Minnesota Green Party members gathered in Minneapolis Saturday, June 3, in Duluth for their biennial convention and voted to endorse candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor and Attorney General.

The Greens endorsed Michael Cavlan for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Senator Mark Dayton. Cavlan is a registered nurse, and an activist in the peace and justice movement. Cavlan's platform focuses on creating a Universal Single-Payer Healthcare system, ending the war on Iraq, realigning U.S. foreign policy to better address the roots of terrorism, ensuring transparency and accountability of elections and voting technologies, implementing sustainable energy and agricultural policies, and protecting and empowering local family farms and small businesses.

"Working class people and members of the peace and justice community must have a voice in our society and in the political system," Cavlan said, "Corporate money must be removed as an influence in our government. We will work to preserve and rekindle our democracy." Greens also endorsed Ken Pentel for Governor. Pentel was the Green Party's gubernatorial candidate in 1998 and in 2002. Pentel has spent the last 20 years working for environmental protection and social justice as an organizer, speaker, lobbyist, and candidate. Pentel's platform includes implementing a statewide Single-Payer Universal Healthcare system, establishing a living wage, improving access to affordable housing, and education.

"I am running to give voice to the ways we can sustain our relationships to the Earth and to each other," Pentel said. "The state of Minnesota can be a leader in sustainable, renewable energy, preventing toxic pollution, and local-sustainable organic farming. I plan to also speak clearly on the need to implement policy that will take the influence of big money out of our democratic process such as, Proportional Representation, Instant Run-off Voting, publicly funded elections, and lobby reform."

The Greens endorsed small business owner John Kolstad for Minnesota Attorney General. John Kolstad is currently President of Mill City Music, and has been active in many civic, business and community organizations for the last 25 years. Kolstad is currently serving as the Chair of the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition (www.muhcc.org) Steering committee, whose goal is to bring Universal Single Payer Health Insurance to MN. Kolstad supports a Single Payer style health plan, affordable housing, instituting strong

enforceable environmental laws in MN, Campaign Finance Reform, Instant Run-off Voting, Proportional Representation, and ending Corporate Welfare. Speaking on the Healthcare crisis in Minnesota, Kolstad says, "What amazes me is what lengths public and elected officials will go to NOT solve the health care crises. I have no doubt that I can manage the affairs of the AG's Office and fully live up to the expectation of the State Constitution and the people of MN."

Green Party member Dave Berger will be seeking the party's endorsement for Minnesota State Auditor. "I have come to realize that we cannot promote a balanced and sustainable planet unless we have balance within our own lives." Berger says. "I promise that I will do all that I can to represent the people with dignity and respect. Respect for social justice, grassroots democracy, environmental wisdom, and security through nonviolence."

In local elections, the Greens have endorsed candidates Julie Risser for State Senate District 41, Jesse Mortenson for State House Representative 64A, Jay Pond for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District, Farheen Hakeem for Hennepin County Commissioner (District 4) and Kristen Olson for Roseville City Council. Green Party member Leroy Schafer is running for St. Francis City Council. Wade Hannon is also seeking Green Party endorsement for U.S. Congress in the 7th Congressional District.

All of the candidates will be available to address the media at a joint press conference on Wednesday, June 14, at 10:00 am on the State Capitol stairs. The Green Party of Minnesota is founded on the values of Grassroots Democracy, Non-Violence, Ecological Wisdom, and Social and Economic Justice. For more information on the Minnesota Green Party see www.mngreens.org

For more information on the candidates see:
Farheen Hakeem for Hennepin County Commissioner - www.farheenhakeem.org

Jesse Mortenson for MN House District 64A - www.jessemortenson.com
Julie Risser for MN Senate District 41 www.voterisser4senate.com

Michael Cavlan for US Senate - www.cavlan.org

Jay Pond, US House of Representatives, Minnesota's 5th Congressional - www.JayPond.com

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