Green Presidential candidate denounces Prop 62

Contact: Erika McDonald, SF Green Party spokeswoman, 415-337-1499
Susan King, Candidate for Supervisor, 415-823-5524

Green Party Presidential Candidate David Cobb joins SF Green candidates in denouncing Proposition 62

SAN FRANCISCO- Tuesday, October 19, David Cobb, Green Party candidate for President, joins San Francisco Green Party candidates in speaking out against Proposition 62. The Press Conference will be held at 3:00 pm at the SF Green Party office at 1028 A Howard Street.

The Green Party strongly opposes Prop. 62, the so-called "Voter Choice Open Primary" because it will actually limit voter choice by restricting the number of candidates in the November elections to the top two vote getters. Prop. 62 is backed by big business interests, and opposed by high profile Democratic and Republican leaders as well as the Green and other third party leadership.

David Cobb returns to San Francisco as part of his nationwide "Green and Growing" campaign across the US. He will be joined by Green Party candidates for local office, including congressional candidates Terry Baum, write in candidate (CD 8) and Pat Gray (CD 12), SF Board of Supervisor candidates Lisa Feldstein (District 5), Susan King (District 5), Ross Mirkarimi (District 5), Renee Saucedo (District 9), School Board candidates Mark Sanchez (incumbent), and Jane Kim.

"I am proud to be joined by these outstanding Green candidates for local office in speaking out in favor of greater democracy and against Prop. 62", stated Cobb.

The San Francisco Green Party is running a record number of candidates for local office this year, with a total of 2 federal candidates for Congress and 8 candidates for Supervisor and Board of Education. San Francisco is also home to the very first city wide Instant Runoff Voting (also called Ranked Choice Voting) election in the United States.

"San Francisco is leading the way with election reforms that enhance democracy and the SF Green Party has paved the way for these improvements", said Erika McDonald, SF Green Party media spokeswoman. In 2000, SF voters approved Green Party backed Proposition O, which provides public financing to viable local candidates. In 2002, the SF Green Party played a lead role in the passage of Proposition A, which calls for the use of Ranked Choice Voting in electing candidates. The result of these reforms has resulted in a strong slate of local Green candidates seeking office this year.

"Proposition 62, by contrast, will seriously limit voter choice and stifle participation in our electoral process by reducing the number of candidates running on the fall ballot in election years." Stated Susan King, candidate for District 5 Supervisor.