NEWS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2011

Green Party of California
PO Box 485
San Francisco, CA 94104
(916) 448-3437

Contact: Michael Feinstein, GPCA spokesperson 310-392-8450
Ben Manski, Campaign Manager, Stein for President 608-239-6915
Rich Zitola, Field Coordinator, Stein for President 617-543-2579
Dr. Kent Mesplay 760-689-2740

FIRST GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FORUM TO BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 3rd

http://www.cagreens.org/ga/2011-12/prez-candidate-forum

While much attention has been paid thus far to the primary season of the Republican Party, with the advent of the Occupy Wall Street movement across America, the potential for candidates who represent the 99% may be the untold story of the 2012 presidential campaign.

Two such candidates who are seeking the Green Party Presidential nomination - former Massachusetts Green gubernatorial candidate Dr. Jill Stein (http://www.jillstein.org) and Dr. Kent Mesplay (http://www.mesplay.org) of San Diego, who has twice previously sought the Green nomination - will be speaking to the state meeting of the Green Party of California (GPCA) on Saturday evening, from 8pm to 10, at the Vermont Square United Methodist Church, 4410 South Budlong Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (corner of Vernon, east of Normandie).

Before they speak to the Green delegates, both will be available for interviews on-site.

The Green Party has run presidential candidates in 1996 (Ralph Nader), 2000 (Ralph Nader), 2004 (David Cobb) and 2008 (Cynthia McKinney). The GPCA's process for 2012 is for its General Assembly to recommend names to the California Secretary of State to put on the June 2012 Green presidential primary ballot. That vote will take place on Sunday morning, December 4. Then the results of the June 2012 Green primary will then guide GPCA Delegates to the Green Party of the United States (GPUS) Presidential Nominating Convention according to this process. The GPUS Presidential Nomination Convention will be held in Baltimore on July 14, 2012. The first Green presidential convention was held at UCLA in Los Angeles in August, 1996.

Other state parties will choose their delegates to the 2012 Convention via a variety of processes, including primaries, caucuses and state conventions. During this time the GPUS conducts its own process to provide official recognition for candidates seeking the GPUS Presidential nomination. To become officially recognized, one must demonstrate a level of grassroots support within the Green Party and a level of legal and financial organization as a candidate. Thus far Stein and Mesplay have received such recognition, as well as former Michigan Green gubernatorial candidate Harley Mikkelson (http://www.harleymikkelson.com), who will not be present this weekend.

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