The Green Party of Delaware County, Pennsylvania is committed to fostering progressive policies locally and supporting the efforts of Greens in neighboring counties, throughout the state and the nation. We endorse the Ten Key Values as ratified at the Green Party Convention in Denver, CO, June 2000 and the notion that democracy requires full participation on the part of the citizenry.
We invite anyone who shares our concern about the corrosive effect of corporate money on society and the political process, who seeks to protect our environment from careless development and harmful technologies, who wishes to help create a more just society and who recognizes the importance of solidarity in the face of concentrated power and wealth to join with us as we instill these values at the grass roots and beyond.
My name is Robert Small, and I am writing to ask you to vote for me in November for the non-partisan office of Judge of Elections.
I am 56 years old and have lived in Swarthmore since 1988 with my wife of many years, Paula Bronstein. We met as social work employees of the State of Pennsylvania, and we are now retired. Both our daughters have entered successful careers, and we currently share our home with our dog and five cats. As a state employee, my civil service status prevented me from seeking most political offices or engaging in much political work. However, last year I worked for ACT (America Coming Together), primarily visiting senior centers and nursing homes to register "the forgotten voters". I have been involved with numerous volunteer organizations. I am one of the founders of Poets and Prophets (www.poetsandprophets.com), which presents monthly poetry series in Media and Philadelphia and occasional readings in Swarthmore and Chester. I am also a leader in Democracy Unplugged (www.democracyunplugged.org), which presents political issue forums. Other organizations I'm active in are Cinema Resistance, the Delaware County Green Party, and the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition. The PBAC is a coalition of independent voters and minor parties (Constitution, Green, Libertarian, and others) who are working to reform the Pennsylvania ballot access laws among the most restrictive in the nation.
To me the Green Party is a party that is not afraid to present important viewpoints, even those that are not always popular. Among the ten key values of the Green Party is Grassroots Democracy, which I interpret to mean that we all have a responsibility and a right to participate to the fullest in maintaining our democracy.
At the last Primary Election, a number of independent and minor party voters were incorrectly denied their right to vote on the "Growing Greener" question by Judges of Election. These voters were not even offered a provisional ballot as required by law; therefore their votes were lost without recourse. Currently, 12% of Pennsylvania voters are registered independent or in minor parties, so this lack of political education by Judges of Elections could have a real effect on a close ballot question in the future. While a Democrat or Republican Judge of Elections has a vested interest in the success of one of the two major parties, a Green Judge of Election would not have any major party bias.
I think I can be a fair, conscientious, and politically educated Judge of Elections. If you agree, please consider helping my campaign with a modest donation or by helping with literature distribution, phone calls, etc.
I can be reached at campaign_rsmall@earthlink.net, 610-543-8427, or:
Robert Small 305 Rutgers Avenue Swarthmore, Pa., 19081
