Green Party candidates for state, federal office gather in St. Joseph

Southwest Michigan attracted plenty of visitors over the Labor Day weekend, and among them were several third party candidates for state and federal office. The Green Party of Michigan occupied the Howard Band Shell Saturday to spread its message and meet with voters. Green candidate for governor, Douglas Campbell, told us the party's priorities include reducing corporate influence in government. He said you'll never see a Green taking dark money. ' We need to return to democratic control of our formerly democratic institutions,' Campbell said. ' Those are small D democratic, of course.' Campbell, a teacher, said he supports increased and more equitable funding for public schools and expanding opportunities for low income and blue collar students to study abroad. Also in St. Joseph was the Green party candidate for U.S. Senate, Doug Marsh. He told us he's for universal, single-payer healthcare, among other things. ' Taking all of the money that we're spending on conflicts abroad and instead working toward education, healthcare access, and sustainable infrastructure here in the United States,' Marsh said. Green candidate for the U.S. House in the Fifth District Jim Bronke told us the United States is held back by the two major parties. ' We need to have independent thinkers when it comes to anyone in Congress,' Bronke said. ' You have all the Republicans voting one way, all the Democrats voting another way. And believe me, as a Green Party member, wouldn't do what they're doing.' Candidates for lieutenant governor and the Michigan House and Senate were also present. They included Jett Newton, the Green candidate for state House in the 38th District. He told us why he's running as a Green. ' As a Green, we're a socialist party,' Newton said. ' We are the only socialist party running in the 38th, running for governor, running for Senate, and we're the only ones with a solution that involves working people having power over their own lives and not just being passed down cash by rich people that are, quote unquote, taking care of them.' Newton said state government has a big impact on lives in Michigan, and he believes it should take stronger action to reduce housing costs, particularly with rents. The Greens position themselves as an independent alternative to the two major parties. Campbell said the party's main focus is clean campaigns, free of corporate money. While the Green Party always runs far behind the Republicans and Democrats in elections, he said an independent approach can help the United States resolve several longstanding issues. ' President Roosevelt told us about the need for a living wage in 1912,' Campbell said. ' We still don't have a living wage. We need to finish the job. Eugene Debs told us we need to stay out of foreign wars in 1916. Where are we now? W e're embroiled in a bunch of foreign wars that are draining our treasury, making the rest of the world hate us, making us less safe overall. Need to finish that job.' Photo of candidates: Front row, left to right: Jeff Polonowski (Michigan Attorney General), Bobbie Clay (lieutenant governor), Doug Campbell (governor), Doug Marsh (U.S. Senate), Shamara Clay (MI Senate, District 20), Jared Polonowski (MI House, District 39). Back row, left to right: Jim Bronke (U.S. House, District 5), Jett Newton (MI House, District 38).