In this week's paper, SFR explores the fate of the New Mexico Green Party. Once mighty, the party has shrunk—its annual convention was a modest, 20-odd-person affair in the back room of an Albuquerque pub. But even as membership declines, Green ideology has reach. Herewith, a sampling of post-Greens running in this year's state and local elections.
Name: David Bacon
Occupation: Activist
Current party: Democrat
Running for: County Commissioner, Dist 3
Green cred: Ran as the Green Party candidate for Governor in 2002 (he lost to Bill Richardson) and for the PRC in 2006. Bacon recently told the New Mexican his main issues are “global warming, peak oil, local democratic action and building a sustainable economy.” That's about as Green as it gets.
Name: Hank Hughes
Occupation: Director, New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness
Current party: Democrat
Running for: Public Regulation Commission, Dist 4
Green cred: The top line of Hughes' platform is dedicated to “Making New Mexico a renewable energy leader” by supporting small, clean-energy businesses and working with national labs to improve efficiency and costs. Oh, and his campaign logo has a little wind turbine, a sun and water. Nice.
Name: Gerald Ortiz y Pino
Occupation: Social worker; State Senator (Bernalillo)
Current party: Democrat
Running for: Lieutenant Governor
Green cred: According to his campaign website, Ortiz y Pino is working to create a permanent fund for renewable energy development. In 2009, he introduced bills for biodiesel incentives and solar research projects.
Name: Ray Powell
Occupation: Veterinarian
Current party: Democrat
Running for: State Land Commissioner
Green cred: Works with Jane Goodall; need we say more? (He's also a board member at Rivers & Birds and the New Mexico Chapter of the Audubon Society.) In his "vision," Powell promises to support renewable energy.
Name: Paul White
Occupation: Community organizer
Current party: Democrat
Running for: County Commissioner, Dist 1
Green cred: White has pledged to “support environmentally sustainable job development in wind, solar and geothermal energy,” favors conservation easements and local farming initiatives and has been vocal on water quality issues.
Name: Alan Woodruff
Occupation: Attorney
Current party: Green
Running for: Congressional Dist 1
Green cred: Woodruff, a former Libertarian, is the lead plaintiff (and attorney) on the Green Party's lawsuit against the state for what the Greens allege are unfair election rules. Woodruff's platform is extensive and touches on each of the Greens' “key values.” To wit: “Anything that grows naturally should be legalized—and taxed,” Woodruff's platform reads.
Name: David Bacon
Occupation: Activist
Current party: Democrat
Running for: County Commissioner, Dist 3
Green cred: Ran as the Green Party candidate for Governor in 2002 (he lost to Bill Richardson) and for the PRC in 2006. Bacon recently told the New Mexican his main issues are “global warming, peak oil, local democratic action and building a sustainable economy.” That's about as Green as it gets.
Name: Hank Hughes
Occupation: Director, New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness
Current party: Democrat
Running for: Public Regulation Commission, Dist 4
Green cred: The top line of Hughes' platform is dedicated to “Making New Mexico a renewable energy leader” by supporting small, clean-energy businesses and working with national labs to improve efficiency and costs. Oh, and his campaign logo has a little wind turbine, a sun and water. Nice.
Name: Gerald Ortiz y Pino
Occupation: Social worker; State Senator (Bernalillo)
Current party: Democrat
Running for: Lieutenant Governor
Green cred: According to his campaign website, Ortiz y Pino is working to create a permanent fund for renewable energy development. In 2009, he introduced bills for biodiesel incentives and solar research projects.
Name: Ray Powell
Occupation: Veterinarian
Current party: Democrat
Running for: State Land Commissioner
Green cred: Works with Jane Goodall; need we say more? (He's also a board member at Rivers & Birds and the New Mexico Chapter of the Audubon Society.) In his "vision," Powell promises to support renewable energy.
Name: Paul White
Occupation: Community organizer
Current party: Democrat
Running for: County Commissioner, Dist 1
Green cred: White has pledged to “support environmentally sustainable job development in wind, solar and geothermal energy,” favors conservation easements and local farming initiatives and has been vocal on water quality issues.
Name: Alan Woodruff
Occupation: Attorney
Current party: Green
Running for: Congressional Dist 1
Green cred: Woodruff, a former Libertarian, is the lead plaintiff (and attorney) on the Green Party's lawsuit against the state for what the Greens allege are unfair election rules. Woodruff's platform is extensive and touches on each of the Greens' “key values.” To wit: “Anything that grows naturally should be legalized—and taxed,” Woodruff's platform reads.
New Mexico Green Party Key Values:
1. Grassroots Democracy
2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
3. Ecological Wisdom
4. Nonviolence
5. Decentralization
6. Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice
7. Gender Equity and Cooperation
8. Respect for Diversity
9. Personal and Global Responsibility
10. Future Focus and Sustainability and Quality of Life
