New Californian, former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney wins Green Party nomination

The progressive left chose its new candidate for President Saturday when former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney - now a resident of California - was tabbed as Green Party's candidate for President at the Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention here. She won on the first ballot, garnering 313 of 532 votes cast.

"This was an amazing phenomenon. The nomination of Cynthia and her vice president running mate Rosa Clemente demonstrate the growing strength of the Green Party. Let there be no doubt now who speaks for the progressive left in this country," said David Cobb, the 2004 Green Party nominee for President, who resides in Eureka, CA.

"We are getting stronger with every election and with candidates of the caliber of Cynthia and Rosa, we have leadership from constituencies we have not had in the past," Cobb added. Clemente, a hip hop activist and journalist, accepted the vice-president nomination.

California Greens initiated the "Draft Cynthia" movement, and raised tens of thousands of dollars in late 2007 to convince McKinney (www.runcynthiarun.org), who served six terms in the 4th CD as a Democrat, to run for President. She now resides in California.

The first ballot saw 61 percent of the state's delegates going to Ralph Nader, the party's 1996 and 2000 nominee, because of the results of the Primary Election earlier this year, although the California delegation was obviously pro-McKinney, said Sanda Everette, one of the leaders of the California delegation and an original McKinney supporter.

"Cynthia represents a new Green Party, which blends social justice issues with our concern for the environment. The delegates here include people from all walks of life, and a diversity never seen before....with an understanding that we are all in this together," said Everette.

Those finishing behind McKinney in the voting included Kent Mesplay, an environmental engineer from San Diego; West Virginia environmentalist, actor/producer Jesse Johnson and Texas community organizer Kat Swift.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com