Three chapters within the Pacific Green Party will convene a roundtable discussion, Saturday, November 16 at 11am to discuss the state of the Green Party in Oregon.
This meet up on zoom comes 9 months after leadership in the Pacific Greens cheated by throwing out 39 votes from the February 24/25th convention; this involved disenfranchising over half of the members voting at convention. Click link to register and let us know you will attend: https://oregongreenparty.com/index.php/2024/10/08/november-16-roundtable/
Pacific Green Party members, and others, are invited to discuss the problem of the leadership of the Green Party in Oregon. The theme of the round-table, “healing a rupture,” and “reclaiming our democracy,” requires navigating real violations of Oregon law as well as party bylaws. Click this link for back story on the nature of the “rupture.” https://oregongreenparty.com/index.php/reclaim-pgp-democracy/
Linn-Benton, Lane and Green Liberty Caucus chapters all suffered malfeasance from the convention “elections committee,” an ad hoc cabal that acted outside the scope of the State Coordinating Committee, the actual convention committee. This cabal did not follow PGP bylaws for running the convention, and then advanced a specious report to explain an electoral fraud.
The audacious electoral theft of February convention vote made a mockery of Pacific Green Party convention democracy; but especially serious, the clear and purposeful intention to exclude members from having their vote count, violates state law about how minor parties should function, and it clearly states that minor parties shall be inclusive and not exclusive.
We recognize damage has been done, and now we want to move the party forward. But we have to be accountable to the law and the PGP rules; it is only fair and right.
The round-table discussion is an open process for members to give their opinions and thoughts on moving forward. Solving the problem of the rupture created by the “election committee” malfeasance may be unsolvable; nevertheless, the Pacific Green Party is obliged to follow the law, as a matter of principle. PGP leadership breaking the law is something that should not be swept under the rug.
The law is clear.
ORS 248.005: Parties to insure widest and fairest representation of members
Each political party by rule shall insure the widest and fairest representation of party members in the party organization and activities. Rules shall be adopted by procedures that assure the fair and open participation of all interested party members. [1975 c.779 §1; 1979 c.190 §68]
As a trigger for Seth and his ilk to throw out 39 members’ ballots, the Green Liberty Caucus advanced a resolution to include Green Liberty Caucus chapter and the Lane Chapter on the official Pacific Green website. This agenda item was changed without discussion to “decertify” the two chapters within the Pacific Green Party; this was clearly exclusionary and in violation Oregon law, and Pacific Green bylaws.
Seth Wooley framed the argument to throw out 39 votes as intended to preserve the “progressive socialist” ethos of the party.
Targeting Green Liberty, and Lane Chapter, shows Wooley has an ideological motive which makes his violation of ORS 248.005 especially egregious.
The Pacific Green Party is being undermined by a faction that hates greens who subscribe to a libertarian sensibility. The command and obey manner and method of overturning the February convention vote, violates Oregon law, but also is a travesty of green values for inclusivity and tolerance and grass roots democracy.
Libertarian is the opposite of authoritarian. Seth and his group function as authoritarians, who actively exclude members from participating, and that is against Oregon law and the Green pillar for democracy, and our rules.
I feel indignant about this and I expect you do too.
Members are encouraged to participate in this discussion so we can plan a course to solve the problem of party disunity, and bridge the divide and so we can make the Green Party a fighting force in Oregon politics and a voice in the national green party.
For background with links for details click here: https://oregongreenparty.com/index.php/2024/05/18/why-steal-an-election/
