HISTORY OF THE GREEN PARTY OF COLORADO
- and information on starting new chapters -
The Green Party of Colorado was formed in 1992. As Greens grew and evolved to include electoral politics in our repertoire of activism, the need for a state party became apparent. With our ballot status in 1998, our growth has taken off as progressives in Colorado see the Green Party as a practical avenue for their political activism.
Local chapters are the core of Green Politics. We spend most of our efforts in our own communities, building the experience and credibility that makes us a realistic option come election time. This Green Synergy between consistent issue-based activism between elections, and running candidates to take advantage of that credibility, is unique to the Green Party, and a big part of Green Party growth in Colorado and elsewhere.
If you wish to form a local, please read the bylaws and procedures and guidelines, then send a letter indicating your agreement with Section 3.2, a copy of your bylaws, and request an agenda item to affiliate at the next state meeting.
History by Years
2008
2007
GPCO 2007 State Meeting Minutes
GPCO 2007 State Meeting Pictures
2006
2006 State Meeting & State Convention Minutes
2006 State Meeting & State Convention Pictures
2006 Colorado Green Candidates
- Tom Kelley — 1st Congressional District
- Joe Calhoun — 2nd Congressional District
- Dave Chandler — 7th Congressional District
- Tim Babbidge — 42nd Colorado House District
- Doug Malkan — Summit County Commissioner, District 1
http://www.dougmalkan.com/
2005
GPCO 2005 State Meeting Minutes
GPCO 2005 State Meeting Pictures
2004
GPCO 2004 State Meeting and Nominating Convention Minutes
2004 Green Candidates who campaigned in Colorado
- Tom Castrigno, Summit County Commissioner, Dist. 2
- Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioner, Dist. 3
- Tanya Ishikawa, Jefferson County Commissioner
- Bob Kinsey, US House, Dist. 4
- Bruce Meyer, CO State House, Dist. 4
- Eric Rechel, Mesa County Commissioner, Dist. 3
2002
We won a significant number of local offices in 2002 including seats in Carbondale, Basalt, Ward, Dolores, Telluride and Park County. None of our candidates won in the 2002 General Election in Colorado; however they all ran great campaigns and significantly raised awareness of the Green Party and the issues.
Nationally the Green Party had its best year ever winning 66 offices in 2002. The most prominent victory included John Eder’s victory for state house in Portland, Maine. Eder defeated his Democratic opponent by a two-to-one margin. Victories ranged from Hawaii to Maine and Texas to Minnesota, with North Carolina and Texas both electing their first Green to local office. Growth over the past two years nationally has been over 27%, according to Ballot Access News.
Candidates in 2002:
- Green candidate for Colorado Governor : Ron Forthofer
- Green candidate for Colorado Lt. Governor : Dan Winters
- Green candidate for Colorado Attorney General : Alison “Sunny” Maynard
- Green candidate for US Congress, Representative Dist. 1 : Ken Seaman
- Green candidate for US Congress, Representative Dist. 7 : Dave Chandler
- Green candidate for Colorado State Representative Dist. 54 : Eric Rechel
- Green candidate for Larimer County Commissioner: Nancy York
- Green candidate for San Miguel County Clerk & Recorder: Oak Smith
- Green candidate for Summit County Commissioner: Justin J. McCarthy
2000
The Green Party of Colorado placed Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke (V.P.) on the Colorado ballot for US President. Nader got 5.2 percent of the Colo. vote, or 91,326 votes. Nationally, Nader/LaDuke got 2.7% of the vote. Nader/LaDuke got 10% or more of the vote in 10 out of 63 Colorado counties, and Colorado overall tied for 7th in the nation for the highest Nader votes by percentage. San Miguel County got 17.2% of county residents to vote Green for Nader, the largest percentage for a county in the nation. Nader visited Colorado twice in the campaign holding rallies in Denver and Montrose, and the Nader 2000 campaign opened a state campaign office in Denver on Speer Blvd.
Ralph Nader & Winona LaDuke were nominated for President and Vice President and a new Green Party platform was approved in June 2000.
Denver was the site of the Green Party National Convention June 24-25, 2000. The convention was a huge success with attendance of 1,000 people and all the national media.
Art Goodtimes was overwhelmingly re-elected in the Nov 7, 2000 election to his second term as San Miguel County Commissioner in southwestern Colorado. Goodtimes garnered 69% of the vote in rural San Miguel County and is first elected Green county commissioner in Colorado history.
Ron Forthofer ran for Colorado 2nd Congressional District in the Nov 2000 election. Ron was third, receiving 4.4% of the vote, or about 12,400 votes statewide. In Boulder, 15% of those who voted on election day voted for Forthofer. Forthofer’s article on The Necessity and Responsibility of Free and Independent Media
Jim Lamb was elected to the Breckenridge Town Council on April 4, 2000 to a four year term. He ran in a contested race on a Green Party platform.
Robert Kelly-Goss was elected to the Minturn Town Council on April 4, 2000 to a four year term. He ran in a contested race on a Green Party platform.
1998
Working with the Colorado Coalition for Fair & Open Elections, we helped improve ballot access in Colorado, both for independent candidates in 1996 and for third parties in 1998. Since getting ballot status in 1998, the Green Party of Colorado has seen tremendous growth, continually adding new active local chapters.
- Dean Myerson received 41,000 votes, or 3.6% statewide for CU Regent. Nancy York ran for Larimer County Commissioner and got 15% of the vote.
- This was the year we became affiliated with the ASGP, now the Green party of the United States.
1996
Gary Swing 9% and Tico Embury 8% for state house races.
1994
Philip Hufford and Krista Paradise 1.6%, or 17000 votes (Gov. and Lt. Governor).