Green Party winner Tuesday gets big prize for Presidential nomination

California is the key state for those in the race for the Green Party Presidential nomination nearly half of the registered Greens in the U.S. are in California, and the Green Party of California winner will receive about 30 percent of all delegates at the National Nominating Convention in July in Chicago.

Greens maintain their candidate no matter who it turns out to be is the best choice for those opposed to the war, who want healthcare for all and a return of civil liberties.

Five Green Party presidential candidates including consumer interest icon Ralph Nader and former Rep. Cynthia McKinney are on the California ballot, making it the most competitive race for President in the history of the Green Party. Those on the ballot include:

* Jesse Johnson (www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMxgYnmdHfg), a filmmaker and 2006 Senate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the West Virginia Mountain Party;

* Cynthia McKinney (www.runcynthiarun.org) is a former six-time member of Congress from George. She switched her registration to Green Party late in 2007.

* Kent Mesplay (www.mesplay.org), a biomedical engineer who sought the Green Party presidential nomination in 2004;

* Ralph Nader (www.draftnader.org) has been a Presidential candidate four times, including in 1996 and 2000 as the Green Party nominee.

Kat Swift (www.voteswift.org), the Texas State Party Co-chair, progressive activist and newspaper credit manager.

*NOTE: Seven names appear on the Green Party ballot, but Jared Ball and Elaine Brown withdrew.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com