Candidates Please Read:
In partisan elections, the Harris County Green Party does not endorse non-Greens.

In non-partisan elections, the HCGP will consider endorsing candidates who follow our endorsement process.

Download a copy of the Candidate Screen

Process for Reviewing and Endorsing Green-friendly Candidates

The following endorsement process was ratified by the Harris County Green Party (HCGP) Steering Committee on May 21, 2001. This process is intended to facilitate the selection of candidates who will receive an official endorsement and support from the HCGP during their campaign for elected office. The endorsement process is designed to do three things: 1) to ensure that candidates only receive an endorsement if they truly recognize and support issues that are important to the Green Party; 2) to give all party members a say in which candidates the HCGP will support; and 3) to show that an HCGP endorsement of a candidate is more than a sound bite, because it carries with it the support and work of individual party members.

Step 1: INITIAL INTERNAL SCREEN
(when: between January and candidate filing deadline of the election year)
The HCGP Steering Committee or a designated HCGP Candidates Group puts potential candidate through "Green Screen Part 1" (attached). Although there are no "right" answers to these questions, there are answers that are inconsistent with Green Party values. The Steering Committee or Candidates Group shall determine whether or not the candidate lives up to the spirit and principles of the Greens based on the results of this questionnaire. If the candidate passes, s/he moves on to Step 2.

Step 2: FORMAL SCREEN
(when: between January and candidate filing deadline of the election year)
The HCGP Steering Committee sends the candidate a copy of the "Green Screen Part 2" (attached) to be filled out and submitted back to the Steering Committee by September 15.

Step 3: STEERING COMMITTEE VOTE ON CANDIDATE APPEARANCE BEFORE GENERAL BODY
(when: upon the return of the candidate's questionnaire)
The Steering Committee reviews the candidate's answers to the questionnaire, interviews the candidate, and votes on whether to bring the candidate before the General Body. As with the initial screen, there are no "right" answers to these questions, so the HCGP Steering Committee shall determine, based on this set of questions and the candidate interview, whether or not the candidate lives up to the spirit and principles of the Greens. If the candidate passes, s/he is invited to appear before the General Body.

Step 4: APPEARANCE BEFORE GENERAL BODY
(when: at or before the August General Meeting)
The candidate formally addresses the HCGP General Body at the monthly meeting and answers questions from the members. The HCGP Steering Committee introduces the candidate to the General Body as one who has passed both screening steps in the endorsement process. The two screens (with answers) are made available to the membership. At this point, the candidate may appeal to individuals for support with her/his campaign.

Step 5: HCGP GENERAL BODY VOTES ON CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT
(when: September General Meeting)
The HCGP Steering Committee presents its endorsement recommendation to the General Body and asks for consensus. The General Body may debate, but the goal of the meeting is to determine whether or not the candidate receives a formal HCGP endorsement. If there is no moral objection to the endorsement, the process moves to Step 6.

Step 6: FORMAL ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATE
(when: early October)
The HCGP Steering Committee issues a formal endorsement of the candidate to the media. The Steering Committee lobbies the General Body for help with the candidate's campaign and actively pursues volunteers. The Steering Committee or Candidate's Group acts as the official liaison between the candidate and the General Body.

Internal Questionnaire for Potential Candidate Support
(a.k.a. "Green Screen, Part One")

This document represents Step One in deciding whether the Harris County Green Party (HCGP) will support and/or endorse a candidate for public office. This document should be used by the Steering Committee or a recognized HCGP Candidates Workgroup as the initial screening mechanism for determining if a candidate is viable for HCGP support.
If the candidate does not meet the criteria of this screen, there should be no need to consider the candidate further.
If the candidate does meet the criteria of this screen, s/he will be moved to the second step of the Support/Endorsement process as outlined in the "Process for Reviewing and Endorsing Green-friendly Candidates" document.
The HCGP seeks out progressive candidates whom we believe have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of the people whom they represent. Because we believe strongly in a representative government, we want to ensure that a candidate's position(s) is consistent with HCGP values. The Green Party's Ten Key Values are the following: Social Justice, Community-Based Economics, Nonviolence, Decentralization of Power, Future Focus and Sustainability, Feminism, Personal and Global Responsibility, Respect for Diversity, Grassroots Democracy, and Ecological Wisdom.
The results of this questionnaire will be made available to any interested member of the HCGP.

Candidate Name___________________________

Position Sought ___________________________ for ________________ term

1. Does this candidate intend to run on the Green Party ticket? Yes ___ No ____
(Note: an answer of "no" does not automatically disqualify her/him from consideration.)

2. Has this candidate spoken publicly about the Green Party? Yes ___ No ____

2b. If so, were her/his comments positive toward the Green Party positive or negative?
Positive ____ Negative ______

2c. Briefly comment on this candidate's attitude toward Greens.

3. Did this candidate approach the HCGP for endorsement? Yes ___ No ____

4. Briefly comment on how this person's public life has promoted the Ten Key Values.

5. If this person has held public office, briefly comment on at least two issues s/he has raised or supported that advanced the Ten Key Values.

6. Are there any Ten Key Values that the candidate clearly does not support? If so, comment briefly on which ones and why.

7. Briefly comment on some of the ways in which this candidate could promote Green issues in the office s/he is seeking.

8. Does this candidate rely on corporate contributions for her/his campaign?

Candidate Questionnaire for Harris County Green Party Endorsement
(a.k.a. "Green Screen, Part 2")

The Harris County Green Party (HCGP) designed this questionnaire to facilitate the selection and endorsement of candidates for public office. The HCGP seeks out progressive candidates whom we believe have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of the people whom they represent. Because we believe strongly in a representative government, we would like to know more about you and whether your positions are consistent with our values. The Green Party's Ten Key Values are the following: Social Justice, Community-Based Economics, Nonviolence, Decentralization of Power, Future Focus and Sustainability, Feminism, Personal and Global Responsibility, Respect for Diversity, Grassroots Democracy, and Ecological Wisdom.
Please answer in your own words the following eleven questions. Your answers will be reviewed by our Steering Committee (the elected body of the HCGP) and made available to our membership. Your answers will form the basis of our decision for formally supporting your efforts and/or endorsing your campaign.

1. Do you intend to run as a Green Party candidate?
(Note: an answer of "no" does not disqualify you from consideration.)

2. Do you believe the Green Party can make a useful contribution to American political life? How?

3. Please briefly discuss how your public life has promoted the Ten Key Values.

4. If you have held public office, please comment on at least two issues you have raised or supported that have advanced the Ten Key Values.

5. Please comment on how the office you are now seeking will allow you to advance the Ten Key Values.

6. Are there any Ten Key Values you do not support? If so, comment briefly on which ones and why.

7. How will the office you are now seeking allow you to serve the people you represent?

8. What do you believe are your two main issues?

9. How much money to intend to spend on your campaign? How and from whom do you plan to raise it?

10. How will you make yourself available to the public when you hold office (i.e., how will you listen to the concerns of the people you represent)?

11. Briefly comment on your position on the following issues:
a) Instant Run-off Voting
b) Financing of Elections
c) Living Wage ($10/hr minimum)