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Mt. Party News and ViewsFebruary 2002 (Volume 2, Issue 1)Scroll down (or use index links below) to read the newsletter online. To view or print an exact replica of the printed newsletter, try the PDF version.
Convention Planned for April, Party Seeking Candidates Convention Planned for April, Party Seeking Candidates2002 is a big year for the Mountain Party, its first general election since winning ballot status. At a recent meeting a date was set for the first party convention (April 27th) and a nominating committee was formed to scout for candidates to bring forward to the convention. Calling All CandidatesSince the Mountain Party will not hold a primary election we must nominate our candidates for any offices before the primary date of May 14th. To meet this election law requirement, we will have a party nominating convention April 27th in Charleston. A nominating committee will evaluate candidates and recommend nominations to the party convention delegates. But we need you, the citizens in the various counties and districts, to recruit and recommend good, progressive candidates to run for public offices on the Mountain Party ticket. You may want to run for office as a Mountain Party candidate. Or you may know someone else who wants to run on our party’s ticket. Democrats and Republicans have already filed to run for offices in this year’s primary election cycle. All 100 House of Delegates seats and 17 of the 34 State Senate seats are up for election this fall. Several county commissions and other local offices are up for grabs, too. The Mountain Party can run candidates for any partisan race in the 2002 election cycle. The Mountain Party’s Convention will have the power to place candidates on the fall ballot instead of going through the primary election process. We do have stronger organization in some areas than in other areas, and most likely will not have a full ticket in all districts. That is not a problem, and it does not affect our eligibility to run candidates for any and all offices in 2004 as well. There are two very important things to know. (1) First, any person who expects to (or might want to) run as a Mountain Party candidate for any office must be registered as either Mountain Party voter or as an Independent by February 25th. If one is already registered Independent, then they need not change their registration just now. But if one is registered Democratic, Republican, or anything other than Mountain Party or Independent, and expects to run on the Mountain Party ticket for any office in 2002, the person should change their voters’ registration to Mountain Party RIGHT AWAY! (2) If you have a district that needs to have a progressive candidate fill a particular office, please let us know. But remember, the Mountain Party was born to work at the grass roots level. That means Mountain Party supporters at the local level must recruit and/or recommend local candidates. We do not, generally, expect that party leaders at state level will pick candidates for local and district races. That job is best done by you and other Mountain Party supporters in your local county or district. Recommendations for nominations of persons to run as Mountain Party candidates should be brought to the attention of: Frank Young, RR 1, Box 108, Ripley, WV 25271 ; e-mail: frankly@mtparty.org ; phone (304)372-3945, or call Gregg at the Mountain Party (304)937-3022. Your recommendations for Mountain Party candidates are essential for a successful nominating convention and fall election. Consider running for office and ask you friends to also. It’ll only happen if we make it happen! Words from Denise“Now is the time for independent-minded West Virginians to become involved in the political process. No longer must we depend on the bankrupt Democratic and Republican parties for ballot access. We now have a genuine opportunity to contribute values and fresh ideas to the state’s elections. We have a chance to field candidates who will speak out and bring up issues of substance that the so-called major parties won’t touch. Good luck to all candidates in 2002!” Denise Giardina, 2000 Mountain Party Candidate for Governor Platform Please!As a working list we have identified basic items which we hold to be self evident and the basis for a draft platform. Our April convention will elaborate... The Mountain Party’s draft platform is based on: • Clean Air, Water and Land • Responsible mining and logging practices • Economic Fairness, including an end to corporate welfare • Small community schools and limits on busing • Universal Health Care • Campaign Finance Reform • And many more sensible issues to come..... The Mountain Party Needs You!To move forward and become a force for positive change, the WV Mountain Party must develop the resources to hire staff. Our goal is to hire an administrative assistant for the election work in 2002. If only 100 people pledge $12 a month this can begin happening right away. Please see our Donate page to fill out the form and send in your first installment today! |
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