There are various perspectives on the GPUT split. Lately, there are also some erroneous facts being circulated on various “green” discussion lists. Here are a few with some debunking of those myths (with actual quotes from various lists, but with names omitted), all the “debunking” which can be verified via public records upon request:
The affiliated GPUT refuses to recognize itself as “The Cobb Faction”. It is just this type of terminology that continues to promote factionalism and divisiveness.
The GPUS affiliated leadership expelled 4 Nader supporters (who went on to start their own green party and are the only greens currently recognized by the state) resulting in at least half (if not more) of the party leaving.
FACT: **Three** party members were **suspended**, not expelled. Furthermore, it was not the “leadership” that suspended the members; it was the majority of active GPUT members, via grassroots voting methods, that suspended the members.
The GPUS affiliated party probably has around 10 active members….
More like 15-20 – still a small amount, but in the past month or two 5 members have been gained and lots more inquiries have been received.
The Utah delegates were not able to convince the entire party, but they did convince enough members
who were Nader supporters that the Nader faction refused (under the rules of consensus) to allow Cobb to be listed on the Utah Ballot. The compromise was that no one would be listed and the Green party of Utah would endorse both candidates.
The “rules of consensus” are not applicable to the nomination of candidates according to the bylaws of the Green Party of Utah.
I. Process
Article A. Formal Consensus
-This decision-making model shall be used by all parts of the state GPU except for the election of candidates or when the Council deems other models more appropriate. Locals may choose to use other decision-making models.
There was also no “compromise”. One person decided to not allow any candidate to be listed on the ballot and that is only due to the fact that the Elections office would not recognize any communication from anyone party official but one person. That person unilaterally decided to certify “no one” on the ballot even thought he majority of the party membership wanted Cobb on the ballot. Again, public documents can be happily provided by the party secretary to this effect.
The Cobb faction did not agree and took the Nader Faction and the state of Utah to court where they lost.
No one in the Green Party of Utah took any other member or “faction” to court. The Green Party of Utah took the Elctions office to court. Public records are available upon request.
Then the GPUS affiliated leadership expelled the most agitatetive Nader supporters resulting in almost
half of the 48 active Utah Green Party members leaving the party.
No one was expelled. Again, **three** members were **suspended**. There is no argument that about half of the members left the party.
The GPUS affiliated Green Party of Utah (there are two Green parties.. the only one acknowledged by the state of Utah is the Nader faction) claims to have six locals (only one of which I believe is an active local) and no elected officials.
There are currently six locals, 4 of which have elected representatives on the council.
Now the Green Party of Utah that is recognized by the state is the made up of mostly the Nader supporters, but is not recognized by the GPUS and the Green Party of Utah that is recognized by the GPUS has hardly any grassroots support but they are probably going to have to change their name to the “Grassroots Green Party of Utah” in order to gain ballot access and run their candidate for Senate, who seems like a good guy. (I think he just does not understand the complexity of the situation he has entered. (he has never been active in Green Politics before this year)
Julian Hatch has been a member of the Aquarius Local since its existence since 2001.
Also, one GPUS delegate from the GPUT has been a member of the GPUT since 2002. The other GPUS delegate from the GPUT joined the GPUT in the winter of 2005 and has been a registered Green in California and in Utah prior to that.
Further information can be obtained from FAQs
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 