Posted by Ronald Hardy at Green Party Watch.
Although the Green Party candidate Richard Carroll is the only candidate on the ballot, and the newspaper notes that clearly, nonetheless the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s endorsement of Richard Carroll for the Arkansas State Legislature is a big deal. The paper admits the decision was easy since he was the only one on the ballot, but goes on to state “…we’re not so sure we wouldn’t be endorsing Richard Carroll today even if the Democrats and Republicans had fielded candidates.”
Why? Read on…
If there’s an honest, down-to-earth straight-shooter on this year’s ballot, Richard Carroll seems to be it. He told us he was considering a write-in candidacy but decided to go with the Greens: “I don’t have to agree with all their platform, but as long as I don’t disagree publicly . . . .” Join the club, Mr. Carroll. Who always agrees with their party of choice? But show us a politician who’ll actually say that, and the conversation is getting close to being honest.
There are other reasons for the voters in HD 39 to go for Richard Carroll. If it were up to him, he says, the state would remove the grocery tax completely. He talks (and talks a lot) about bringing more jobs to the Little Rock area, especially in light manufacturing. He says he wants more vo-tech opportunities for young folks. And-this is a big concern in House District 39, and should be-he says he thinks the state should be doing more to fight crime. (”I would like to help in any way I can at the legislative level to help fund extra officers and programs . . . .”) Sounds like a plan.
Sounds like a solid candidate.
Sounds like a Green Party candidate who deserves to win a House seat.
Our choice in House District 39 is Richard Carroll.
I’m looking forward to having a third party member of the state legislature, even if I’ll disagree with them on almost everything. I wish I could vote for the ARLP… but for all practical purposes, it doesn’t exist. It’s just a few dozen guys, at best, who put roughly 1000x more energy into arguing with each other than doing anything to spread the message. They have no candidates, no ballot access, and no legal recognition, and near as I can tell they aren’t doing anything to correct any of that. It’s really pathetic- both the GP and CP here blow them out of the water.
Maybe we need to import some guys over from the TXLP. They seem to know what they’re doing.
Yes, exactly, and this is a good thing. I will remind you again that despite my harsh condemnation of the Greens last night, the Catholic Trotskyist Party of America has endorsed and co-nominated Richard Carroll for this race.
So that’s what it takes for an editorial board to respect a “fringe” candidate – being the only candidate on the ballot.