How should I carry petitions this year? (A Green Party / Hillary thread)

[mdmc]

How should I carry petitions this year? (A Green Party / Hillary thread)

Hello DU! Like many other DU’ers, I am part of my local democratic party. This year in NYS there is a local race for State Assembly, two local NYSCD (19 - Sue Kelly)(22- Maurice Hinchey), and statewide races for Senate (Hillary Clinton), Governor (Spitzer), NYSAG (open), NYSComptroller (Hevesi).

I am a liberal, progressive, democrat.

I am pretty sure that PDA is calling for a primary against Hillary Clinton. I have decided to carry petitions for both the PDA candidate and for Hillary.

There is also a “MIHOP” candidate running against Hillary Clinton. This guy, Steve Greenfield, used to be a green, but joined the Dem party in order to run against Hillary Clinton in the primary. Steve Greenfield is a “pure” green, meaning that even great Democrats like Dennis Kucinich and Maurice Hinchey are not “left” enough for his support, imho.

My question to DU is, “Should I carry petitions for Steve Greenfield?” I was considering it due to the fact that he left the green party and joined the Dems. I think that it might help to reach out to my fellow lefties that think “that there is no difference between the two parties.”

Thank you in advance for any thoughts and ideas. Peace and low stress, mdmc

[H2O Man]

1. Why are you asking others?

I ask that respectfully. Who do you represent when you "carry petitions"? And what petitions are you carrying? Are you talking about primaries, or the general election? Or are you mixing one primary with other general elections?

[mdmc]

4. these would be for the primary

You carry petitions in an effort to get 5% of registered voters within a voting district to sign your petition, as a show of support to get you on the primary / general election ballot. These are "nominating" petitions, and are necessary to secure a ballot line.

The only way on to the general election ballot is to win the primary. All of these petitions would be for the democratic party (and the democratic party line on the ballot).

A third party could get on a local ballot for the general election, but they would still need to get on the primary ballot and face an "opportunity to access" challenge, if one was presented (I could start a 'no war' third party line, anyone could take my 'no war' ballot line in a primary by getting enough votes in the primary).

Thank you for your respectful post and questions.:kick:

[Warpy]

2. I'd carry all 3

and let people decide to sign one, all, or none.

Hillary Clinton does a great job of representing NYC yuppies. She's a fine Senator for them.

She should stick to that, though. She's a sure loser as a candidate for president.

[mdmc]

5. Steve Greenfield isn't all that popular within the leftist circles

he is the only one that I'm not sure about carrying (love his ideals, not...him).

[lapislzi]

3. You can't carry Green

Unless you're a registered Green. And your registration will only take effect in the NEXT election cycle. Check with your local BOE, but I think you're stuck with the Dems for at least another year.

You can, however, carry for another Democratic challenger to Clinton. You can't carry for both Clinton AND Greenfield. And I think you have to carry for the candidate endorsed by your county committee. Again, check with your local BOE.

If you're a committe member, you've probably been asked to make endorsements. Or you will. This is somewhere where you CAN make a difference.

Petition carrying is complicated. Your county should have a seminar about it...PM me if you want more info.

[mdmc]

6. I am a registered Dem

Steve Greenfield is now officially registered Dem (in NYS you need to be reg. in a party for 1 year...he has been in the party for over a year).

I will always be a registered Dem (unless the progressives - Kucinich, Hinchey, RFKjr. form a third party).

In NYS you can carry for as many candidates (for the SAME office) as you want (again, they are all in the same party). In NYS an attorney or a notary can carry across party lines, regardless of affiliation. A VOTER can only sign one petition per race / office.

I am a committee member. Petition carrying is very complicated. Thanks for the post!:kick:

[mdmc]

7. 7

:dem: