Greens Become "Second Party" in Berkeley

Green Party Overtakes Republicans In Berkeley
Fall Campaign Kickoff To Be Held on September 22



Today the Green Party of Alameda County announced that they officially outnumber the Republican Party in Berkeley. Based on the “54-day close” voter registration data just released by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, the Green Party had 4,538 registered members in Berkeley, while the Republican Party had 4,431. This marks the first time in which Green Party voter registration totals have exceeded either Democratic or Republican party totals for any city in the county.
"I've been registering voters for years" says local Green Party official Patti Marsh "and at our tables a much higher percentage than before are registering Green. The current Governors race seems to have pushed many voters over the line. They can no longer put up with the obviously poor choice of candidates offered by the major parties and realize that their candidates are getting worse each election. People are glad to see us out registering voters and come up saying ‘I'm ready to join you. Where do I
sign ?’"

Berkeley now becomes the second city in California where the Green Party has overtaken the Republican Party in voter registration totals. In 2000, the Humboldt County city of Arcata became the first city in the state to reach this milestone.

The Green Party Fall Campaign Kickoff for Alameda County will be held this coming Sunday, September 22, at 1:30 pm at the downtown Berkeley Public Library. The Green Party’s Secretary of State candidate, Larry Shoup, and their State Controller candidate, Laura Wells, will be speaking. Representatives from the Berkeley Greens and the Oakland Greens will explain the local campaign situation in their cities, and precinct-walking in Berkeley and in Oakland will conclude the kickoff.

The Green Party is the fastest growing party in California; having logged a 33 percent increase in registered members over the past two years. Fifty Greens now hold elected office in California, including five mayors and fifteen city council members. Five Green Party members currently hold elected office in districts which include Berkeley: Dona Spring, Berkeley City Council; John Selawsky, Berkeley School Board; Howard Chong and Selma Spector, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board; and Rebecca Kaplan, A.C. Transit Board of Directors.

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Alameda County Green Party - Fall Campaign Kickoff:
http://www.indybay.org/calendar/event_display_detail.php?event_id=1076&day=22&month=9&year=2002