| Green Party Candidate to Run in Special Election for State Rep.
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| Written by Hillary Aisenstein, Traci Confer |
Traci Confer hopes to fill Butkovitz's open seat in 174th
PHILADELPHIA
- On Monday the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) filed papers to run
Traci Confer of Oxford Circle as a candidate for State Representative
in the 174th District. She was nominated by unanimous consent of
the GPPA Steering Committee a week earlier, on Martin Luther King
Day. Confer, a longtime environmental and Green Party activist in
Oxford Circle, accepted the nomination because she feels that Northeast
Philadelphia is ready to shake up Harrisburg.
Confer, who ran on
the Green Party ticket for State Senate in 2002, believes that she
offers a fresh perspective on politics compared to the two major
parties. "The Democrats and Republicans in Harrisburg are not
offering the answers needed to address our most basic problems," said
Confer. "If elected, I will work to implement practical solutions
on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and healthy neighborhood
development."
As a full time activist and part time computer
consultant, Traci Confer has helped communities across Pennsylvania to
protect themselves from environmental hazards. She is currently
Co-Director of ActionPA. Confer has served as the coordinator for
the Student Environmental Action Coalition's speakers bureau and as
Secretary for the Green Party of Philadelphia. She holds a
Bachelor's degree in Geography.
Confer plans an inclusive
campaign that will reach out to diverse citizens in all corners of the
district. Any citizen groups, neighborhood associations, or other
organizations are encouraged to contact Confer and invite her to speak
at meetings and other gatherings. The Confer campaign
headquarters can be reached at 215-743-3767, at www.gpop.org/confer or
by email at traci@gpop.org.
The Special Election for the 174th
District will take place Tuesday, March 14, 2006 after a short, seven
week campaign. The district includes the 54th ward and parts of
the 53rd, 56th, 57th and 63rd wards. It covers neighborhoods from
Oxford Circle, Bustleton and Pennypack to Fox Chase and
Rhawnhurst. The State House seat was left vacant after Alan
Butkovitz (D) was elected City Controller last November.
Democrat
Lisa Deeley and Republican Marina Kats were edged out their respective
parties' nomination by John Sabatina, Jr. and Charles Ebsworth, Sr.,
leaving the Green Party with the only woman in the race.
As a
recognized political party in Pennsylvania, due to performance in past
elections, the Green Party can nominate candidates for special
elections. Green Party candidate Marlene Santoyo earned 16% of
the vote for the 200th State House seat in a Special Election last
September. She had twice as many votes as the Republican
candidate in that race.
The Green Party of Philadelphia, is
founded on the four pillars of grassroots democracy, social justice,
ecological wisdom and nonviolence. GPOP works through educating
the public, direct action, and inclusive electoral politics. GPOP
is currently active on issues such as improving public transportation
and stopping the war in Iraq. For more information visit
www.gpop.org, e-mail gpop@gpop.org or call 215-243-7103. |
