Green Party Activist Elected to Maine Legislature as an Independent Candidate

No nationally-organized minor party elected any state legislators in 2010.  However, in Maine, former Green Party activist Ben Chipman was elected to the legislature as an independent candidate.  He had been the Legislative Assistant to Green Party legislator John Eder.  Eder had been elected as a Green in 2002 and 2004, but was defeated for re-election in 2006.

The Maine Green Party is still ballot-qualified, and Chipman could have chosen to run in 2010 as a Green, but for election law-related reasons he opted to be an independent candidate.


Comments

Green Party Activist Elected to Maine Legislature as an Independent Candidate — 6 Comments

  1. Well that’s fantastic news Richard, a partisan candidate from a third party finally DID get elected. The intense lawsuit actions and other meanie things over single winner districts are finally starting to pay off – along with the Google ads, of course.

    I may even renounce my affiliation with the Free and Equal Party, because of all the accomplished by the debates in California. We don’t need to work with the Pot Party either, Mr. Richard Lee [Info. Not Avail.] will be glad to dictate the plan.

    Who needs a team of 100, and who needs voting under pure proportional representation? The Libertarians, MPs Mark Hinkle, Aaron Starr and MSP Kevin Takenaga will guide us for sure. Barr/Root[Libertarian/Libertarian] in 2012, right? Who needs 100 individuals elected with votes cast as proof, with the freedom to self categorize with so many good Libertarians to dictate?

    With single winner district dictators, who needs to register individuals under the parliament’s system where any voter may also write in and vote for their own name #1, and register with any party/category (or independent) they proclaim?

    –James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
    Registered with the Free and Equal Party
    The who want to work together, and put the
    money where the mouth is…

    Join the Frees,
    opposite gender #1!

    The Coalition of Seven in 2014;
    http://usparliament.org/drafts/electionAD_10-11-02.html

    Why do you THINK they called it Google?

  2. From what I understand, Chipman only ran as an independent because he moved into the district after the date to qualify for the primary. The winner of the primary resigned so Chipman could run, but not in time to get Chipman on the ballot as a Green. From what I’ve heard from the Maine Greens, Chipman is not a “former GP activist” but still a prominent Green who was forced to run as independent due to election law timing issues.

  3. Maryland Independent Party uses a personal affiliation model rather than relying upon the state-run voter registration system. Our affiliates are free to register with the state as Republicans, Democrats or any other recognized party. We endorsed one incumbent state legislator, Don Dwyer (R-Glen Burnie), and I’m delighted to report that he won re-election. We don’t have ballot access yet.

  4. eclecticvibe is correct. Ben Chipman is still very much a Green. He did not meet the party residency requirement for the primary when he moved to a new district but he could run in the general election but only as an independent. I imagine that soon he will change to a Green making him the second Green Maine legislator elected after Green John Eder who is no longer a legislative representative. Yes ! Please interview him. http://www.pressherald.com/news/Ben-Chipman-to-run-for-House-District-119.html
    and his facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117959658259210

  5. Pingback: More states elected independents to state legislatures this year than in any previous year in at least sixty years | Independent Political Report

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