My Candidacy for Green Party of the United States Steering Committee

Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:26:36 GMT

BIO - Tom King, Delegate, Desert Greens Green Party of Utah- for consideration prior to the vote in Tuscon.

I began my experience in activism from the age of 10 as an "armchair activist". I was aware of injustices in our world, and my increased awareness took a sudden upswing starting in 1996 as I began to listen to Amy Goodman's "Democracy NOW!" on a regular basis. I remained an "armchair activist"
until September of 2001. After the tragic occurrences, it was obvious that our military would be unleashed on the world, and I decided to speak out against this. I joined with a newly forming group that eventually became "People for Peace and Justice of Utah".

Through new acquaintances met via the peace movement, I became involved with the Green Party of Utah. I helped with the first ballot petition drive that won Ballot Access for the 2002 General Election here in Utah. I also was very active in the second ballot petiion drive in 2005 that won Ballot Access for the 2006 General Elections. I was one of the founders of the "South Salt Lake County Local of the GPUT" (which later became the "Bloomin' Greens"
local and is now the "Sage Greens" local) and was selected as the primary representative on the GPUT Coordinating Council for my local. I have remained in this capacity to present.

At the 2002 GPUT Nominating convention I was nominated to run for Utah State House District 43. I ran a low budget campaign, as most of my available time was devoted to another campaign that eventually led to the GPUT retaining ballot access. Even so, I got almost 2 percent of the vote in a heavily Republican district. I was running against two other challengers to the incumbent Republican, one a Dem, the other a Libertarian.

At the 2004 GPUT Nominating Convention, I was nominated to run again for the State House District within which I reside. This time I obtained nearly 10 percent of the votes, without doing any campaigning to speak of (The only money I spent on the campaign was the required $15 filing fee to the state.). The large increase in percentage from the previous elections result was most likely due to the lack of a Democratic Party challenger in this General Election. At the time of this writing, I am currently running for the same House seat for a third time.

In early 2005 I was selected by the GPUT CC to represent Utah as a Delegate to the GPUS. I have served in this capacity since then. I am also a member of the GPUS Ballot Access Committee (BAC).

Since I beleive in "walking the talk", I have participated in several civil disobedience events in recent years, the first one being an infiltration of the Republican welcome of Dick Cheney at a private jet hanger in Salt Lake city where about 8 of us dressed like republicans with anti-war banners hidden under our clothes and when the time was right, unfurled them with some of us chanting "war monger!". (Needless to say we were quickly escorted out.) I was a participant in the all day 25 person sit-in in Congressman Jim Matheson's office just before the bombing of Iraq in March, 2003. I was one of 10 people arrested for refusing to vacate his office after business hours because of Matheson's refusal to rescind his signature granting George W. Bush the power to declare war. One week after that action I participated in a support role in a blockade of the Salt Lake City Federal Building doors, also in opposition to the Iraq Invasion. I have also participate in arrest actions at the Nevada Test site to oppose the illegal U.S. occupation of Western Shoshone land and the continued testing of weaponry at that site. I was an organizer and MC for the protest of Bush's visit to SLC in August 2005 which drew over 3,000 people.
Since 2001 I have been an organizer for some of Utah's largest anti-war marches and rallies. I have been a consistent vigiler in the weekly peace vigil in front of Salt Lake's Federal Building since October 2001. Each year I help bring the Caravan to Cuba to Salt Lake. I help show free weekly documentaries to the public at a local venue in an effort to educate people on current issues. I recently became a member of the Stop the Divine Strake Coalition and continue to work on stopping that test from happening.

Here is a sample list of projects I have helped organize:

Weekly peace and justice sidewalk vigils since October 2001 – provide signs and do outreach for specific themes each week.

Currently on organizing team for Bush visit to SLC in late August – will be involved in logistical aspects of action

Organizer for demonstration during Bush’s visit to SLC August 2005 – this happened in 5 days (crisis team in action) – handled logistics for action – sound system, stage set-up; venue logistics; emceed the event.

Anti-War Rallies each year (usually two per year) since 2001 for People for Peace and Justice of Utah and the Desert Greens – organizing committee – handling the logistics of each event (sound system, stage, etc.); making phone calls to vendors to donate items, etc.; taking notes at organizing meetings; meetings facilitator when needed

Series of Civil Disobedience actions, March 2003 – planning, organizing, participating

Literature distribution project immediately following 9-11.

I have lived in the Salt Lake Valley all of my life. My vocation has been for most of my life a construction electrician, currently possessing a masters electrician's license in Utah. My current position is in technical support for a First Amendment public charter school in Salt Lake City.

As a Steering Committee member I would strive to uphold the ten key values through example. I would work within the NC to strive for the growth of a viable party for the people in ways that will attract citizens to join. I would work to assist struggling state parties that need our help. I do not have any magic formulas for this, just the desire and motivation to work with current and future members towards realizing that goal.

bluesguy

My Candidacy for Green Party of the United States Steering Committee