The Green Party is the political arm of the environmental and social justice movements. I first registered Green in California in 1995, when I was looking for an alternative to the “Duopoly” – the two-party system monopolizing U.S. politics. My attraction was initially to the environmentalism indicated by “green.” Upon learning more, what really “sold me” is the commitment to Social Justice and Peace. In addition to these main three subjects, the party has “Democracy” as the fourth main pillar. These basic values unite Green Parties across the planet and serve as a foundation for the Ten Key Values. In the United States the Green Party is the fourth largest party.
My green involvement at local, state and national levels
The following year, 1996, I became active with the San Diego County Council of the Green Party. I was elected Treasurer (1996-1997). We reached out to Ralph Nader, who had agreed to run for president on our ticket in 1996. As co-chair of the Communications Committee, I helped put on a press conference for him at the Hotel del Coronado. I later helped place Ralph Nader on the California ballot, voting my support as a Nader delegate at a Green Party State Meeting in Berkeley in 1996.
Beginning in 2004 I served as a Green Party of California delegate to the Green National Committee (GNC) until 2015. In 2006, I was again elected to the Green Party County Council, San Diego. I have served numerous times as a delegate to the Green Party of California General Assembly.
You’re running for what?!
In 2004, at the Green Party of California state meeting held in Chula Vista, CA, I announced my first presidential run. David Cobb became our nominee that year. As the attorney who helped coalesce the various State party factions and affiliations into a federated national party, the Green Party of the United States, he was well known. There were times when David and I were the only ones debating.
I distinguished myself by being an advocate for Native American people, and for focusing on Climate Change. Although working full time for the County of San Diego as an Air Quality Inspector for the Air Pollution Control District, I used vacation time to travel and participate in debates and party-building. At the Presidential Nominating Convention, held in Milwaukee, WI, in 2004 many people told me that if I had started earlier I would have won. During the contested Primary, I actually gained delegates after the first round of voting and was told that I won the debates!
I have been a presidential candidate in the Green Party Primary/Caucus/Convention process in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. I have helped collect signatures in various states to help gain ballot access. Pro tip: when it’s so cold that ink freezes use gel pens. In 2006 I also ran for U.S. Senate in California against two other candidates, in our first contested Green Party race for Senate. I was also involved in a run for Mayor of San Diego. Efforts like these help with party visibility and growth.
Over 20 years of calling for the Treaties to be honored
During the presidential runs I focused on Climate Change as an existential threat, and I have been adamant that the U.S. federal government honor the nation-to-nation treaties with the First Nations. Also, I was an early adopter of “The Green New Deal,” speaking about it on the campaign trail in 2008, several years before Jill Stein made it the central message of her campaign in 2012. That year, at the Maggie Phair debates in Los Angeles I met and debated the comedian/actor Roseanne Barr (also a candidate, along with Jill Stein). In 2016, Roseanne agreed to be my running mate. There are different plans referred to as a Green New Deal. With a nod to Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” the plan is broadly to stimulate job growth in a public works plan repairing and “greening” our crumbling infrastructure, so as to improve physical security and cut costs and inefficiencies over the long haul.
