In a rare two-way race between two members of a third party, a member of the Green Party is beating out a member of the Communist Party for a seat on the Cleveland City Council. Both are also members of the Democratic Party, and Congressman Dennis Kucinich endorsed the Communist. With 17% of precincts reporting, the Green is winning by 20%. It is a non-partisan election, and the Green is named Brian Cummins, while the Communist is named Rich Nagin.
Independent Political Report
Covering third parties and independent candidates since 2008
Thanks for posting this so quickly, Ross.
I try!
Greens can’t beat anyone…they believe in nonviolence.
😉
Mr. Nagin is apparently a member of the CPUSA and writes articles for Peoples World, however he did mention in a Cleveland paper that his Communist affiliations set him up for “red baiting” tactics by his opponent.
His showing in the primary was due to his independent activity working for progressive causes over the last ~25 years…
Didn’t we fight the communists in World War II?
Red-baiting Greens, sad sad sad.
The claims of red-baiting are false. Cummins put out two campaign pieces that factually compared the candidates. See for your self at http://www.briancummins.us/getinformed.
Nagin was the Chairman of the Ohio CPUSA for almost 20-years and then he claims red-baiting when it is brought up as part of his professional experience. He remains active in the party but when asked about makes statements of his life-long Dem status.
Cummins is the more qualified candidate and the voters recognized that. Cummins seems more of an independent than green. He was re-districted out of his current ward out of retribution for not going along with the Dems in charge of council.
Anyone have any info on the Ohio ballot measure to establish a livestock welfare committee?
“Didn’t we fight the communists in World War II?”
Depends who “we” are. Are you a Pole or a German? Then yes, you fought the communists in WW2. Otherwise, not so much.
Nate- Issue 2 passed.
http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:15:0:
I assumed that comment #5 was ironic. But comment #9 takes it too far. Do you really think that the Germans and Poles were on the same side in World War II?
Acccording to the criteria of the Green Party of the United States, Brian Cummins is not a Green and is not listed in our list of candidates. Brian is a member of the Democratic Party in Ohio. The GPUS criteria states that one can not be considered a Green Party candidate if one is a member of another party that has ballot status in that state.
Mike Feinstein
co-chair, GPUS
Mike–thanks for that information.
However, while he may not be a member-in-good-standing with the Green Party, he was endorsed by the State Party and is considered a member.
I am always amazed at the calibur of readers this blog attracts. Members of Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Constitution Party’s national committees and their various employees, prominent candidates, a John Birch Society National Council member, the owner and editor of the most popular pro-peace website on the internet, etc.
Dave- I assume that comment 9 was referring to the invasion of eastern Poland by the Soviet Union in 1939.
As the son of immigrant Poles, I am angered by your statements. My father was a guest in Uncle Joe’s Siberian Resorts and my mother got to experience being a guest worker in Germany. Learn some History before you speak.
Mattc,
precisely my point. Both the Poles and the Germans fought against the Russians in WW2. I never said, implied, insinuated or anything else that the Germans and Poles were on the same side.
Quick (overly simplified) history lesson:
1. Germany invades Poland.
2. Russia invades Poland.
3. Germany attacks Russia.
I think the main problem with those, who misunderstood my statement, is this US fascination with the incredibly ridiculous idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The guy either has to be a Green or a Democrat, this fusion crap will NOT cut it.
Why not?
Cambridge MA City Council Member wins re-election on write-in campaign:
From MarjorieDecker.com
DECKER REELECTED TO 6TH TERM
Cambridge City Councilor Marjorie Decker has won reelection to a 6th term. After two days of hand counting ballots, the Cambridge Election Commission announced the results this evening. Decker secured the 8th of nine council seats, overcoming the daunting obstacles of a write-in campaign, in which her name did not appear on the official ballot.
“I am humbled by the overwhelming show of support I received. I’m grateful to those who chose to believe in me and provided me with this opportunity to continue serving the people of Cambridge,” said Decker. “Thank you to everyone who came out and voted for me. I’m especially thankful to my friends and supporters, who put their hearts and souls into this campaign. Without your help, this victory would not have been possible.”
Because what the hell is the point in even starting, building, organizing a third party if you are going to have fusion candidates with the Democrats? The Democrats, like the Republicans, are the problem, the master’s tools will not dismantle the mater’s house.
Third parties can — USE major parties via fusion. Furthermore, it allows them to avoid the spoiler problem with good candidates.
Fusion, smusion…in Ohio you are considered by State Law to be a member of a Major Party (Dems or Reps) when you vote in a Dem or Rep primary.
The Cleveland council race is a non-partisan election. Cummins was active in the Green’s leadership in Ohio in 2000 and 2001 and has maintained membership in the Green Party of Ohio. He’s considered a Dem as he has voted in Dem Primaries for State and Fed elections.
The test of if he is a Green should be left to the State Party leadership or at a minimum the National party should be considering state electoral law as a consideration of what constitutes party affiliation.
I’m just glad a Green was actually re-elected in a major US city and is in a position of power, regardless of what the State of Ohio or the national Green Party thinks.
Greens should be looking at ways to lay claim on a green’s win as opposed to shunning them according to a state’s definition of what party they belong to.
A Green was not elected to the Cleveland City Council, a Democrat was. It is annoying to see Greens play musical chairs with ballot lines, trying to run on Libertarian ballot lines, if this guy was a Green, then he had no business voting in the Dem primaries, you cannot have it both ways.
This is very manipulative, makes the Party look band and hurts the cause. Pick your party.
PS High 5 to the National GP for sticking to their guns on this.
“Third parties can — USE major parties via fusion.”
This is simply not true, the Independence Party (yea, yeah, I know) endorsed Bloomberg and in NY state, one can run on many ballot lines and they add up votes (ridiculous law, but that is another post.
Who do you think benefitted? Bloomberg (and of course Fulani and Newman, but that is also a different post). POint is the Party did NOT benefit.
Fusion = co-optation.
Fusion is another word for assimilation.
Cummins ran as a Democrat and also ran a red baiting campaign. The mention of the Green Party was low on the list. I can’t count this as a GP win.
To see for yourself, go to Cummins election website and judge for yourself: the # of Democratic vs Green Party. Then notice the divisive nature of the Communist Party statements. This was not a campaign that focused on important issues.
http://www.briancummins.us/blog
To Nate… Didn’t we fight the Communists in WWII? No nate, they were our allies, we fought on their side.