Press Release

August 12th, 2007

Contact: Jesse Johnson, Chair 304-541-9841
Frank Young, Treasurer 304-372-3945

Mountain Party Affiliates with US Greens,
Moves to Hold Primary Elections

Putnam Co. – West Virginia’s only third party voted to officially join the national Green Party US at their 2007 state convention in July. Jesse Johnson, Mountain Party Chair and Bob Henry Baber, vice-Chair convened the fourth convention since the party gained ballot status in 2000. Delegates from counties state-wide came together at a rural retreat in Putman Co. to consider several growth issues for their party but the most far-reaching was the official link to the US Greens national party. “This is a historic move for our party. Joining the national Green Party was a natural progression for our movement for economic, environmental and social justice in WV. We have already sent WV delegates to the national Green Party convention in mid-July.  There the assembled delegates approved our affiliation and welcomed us into the national party.”

The Mountain Party is the 46th state affiliate of the Green Party US that, with the addition of West Virginia, is on the ballot in 20 states. The Montana Green Party was number 45 when it joined in early April.  The last remaining states that have yet to affiliate are Kentucky, New Hampshire, and both South & North Dakota.

“The major change that will occur as a result of our joining the Green Party US is that the candidates for our presidential and vice-presidential slot on the ballot will be decided by at the national convention the way the Democrats and Republicans now do. This goes along with our other big change that involves moving to open primary voting, just as the major parties, to choose our in-state candidates,” Added Johnson.

Since their formation, the Mountain Party has nominated their candidates through a state convention process instead of having their party members go to the polls in May primaries. Frank Young, state party treasurer, was a supporter of the measure that was approved by consensus at their convention, “Moving to a primary will make it easier for potential candidates to register and run for office on the Mountain Party ticket. For many local offices they can just stop by their county courthouse. Others can mail in their filing to the Sec of State. It’s our hope that more progressive candidates will be encouraged to participate in the political process through our ballot line.”

The Party also gave the nod to Independents to vote in their Primaries like the Republicans do now. The Democrats, who are still debating this move, will be the only ones who don’t welcome independent voters in their Primary elections.

Info on the Mountain Party can be found at www.mtparty.org and Green Party at www.gpus.org