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Green Party of Arkansas Materials

 Collection
Identifier: MC 1803

Scope and Content Note

The collection mainly consists of materials of the Green Party candidates, Abel Tomlinson and Rebekah Kennedy, from the 2008 election which includes website materials, campaign ephemera, DVDs, and newspaper clippings.

Dates

  • 2000-2008

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Historical Note

The Green Party of the United States was founded on the principles of progressive politics, social justice, feminism, and environmental sustainability. The Green Party of Arkansas (GPA) began in 1996 when a group Arkansans wanted to add Ralph Nader to the presidential ballot. By 2000 the GPA had members in several counties and managed to get Ralph Nader's name on the ballot again. After 2000 the GPA began to grow and its members were becoming more involved in state politics. In 2001 a law existed in Arkansas which prevented any new party from participating in an election. The GPA sued the state of Arkansas and in September 2001 won its lawsuit in federal court, thereby placing Sarah Marsh in the election for congressional representative of the Third District. Although she only won 2% of the votes, it was the first time the GPA participated in a statewide election.

In 2006 the GPA was forced to sue the state of Arkansas again. Despite the fact that the GPA had acquired 18,000 signatures to obtain ballot access to the 2006 midterm elections, they were denied access. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) the GPA filed another lawsuit against the state of Arkansas and won again. Six candidates were placed on the ballot: Jim Lendall for governor, Rebekah Kennedy for attorney general, Marty Scully for secretary of state, Brock Carpenter for treasurer, R. David Lewis for commissioner of state lands, and Michael Bolzenius for state auditor. All candidates were defeated.

The 2008 statewide elections in Arkansas not only saw many Green Party candidates on the ballots, but for the first time ever Arkansans were able to vote in the Green Party primary elections for president. Since the congressional incumbents Mark Pryor, John Boozman, Mike Ross, and Vic Snyder were running unopposed in 2008, Green Party candidates saw this as a strategic opportunity in the hopes of gaining more votes as second party candidates instead of third party candidates. Each of the incumbents, however, won the election. Abel Tomlinson ran against John Boozman with 21% of the votes. Rebekah Kennedy ran against Mark Pryor with 21% of the votes; Deb McFarland ran against Vic Snyder with 23% of the votes; and Joshua Drake ran against Mike Ross with 14% of the votes. One Green Party candidate, Richard Carroll, was able to win a seat in the state House of Representatives. He later joined the Democratic Party and was defeated in 2010. In 2012 a Green Party candidate and former Democrat, Fred Smith, was elected to the state House of Representatives.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged by topic.

Acquisition Information

The Green Party of Arkansas Materials were donated to Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, on February 9, 2009, by Abel Tomlinson of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Processing Information

Processed by Andrew Donovan; completed in June 2013.

Creator

Source

Title
Green Party of Arkansas Materials
Status
Completed
Author
Andrew Donovan
Date
2013
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444