> -----Original Message----- > From: Lisa Boyd [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 11:05 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: GREEN PARTY LAUNCHES MINNEAPOLIS CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL > AND PARK BOARD > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > MAY 13, 2005 > > For further information about this release contact: > Eric Makela, Spokesperson, 612-782-2118, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Darrell Gerber, Spokesperson 612-824-7366, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > For further information about the 5th Congressional District Green Party > or > the endorsed candidates, visit the website at http://5cd.mngreens.org > > GREEN PARTY LAUNCHES MINNEAPOLIS CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND PARK > BOARD > Minneapolis, MN - On the morning of Thursday, May 12, the candidates > endorsed by the 5th Congressional District Green Party (5CDGP) launched > what > promises to be an exciting city campaign this year. At a press conference > at > Minneapolis City Hall, they took a stand on some important issues facing > the > people of Minneapolis, calling for: > - No stadium paid with taxes unless we have a locally owned team. > - Restoring Metro Transit budget cuts, expanding service to 2003 levels > now, > expanding service absolutely in the next two years. > - More state funding to all public schools including colleges and > universities. > - More funding for parks and libraries. > - Establishment of a commission to study raising local taxes > progressively. > - Creation of a City Environmental Department and collaboration with other > jurisdictions to "green-up" the city using new, sustainable technologies > and > renewable resources. > - Global Warming is here: How do we prepare for a post-petroleum > Minneapolis? > > They also will continue to work on Electoral Reforms including: > - Granting voting rights to non-citizens in city elections. > - Publicly funded elections in the city. > - Implementation of Instant Run-off Voting (IRV) and proportional > representation in the city. > > Lisa Boyd, 5CDGP Treasurer, noted, "We have six incredible people running > for office here, including three incumbents! And I am thrilled about the > leadership role women are playing in this Party. This entire group of > candidates is really going to make a positive difference in the lives of > Minneapolis residents." > > About the Green Candidates for Minneapolis Races in 2005 > > FARHEEN HAKEEM, Mayoral candidate for Minneapolis, states, "I am delighted > to be endorsed and I hope to talk about four important issues: affordable > housing, livable wages, sustainable economics, and an anti-racist approach > to public safety." Hakeem hopes to build bridges between many communities > and advocate for their voices. She also emphasized her disagreement with > R.T. Rybak and Peter McLaughlin about the building of a new stadium and > stated her support for a referendum. Contact Information: Farheen Hakeem, > 612-395-5559; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; www.hakeemformayor.org > > NATALIE JOHNSON LEE, Incumbent 5th Ward City Council Member says, "To be > endorsed by the Green Party for the second consecutive time is an honor! > Grassroots democracy is what allowed me one of the biggest political > victories in the history of Minneapolis and the privilege to serve the > citizens of the 5th Ward. When re-elected I will continue to work on > issues > that give life to opportunity, enforce equity, and improve the quality of > life for all in North Minneapolis and beyond." A fearless advocate for the > under served and working class, Natalie Johnson Lee has also earned the > endorsement of the Minneapolis Fighters Local 82 in addition to the full > support of the African American Firefighters Association. Contact > Information: Travis Lee, 612-859-8394, [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > www.nataliejohnsonlee.com > > DEAN ZIMMERMANN, Incumbent 6th Ward City Council Member is pleased to > again > carry the Green banner. "We must be leaders in preparing Minneapolis to > thrive in the post-petroleum economy," said Zimmermann. "I look forward to > continuing my work for alternatives to auto transportation, improved air > quality, and creating living wage jobs for Minneapolis." Contact > Information: Z Campaign Phone: 612-724-3888; Campaign Fax: 612-722-8768; > www.votedeanzimmermann.org > > CAM GORDON, seeking election for the 2nd Ward City Council seat is a > Montessori teacher, musician and journalist, and has been active in > Minneapolis community affairs for over 25 years. "The upcoming election > offers an enormous opportunity for the people of Minneapolis. In the > coming > months we will have a chance --as individuals and as a city-- to examine, > discuss, evaluate, and ultimately make decisions about where we are, where > we want to go and how we plan to get there," said Gordon. "I believe that > the people of Minneapolis are eager for a city that has Green principles > front and center. The green party offers the vision and the values we need > to make this a more just, peaceful, democratic and sustainable city for > everyone." Gordon is past president of the Seward Neighborhood Group and > served two years as elected Neighborhood Representative on the city-wide > Neighborhood Revitalization Program Policy Board. He has been chair of > both > the Minneapolis/5th District Green Party and the state Green Party of > Minnesota. He ran for City Council in 2001 and finished second with 48% of > the vote. Contact Information: Cam Gordon, 612 296-0579; > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > www.camgordon.org > > AARON NEUMANN, seeking election for the 3rd Ward City Council seat, says, > "I > am running because I believe the Green Party and Minneapolis have a big > opportunity. We need to step into a leadership role on electoral reform > and > create a space for consideration of Instant Run-off Voting (IRV), > proportional representation, single transferable vote, changing ward > boundaries, issues of redistricting, etc." Aaron is a writer and activist > and has a ten-year history of public service, environmental and social > justice activism, and political organizing. He currently serves on the > board > of the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association and works for the > Pulse > of the Twin Cities. Contact Information: Aaron Neumann, 612-788-1284; > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; www.VoteNeumann.org > > ANNIE YOUNG, Incumbent, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board - at large, > has worked and served as a community activist throughout Minneapolis for > over 30 years. Seeking re-election to a fifth term on the Board, she is an > environmental activist who has brought her passion, knowledge and > environmental ethic to the Park Board. She has championed dog parks and > skateboard parks, reduced mowing along with native restoration, proposed > the > elimination of the use of chemicals in the parks and proposes converting > to > clean, green technologies wherever possible to prepare for a different > world > 25 years from now. She is currently the chair of the City of Minneapolis > Water Quality Task Force and is constantly working on efforts to clean up > our lakes, streams and river. Annie acknowledges that the Green Party is > new -- it is growing. "We Greens say we must build from the bottom up, > elect > people to our local Boards. And it makes sense that with our key value of > Ecological Wisdom, we serve on the Park Board, which is taking care of the > natural resources of our beautiful city." Contact Information: Annie > Young, > 612-236-5985; www.annieyoung.net
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