[UCprogressives-discuss] Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: ElectionCommission

[John Wason]

At 09:41 AM 10/27/04 -0500, Tony Fabri wrote:

>In my relatively short time participating in local politics (12 years), I've 
>come to the opinion that splitting the progressive vote between two or more 
>parties will only improve the already strong odds of electing conservative 
>Republicans in Champaign County.  You may disagree.  Gina obviously 
>disagrees.  I don't think that disagreement warrants name-calling and 
>personal attacks.  Gina obviously disagrees with me there, too.
>
>For the record, I did write a letter to Susan, Zach, and David Sacks.  It 
>was not "intimidating," as Gina suggests.  (I'm also not Chair of the County 
>Board, as Gina suggests.  I'm Chair of the Democratic Party.  Tricia Avery 
>is Chair of the County Board.)  I merely said that I was "disappointed" to 
>see that they're running, because I fear their candidacies will help 
>Republicans win back the County Board majority, and undo the progressive 
>gains made since 2000.  Anyone who remembers "Bud" Barker and the days of 
>GOP control know what a dramatic difference Democrats have made on the 
>County Board in a very short amount of time.  The Living Wage, sexual 
>orientation protections, environmental appointments, an end to Union-busting 
>at the County, and support of social services like the County nursing home 
>and public health all would have gone nowhere if Democrats hadn't won the 
>majority.  I am genuinely disappointed to see progressive, presumably 
>well-intentioned people helping Republicans to undermine these progressive 
>victories.

I'm not wanting to engage in a lengthy debate.  And I emphatically don't
want to see the Republicans win back control the County Board.  I would
simply suggest that one of the Democratic candidates, in each of the County
Board districts where Greens are running, could graciously step aside in
the spirit of progressive harmony and let one Democrat and one Green run
for the office.  It's not clear to me why Greens should always be the ones
accused of being "spoilers" and "anti-progressive".  It's absurd....and the
motivations are blatantly self-serving.

Beyond that, I agree with pretty much everything that Dawn Nicholson-Owens
said.  If Democrats were truly progressive, the Green Party would not be
needed.

John Wason