Maine’s third party: History, barriers and misconceptions

Other coverage: Maine’s third party: A look at the influence of the state’s Green Independent Party; History, barriers and misconceptions; The candidates; Coming: The Greens’ influence on the city council

For more information, the national Green Party takes a comprehensive look at the history of Maine’s party here.

The first Green Independent to be elected to a public office was Ben Meiklejohn of Portland, who eight years ago was elected to the Portland School Committee.

Meiklejohn and Ben Chipman both been involved with the campus Greens at the University of Maine at Orono, Jenkins said. After graduating they moved to Portland and helped form the Portland Green Party, which has since become a presence in the city.

“Portland desperately needed a second party,” said Dan Jenkins, a candidate for the Maine House. “The Democrats have had a super-majority on every (local government) body for the last 40 years.”

In Maine, municipal elections are non-partisan, but in Portland political parties are still important in the election, Jenkins said.

At the same time that Meiklejohn started his case in Portland, Ralph Nader was making headlines on the national level with his presidential campaign. While this created interest in the Portland Green Independent Party, Jenkins wasn’t sure if this contributed to Meiklejohn’s election.

“He (Nader) polled very well here, I believe around four percent,” Jenkins said, “which perpetuated our ballot access for four more years.”

Jenkins said the Greens have to run a gubernatorial candidate every year in order to meet the five percent threshold to keep their ballot status. State Senate candidate William Linnell (G-Portland) said if he is elected he would like to see this state statute changed.

In 2006, the Greens ran Pat LaMarche for Governor. LaMarche was no stranger to the political spotlight – she was the Vice Presidential candidate on the Green’s ticket in 2004, running with candidate David Cobb.

In a five-way race, LaMarche finished fourth with nine percent of the vote. Greens also ran for governor in 2002 and 1998.

One great misconception about the Greens is that they spoil elections for the Democrats. This originated from the 2000 presidential election when some said Nader siphoned votes from Al Gore, resulting in President Bush winning.

The Portland Greens don’t agree that this is an issue.

“The spoiler concept is the worst concept in politics,” said former House candidate Jeff Ferland, “the idea that having more people involved destroys the system, ruins for voters and who they want.”

The Greens have recently condemned the Maine Democrats for challenging independent U.S. Senate candidate Herb Hoffman, who is being removed from the ballot after a decision by the Maine Supreme Court.

Their statement, in part:

“Not surprisingly, there is fear on the part of the Maine Democratic Party that any progressive candidate will take away votes from Allen. The Maine Green Independent Party has no candidate in this race. Yet, as a national party that must consistently struggle with ballot access issues, we stand in solidarity with the Hoffman campaign, as we do with any campaign whose ballot access is challenged by a major party.

“The Maine Green Independent Party calls on the Maine Democratic Party to cease their attacks on the ballot access of third party and independent candidates. Such attacks clearly show the extent to which this party is threatened by these candidates.”

“We’re trying to create room for more voices to be heard that aren’t underneath two separate blankets,” said city council candidate Tina Smith.

In Portland, the Greens do hear the spoiler argument, however the gap between Democrats and Republicans is so wide that it’s impossible for a third party to cost them the election.

“The spoiler thing is a backlash from parties who somehow think they’re entitled to the ballot box,” Linnell said.

Another misconception: “Greens are not necessarily Democratic voters who have lost their way,” Jenkins said.

Linnell and Ferland were both Republicans before switching to the Green Party. Smith was unenrolled, as was Miller and Jenkins.

The greens do face the barrier of money as well, especially since they do not accept corporate and special interest money.

“I’m going and asking my friends for money, and my family – regular people,” Smith said. “I think that just shows what we stand for in so many ways. We’re taking our campaign contributions from our constituents, the people we want to represent. It’s harder, but it’s more representative.”