Green Party Leads Calif. Race

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- A candidate for the California Assembly held a slim
lead today that could make her the nation's first Green Party state
legislator.

With all 153 precincts reporting, Audie Elizabeth Bock had 14,357 votes, or
50.5 percent of the vote in Tuesday's runoff election. Former Oakland Mayor
Elihu Harris had 14,065 votes, or 49.4 percent of the vote.

Because an unknown number of absentee and provisional ballots still had to be
counted, Alameda County election officials said the official totals may not be
available for several days.

The Green Party said victory would make Bock its first state lawmaker in this
country. The party is similar in philosphy to Green parties in various
European countries, sharing goals such as feminism, decentralized authority,
nonviolence and environmental consciousness.

``I'm not declaring victory until every vote is counted,'' said Bock, 53, a
part-time ethnic studies instructor at Oakland's Laney College, who was
outspent 20-to-1 by Harris.

Harris, 51, had held the Assembly seat for 12 years before he served two terms
as Oakland mayor, a post now held by former Gov. Jerry Brown.

The winner will succeed Don Perata, who was elected to the state Senate last
September.


Reply via email to