PROPOSAL NUMBER: 012-04

PROPOSAL NUMBER: 012-04

1. Date proposed: 5/30/04
Name of the sponsor: Eric Fried, Poudre Valley Green Party

2. PROPOSAL SUBJECT:
GPCO Should Donate $100 to each active 2004 state campaign

3. FULL PROPOSAL:
I propose the Green Party of Colorado donate $100 to each of our active 2004 campaigns: Bob Kinsey - US Congress District 4, Bruce Meyer - Colorado State House District 4, Tom Castrigno - Summit County Commissioner Dist. 2, Art Goodtimes - San Miguel County Commissioner Dist. 3, Tanya Ishikawa - Jefferson County Commissioner (district #?), Eric Rechel - Mesa County Commissioner, Dist. 3.

Our treasurer would write a check and mail it to each campaign’s official address within 1 week of the proposal passing. Cost is $600 plus six envelopes plus six checks plus six stamps, approximately $604.

4. BACKGROUND:
This was originally proposed at the state meeting April 24 in Fort Collins. Unfortunately, Brad Klafehn, state treasurer, was unable to attend and we did not know how our treasury stood. We believed it contained only $1,200, and we had 7 proposed campaigns, which would have spent more than half of our funds. We now know we have $2,100 instead of $1,200, and only have 6 campaigns, so this proposal would still leave more in the bank ($1,500) than we thought we had at the time of the state meeting.

5. JUSTIFICATION/GOALS:
A state party should support its candidates, at a minimum, who are the face of the party in 2004 around the state. Campaign activity builds the party. Some people have proposed instead that we save the money for a possible mailing to Green voters which might generate further contributions and activity. But we have real, pressing needs in actual, current campaigns, and that seems to me a better use of funds than saving it for a mailing which may or may not happen and on which no one is actually working. Besides, these campaigns ARE generating volunteers, contributions and publicity, which lays the groundwork for future growth. I know the Kinsey campaign, which is sending people to the Milwaukee convention and organizing in multiple counties, needs the funds, and I assume the others do too. Any campaign is free to decline the money.

6. PROS AND CONS:
Pros: Would help our 6 candidates. Would help build the party. Would be the best use of state funds.
Cons: Would only leave us $1,500 in the bank in case we find a need for it that has not been apparent in many years.

7. Alternatives to the proposal
Do nothing and leave our candidates twisting slowly in the wind.

Give each campaign less money.

Give each campaign more money.

Pick and choose which campaigns to fund, thus setting off ferocious intramural squabbling.

8. REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
Minutes of state meeting showing discussion of this proposal.