Elections

2006

coming soon

2005

SPRING 2005 ELECTIONS

The Lake Winnebago Green Party ran two strong candidates for the Oshkosh Common Council, Jenni Ryan and Bob Poeschl, in a field of 14 candidates for 3 seats. Despite strong showings neither were elected.

OSHKOSH COMMON COUNCIL: GREENS IN THE RUNNING

Bob Poeschl
The top priority of Bob Poeschl’s campaign is a shift in spending priorities to represent the needs and interests of the Oshkosh taxpayers. According to Poeschl, “The question needs to be raised - should the city be spending money on the outdoor Amphitheater and restrooms while city property taxes are being increased, city street lights are being removed and the public pool has closed.”

Poeschl, a lifelong resident of Oshkosh, is a graduate of Oshkosh West High School and a former University of Wisconsin Oshkosh student. Currently he works for Americorps, sustaining community outreach and enriching program development with the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh. Poeschl is the founder and director of the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center, a local community education and activist center. He received the prestigious Wisconsin Peacemaker Award in 2004 from the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Poeschl was also recently honored with the Oshkosh Diversity Award from the Human Relations Council for his outstanding commitment to supporting diversity in the Oshkosh Community .

The Lake Winnebago Green Party has endorsed Bob Poeschl in his campaign for the Oshkosh Common Council. “Bob Poeschl will bring to the Common Council a strong voice for responsible government and the welfare of all citizens,” said Julie Stockwell, Co-Spokesperson for LWGP. “We need people on the Common Council that are in touch with the real interests of the people.” “Bob Poeschl be an effective advocate for clean government and social justice,” added David Barnhill, the other Co-Spokesperson. He is truly a candidate of the people and for the people.”

Jenni Ryan
Jenni Ryan believes that the priorities of the current council are out of sync with the Oshkosh taxpayer. According to Ryan, "A no-bid contract will never provide the taxpayer the best value for their tax money. Taking $675,000 out of the reserve fund to build restrooms at the new amphitheater is just not in the interests of the Oshkosh taxpayer. We need council members who support the progress of Oshkosh while not hurting the people they represent."

Ryan is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a degree in Business Administration. She is pursuing a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership and Quality from Marian College. She is currently manager of the UW Oshkosh Credit Union, Reeve Memorial Union Branch, where she has been employed for six years. Ryan is a dedicated member to the Oshkosh community, currently serving as the Children's Miracle Network Liaison for the Winnebago Credit Union Chapter, which raises money for local children's hospitals. She also serves as the treasurer of the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center, a local community education and activist center.

"Jenni Ryan will advocate strongly fair taxation, wise use of taxpayer money, and social justice," said David Barnhill. "Oshkosh needs her perspective and her energy."

2004

“This is just the beginning”
Lake Winnebago Green Party
celebrates successful fall 2004 campaign

GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES, FALL 2004
Tony Palmeri, David Cobb, Carol Ann Rittenhouse

Lake Winnebago Green Party campaign summary, fall 2004

On election night, the Lake Winnebago Green Party celebrated what they consider a successful campaign. “We are pleased with how the campaign turned out,” said David Barnhill, co-spokesperson for the party. “For the Green Party, this is just the beginning. We ran local candidates for the first time, and they had a substantial impact.” Carol Rittenhouse ran for the 6 th Congressional District against incumbent Tom Petri (R) and Jef Hall (D). Rittenhouse garnered 3% of the vote. “Carol was able to bring up issues that the establishment parties ignore, such as environmental problems, peace, and social justice” said Barnhill. “And she sparked interest in the Green Party throughout the area. Because she ran, there is talk of new Green Party chapters in Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Dodge counties, and Campus Greens at Lakeland College and UW-Washington County.”

Tony Palmeri ran for the State Assembly in the 54 th District in Oshkosh. Despite being in an area that is traditionally a lock for Republicans, he was endorsed by three former mayors and two sitting members of the Common Council and got a healthy 9% of the vote. “Tony raised crucial ideas such as guaranteed health care, living wage, and tuition freeze that the other parties won’t touch,” said Julie Stockwell, the other co-spokesperson of the party. “He was able to convince educators, workers, the elderly and many others that they have a real alternative to Politics as Usual. And he galvanized enthusiastic support among young voters.”

Palmeri had run for this seat as a Democrat in 1996, but is glad he made the switch. “What I particularly cherish about being a Green Party candidate is that I have complete freedom to speak the truth to power,” Palmeri said. “We don’t watch polls and ask the party leaders what we should say. The American people deserve politicians who talk straight with them.” He is more convinced than ever that the Green Party is the wave of the future. “There will be a Green running in the 54th in 2006,” Palmeri said.

The Lake Winnebago Green Party is now concentrating on the future. Their motto is “green and growing.” “The Green Party is a citizen’s movement,” Barnhill added, “and this campaign has developed a strong base for future elections and for campaigns on issues such as clean government, health care, and the environment. The Lake Winnebago area will be seeing a lot of the Green Party from now on.” The Lake Winnebago Green Party is already making plans to run candidates in the non-partisan city elections in the spring.
Once again, the "spoiler" complaint

"The Real Spoilers," By Tony Palmeri

Since obtaining 9% of the vote in my attempt as a Green Party candidate to unseat Gregg Underheim, I have been attacked as a “spoiler” by a small group of Gordon Hintz supporters who arrogantly insist that my votes would have gone to the Democrat. This is the same tired, bitter, and false malarkey trotted out every time third party candidates step forward to challenge our sick political system and the narrow choices it provides us.

My supporters are Greens, Independents, first time voters, Democrats, Republicans and many others. Brian Poeschl, Paul Esslinger, Melanie Bloechl, and Bob Jungwirth enthusiastically supported my candidacy. Had I not been in the race, a good number of my supporters would have voted for Dan Carpenter or not voted. Neither Hintz nor Underheim are entitled to these votes just because they are establishment party candidates. We should applaud Palmeri and Carpenter voters for having the courage to say “NO!” to politics as usual.

For the majority of voters and non-voters, the choice between the establishment party candidates is the choice between the “evil” and “lesser evil.” Whenever a voter has an opportunity to vote for a third party candidate that represents their hopes and values, the voter is told that they are “wasting” their vote and that their favorite candidate will “spoil” the election for one of the establishment candidates. Millions of voters nation wide end up voting for something that they don’t want because what they actually do want “can’t win.” Millions more simply do not vote at all.

The solution CANNOT be to tell third party candidates to shut up or not run for office. The solution CANNOT be to tell Palmeri and Carpenter voters that they don’t have the right to vote for their favorite candidates. These are unrealistic, totalitarian solutions that give us citizen apathy, lack of meaningful choices at the polls, and politics as usual.

In this year’s race for the 54 th assembly district, the spoilers were not Palmeri and Carpenter giving voters real choices. The real spoiler was the “plurality” voting method that allowed Underheim to win the election even though a majority of voters (54%) chose other candidates.

The solution is very simple. In any multiple-candidate race where the first-place candidate does not receive more than 50% of the vote, there should be a runoff election between the top two candidates. The runoff could take place two weeks or a month later, and it would ensure that the winner goes to Madison with a clear majority of votes. Many states and municipalities already use runoff voting.

An even better solution is Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Also known as “rank choice” voting, IRV allows voters to vote for their first, second, and third choice candidates in one trip to the polls. If no candidate is the first choice of at least 50% of the voters, IRV allows for a same day runoff. IRV ensures that the winning candidate enjoys true support from the majority of the voters and it eliminates the concern that a vote for a third party candidate is “wasted.” Assembly Bill 911 would allow IRV in Wisconsin, yet neither major party seems too motivated to see it pass. They’d rather see third parties go away, which is NOT going to happen.

In addition to IRV, we also need reform of campaign financing to allow for a “level playing field” between ALL candidates. Because it is almost impossible for third party candidates to receive public financing, they are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to getting their message out to the public unless they are independently wealthy.

The Democratic and Republican parties at various times have been outraged by third party “stealing” of “their” votes. Yet rather than reform our antiquated, unfair, and undemocratic election procedures, they choose to attack third party and independent candidates as “spoilers.” The truth is that the Republican and Democratic leadership feel they benefit from the corrupt system in place, so they feel no great pressure to change it.

For those Oshkosh citizens taking nasty, cheap shots at Dan Carpenter and myself, I urge you to become an activist to reform Wisconsin’s elections. Support AB 911. The bill is stalled in committee and will not pass unless citizens demand it.

It is impossible for independents and third parties to spoil a system that is already spoiled. Instead of wasting valuable time and energy attacking thousands of Palmeri and Carpenter supporters for exercising their democratic rights, let’s start a real citizens’ movement to bring some necessary reforms to our state. Absent such a movement, we will NEVER get reforms from the corporate occupied legislatures in Madison and Washington.

Greens See Evidence of Growth in Election Day Results

The Green Party had 10 candidates on the ballot line throughout the state, in addition to David Cobb and Pat LaMarche, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Green Party of the United States. Cobb/LaMarche received 2,663 votes statewide, .09% of the Wisconsin presidential vote.

"This campaign has always been about building and growing the Green Party and that's just what we've succeeded in doing. We've registered more Green voters, we've boosted local campaigns, we've garnered fantastic media coverage and we've put Instant Runoff Voting in the forefront as a solution for the 'spoiler' voting dynamic," said Cobb-LaMarche Media Director Blair Bobier.

"Cobb received votes well beyond our membership in an election that challenged us all," said Jill Bussiere, Co-spokesperson of the Wisconsin Green Party. "Running a presidential candidate is about more than receiving votes on Election Day, though. David Cobb's candidacy bolstered Greens, Democrats, and Republicans alike who stand against the War on Iraq, for a more democratic and accessible election system, and for leaving a healthy planet for our children. We gained members and resources throughout
the year - and for a party that continues to grow, that counts as success!"

Percentages for candidates from within the state were higher, ranging from 20.06% for Brian Pruka, candidate for Dane County Clerk, to 2.2% for Bruce Hinkforth, candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly District 31.

"We're pleased with our results," said Juscha Robinson, Four Lakes Green Party Elections Co-chair (Dane County). "At least 40,000 people in our county voted for a Green. A number of people have written to me since Election Day to ask more about the Greens. We spent approximately $0.068 per vote. . . but that incredibly low cost per vote is overwhelmingly due to our volunteer power!"

Mike Miles, candidate for U.S. Congress District 7, won the distinction of being the top vote getter of all 47 Green Congressional candidates. He received 26,188 votes, or 9% of the votes cast in the 7th Congressional District for that office. Greens depend upon grass roots efforts to get their message out and get votes. Miles spent less than 19¢ per vote ($5,000 / 26,188) while the incumbent, Obey, spent $2.50 - 2.90 per vote ($600, - 700,000 / 240,988 votes).

Wisconsin Green Candidates: Unofficial Results

Mike Miles
US Congress District 7
26,160 votes
9.37%
Finished 2nd out of 3 candidates

Carol Ann Rittenhouse
US Congress District 6
10,052 votes
2.83%
Finished 3rd of 3

Damien Jones
State Assembly District 10
1538 votes
6.67%
Finished 2nd out of 2

Tony Schultz
State Senate District 26
16,805 votes
18.98%
Finished 2nd out of 2

Bruce Hinkforth
State Assembly District 31
696 votes
2.2%
Finished 3rd out of 3

Tony Palmeri
State Assembly District 54
2653 votes
8.8%
Finished 3rd out of 4

Bill Perron
Polk County Treasurer
329 votes
2%
Finished 3rd out of 3
(These may not be the final numbers)

Steve Ringwood
Dane County Treasurer
43,040 votes
20.03%
Finished 2nd out of 2

Brian Pruka
Dane County Clerk
43,040 votes
20.06%
Finished 2nd out of 2

Sally Stix
Dane County DA
43,880 votes
19.66%
Finished 2nd out of 2

Meet our candidates, fall 2004

Tony Palmeri
Tony Palmeri is running for the Wisconsin State Assembly, 54th District, on the Green Party ticket. He is Associate Professor of Communication at UW Oshkosh. Since 1996 Palmeri has been elected to two terms as chair of the department of communication, elected to a term as president of the faculty senate, and served for 5 years as president of the UW Oshkosh Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals. He maintains his own daily news website ( tonypalmeri.com) and has produced and co-hosted over 300 episodes of " Commentary," an award winning, hard hitting yet fair television talk show. His monthly column " Media Rants" appears in the independent Valley Scene newspaper. He ran for the 54 th District seat in 1996 as a Democrat, but now believes that only as a Green can he speak with an independent and truly progressive voice. Check out Tony's website.

"I'm running because I cannot sit silently as the Democratic governor and Republican legislature preside over a corrupt political system that rewards well-connected special interests while punishing our community. Hard working citizens of Oshkosh need someone in Madison who will fight to preserve shared revenue, protect our environment, and defend the taxpayer."
--Tony Palmeri

Carol Ann Rittenhouse
Carol Ann Rittenhouse is the Green Party candidate for the Sixth Congressional District seat currently held by 25-year incumbent Tom Petri. Her candidacy represents the first time the Greens have run in the Sixth district. She is a mother of 3, grandmother of 7, and have been a Wisconsin resident since 1951 currently residing in the Town of Herman, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. A graduate of Beloit College, she has spent most of her adult life working for peace and social justice in the public and private sectors. For the past year, she has served as WIGP Sixth District Co-Leader along with David Barnhill, Director of Environmental Studies at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

"A sustainable environment and economic, civil and social justice are essential to our global long-term viability and to our responsibility to all people. I will urge individuals and businesses to make their decisions accordingly."
-- Carol Ann Rittenhouse.

David Cobb
David Cobb is the Green Party nominee for President in 2004. He served as the General Counsel for the Green Party of the United States until declaring his candidacy and was the Green Party of Texas (GPTX) candidate for Attorney General in 2002.

Raised in the small shrimping village of San Leon, Texas, David worked as a construction worker for several years before attending college. He saw up close and personal how the system is designed to prevent working class people from getting ahead, and how working hard usually just got you calluses. He waited tables to put himself through college, and graduated from the University of Houston Law School in 1993. The grandson of a Baptist preacher, David received awards in Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions, served on the Law Review and worked in the Public Interest Law Clinic.

He had a successful law practice until early 2000, when Ralph Nader asked him to manage the Green Party effort in Texas. He coordinated the ballot access drive in Texas that collected over 76,000 signatures in 75 days. When he ran for Attorney General there were 4 local chapters of the GPTX. At the conclusion of his campaign, there were 26 chapters.

David lectures and facilitates "Rethinking Corporations/ Rethinking Democracy" seminars and workshops across the country, which explore the social, legal and historical context of how corporations have become the dominant institution of our times. These seminars focus on how corporations have become unelected governing institutions, and how we can provoke (and win) a nonviolent democratic revolution in response.

He serves on the Steering Committee of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, a citizen's group dedicated to contesting and challenging the illegitimate corporate usurpation of our Constitution and our government.

Check out the Cobb/Lamarche website and the Green Party of the U.S. website