candidates will be included on this fall's
general-election ballot, under the party's sunflower
symbol.  And well before then, they will be listed --
alongside the candidates of other parties kept out of
the August primaries -- on the State Bureau of Elections
Web page of candidates for Tuesday, November 7:

  http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/candlist/06GEN/06GEN_CL.HTM

GPMI's home page is at:

  http://www.migreens.org



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           created/distributed using donated labor


Green Party of Michigan
548 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
    http://www.migreens.org
    734-663-3555

    GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics.  Greens are organized
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Each
state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its
own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:

  Ecological Wisdom
  Grassroots Democracy
  Social Justice
  Non-Violence
  Community Economics
  Decentralization
  Feminism
  Respect for Diversity
  Personal/Global Responsibility
  Future Focus/Sustainability



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Candidates Nominated at GPMI 2006 State Convention
August 5-6, 2006 * Woodhull Township Hall, Shaftsburg
-----------------------------------------------------
Douglas Campbell
Governor

David Frank Skrbina
Lieutenant Governor

Lynn Meadows
Secretary of State

David Sole
US Senator

David J. Newland
US Representative/Congressional District 01

Rodger William Gurk
US Representative/Congressional District 03

Kenny R. Mathenia
US Representative/Congressional District 05

Aaron Stuttman
US Representative/Congressional District 08

Matthew Abel
US Representative/Congressional District 09  [Oakland County]

Candace Ruth Caveny
US Representative/Congressional District 10

Arthur William Myatt
US Representative/Congressional District 12

Aimee Smith
US Representative/Congressional District 15

Kevin Anthony Carey
statewide/State Board of Education

Jacob Woods
statewide/State Board of Education

Edward Arthur Morin
statewide/University of Michigan Board of Regents

Lauren Elizabeth Spencer
statewide/Michigan State University Board of Trustees

Margaret Guttshall
statewide/Wayne State University Board of Governors

Michael William Merriweather
statewide/Wayne State University Board of Governors

Lloyd Clarke
State Senator/District 32 [Gratiot & Saginaw Counties]

Pete Van Jr.
State Representative/District 088 [Allegan County]



Nominated Earlier at County Caucuses
------------------------------------
James Wolbrink
State Senator/District 05  [Wayne County]

Richard T. Kuszmar
State Senator/District 09  [Macomb County]

Kyle McBee
State Senator/District 13  [Oakland County]

William J. Opalicky
State Senator/District 14  [Oakland County]

Kristen Hamel
State Rep/District 001  [Wayne County]

Fred D. Vitale
State Rep/District 003  [Wayne County]

Derek M. Grigsby
State Rep/District 007  [Wayne County]

Pete Schermerhorn
Ann Arbor City Council/Ward 3  [Washtenaw County]