Join in Creating a Better Way Forward

Dear Tucsonan (new or life-long),

Do you get the sense that it might be a little past time to start doing things differently? That our current social trajectory, no matter which major political party is in charge, just keeps getting us further behind the eight ball? That our current slate of elected officials either don't have the will or the vision to put us on the right path? If you're of the opinion that the economy is a subset of the environment, and that if we don't have a healthy and productive environment we won't be able to meet our own needs, let alone have anything worthwhile to pass on to the future--other than debt, destruction and disillusionment--how'd you like to do something about it?

If you're up to playing a leading role at a most opportune time (due to crumbling infrastructure in an increasingly toxic world nearing resource depletion without a Plan B) in building a rejuvenated world with a positive future based on ecological wisdom, social justice, economic equity, and participatory democracy, I have a very serious and realistic proposal for you.

I'd like you to consider joining a united campaign to build upon the Green Party's Ten Key Values with a common, integrated platform whose foundation is a systemic process to create a sustainable future known as relocalization. We're looking for City Council candidates for Wards 3 and 5. We have a candidate for Ward 6--Dave Croteau--who's experienced with this platform.

I had the privilege of working with the Pima County Green Party's candidate for Mayor of Tucson, Dave Croteau, two years ago. We ran on a relocalization platform for Tucson written by myself which was based on a decade of research and activism. Many citizens responded with favor to our plan and showed support with over 16,000 votes in that election. Bob Walkup and members of the city council also spoke in favor of the plan throughout that campaign. Of course, as you've no doubt noticed, none of them have actually been able or willing to implement it. They know it's necessary, but they still labor under the fantasy that we can return to business as usual and not have to make any hard decisions.

The election results of 28% for Mayor in 2007 means the Green Party has ballot status for this year's local election. We can take advantage of the fact Green Party members only need 7-12 signatures from fellow Greens to qualify to be on the ballot.

Are you or someone you know interested in being a Green Party candidate for the City Council of Tucson this year? You'll be able to benefit from a common, unified platform that can be coherently and cohesively presented by a full slate of candidates that will be extremely hard to ignore by the local media and pundits. If you're not at a place to commit to that level of involvement, or you simply can't see yourself in that public of a role, sign up to become a Precinct Captain for the Green Party and help make it too obvious to ignore the support this platform has within the citizens of Tucson.

I'm not necessarily looking for someone who considers themselves to be a "progressive". I mean, let's be honest. We've had over 150 years of progressive politics and things continue to get worse at the core--which becomes easy to forget as we celebrate a few highly visible victories on the margins.

And, right from the get go, let's dispel the totally unfounded rumor that the Green Party is the left wing of the Democratic Party. If you have the intellectual honesty to evaluate the Ten Key Values, you'll understand that they speak equally to traditional Republicans as well as Democrats. And these values speak the loudest to those who understand that not only is it necessary, but there really is a different way to create and maintain our various social relationships as well as the way we interact with the natural world that sustains us. This way of being is more natural and thus has a higher probability of successfully improving quality of life. This is a fact, it has been scientifically validated, and it's our responsibility to implement it.

If you're still struggling under the illusion that either of the current major political parties can be reformed from within, don't bother responding to this message. We're looking for, and in dire need of, systemic change that is not only in balance with the living world, but that brings out the best in people by increasing the opportunities they have to realize their potential. If you fit the bill, then get in touch and I can supply more details on becoming either a candidate or a precinct captain.

It is time for Tucson citizens to wake up and hear the truth about global warming, peak oil, the uneconomics of infinite growth and what we can, and must, do to prepare for a future that is not going to look like the past, let alone be a bigger and shinier version of it. We can take charge of our future. We can lead, with the grounding of the Ten Key Values and a viable plan for a sustainable future. The community of citizens living in neighborhoods and operating businesses in Tucson will unite behind a plan that secures more local control of our economy, energy and water use, and thus our safety and security.

If you're willing to put the effort into making a real difference, please get in touch right away. Together, we can make a difference. There's no time like the present to get started. In fact, leading climate scientists say it's past time.

Dave Ewoldt
Platform author for Croteau Campaign

A New Campaign

Hello Tucson,

It's time to kick off our new campaign for City Council in Ward 6. One of the first steps is updating this blog from the mayor's race in 2007.

So, you'll be seeing more information on what we're up to shortly. However, the core campaign will remain the same -- ways in which the Green Party's Ten Key Values provide a political foundation for creating a sustainable future through the process known as relocalization.

Since none of the major political parties seem able to deal with reality, it's up to us. And, I mean all of us, not just registered Greens.

And, once again, these blog posts are being written by Dave Ewoldt, platform chair. I'll try to make it a little more obvious this time.

Dave Ewoldt