{news} Margaret Manion in New Canaan Advertiser

[David Bedell]

This article ran on page 1 of this week's paper, printed in a box with a 
lovely green background.  A similar story ran on an inside page of the New 
Canaan News-Review (the other town weekly).


http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/article_1074.shtml

Printed From Acorn-Online.com

New Canaan Advertiser

Green candidate joins race for first selectman

Sep 28, 2005

Margaret Manion will run for first selectman as the Green Party candidate 
this fall.

Her candidacy is intended to maintain the party’s status and to offer an 
alternative to the two major parties, according to a press release from the 
Green Party.

Ms. Manion, a substitute teacher and resident of New Canaan since 2003, was 
recruited by the Green Party and nominated by local Greens on September 13, 
the day before the filing deadline.

Ms. Manion is currently the assistant state co-ordinator for Amnesty 
International. She organized the Stop Violence Against Women public forum in 
Stamford last March.

Before moving to New Canaan, Ms. Manion lived in Anchorage, Alaska, where 
she served as area coordinator for Alaska for Amnesty International and was 
also acting state president of the Alaska chapter of the National 
Organization for Women.

Ms. Manion is a native of Washington, DC, and holds a law degree from the 
University of San Diego.

She said she is particularly concerned about the fairness and accuracy of 
the election process. In Anchorage, she served as an election worker in 
election cycles from 1988 to 2002, reaching the level of precinct chairman. 
As designated troubleshooter for the automated Accu-vote machines, she was 
responsible for repairing machines, providing instruction and support for 
precinct workers, and enforcing election regulations.

“The main reason I am running,” said Ms. Manion, “is to ensure 
competitiveness in the democratic process, and to make sure the Green Party 
retains its ballot access.”

Two years ago, Green Party candidate John Amarilios petitioned his way onto 
the ballot in New Canaan and won three percent of the vote. This earned the 
Green Party local status as a minor party, with the right to nominate a 
candidate in the next election.

However, according to the Green Party, “this right comes with a curse.”

“It’s a use-it-or-lose-it privilege,” said David Bedell, secretary of the 
Fairfield County Green Party, “which is part of doing business as a minor 
party. While the Republicans and Democrats can opt to sit out an election 
and then come back into the next election, minor parties cannot do that. If 
they do not get one percent of the vote in every election, they lose their 
ballot line and have to petition to get back on.”

In the 2003 election, Republican Judy Neville won the race for first 
selectman with 2,963 votes, followed by Democrat Johnny Potts with 1,556 and 
Mr. Amarilios with 135. Republican Paul Giusti, running for Board of 
Selectmen, led all candidates with 3,176 votes. Democrat Robert Petronella, 
running for selectman, earned 1,430 votes. Mr. Giusti and Mr. Potts won 
seats on the board.

Mr. Bedell also complained that 35 of the state’s 169 towns had no major 
party challenger for the top office (mayor or first selectman) in the last 
municipal elections.

“If the two-party system doesn’t offer voters a choice, then it isn’t 
working,” he said. “The state should make it easier, not harder, for 
challengers to run.”

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