On February 24, 2016, members of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP ) energized their local party by electing a new leadership. Meeting at the Ethical Humanist Society on Rittenhouse Square, registered green activists listened to candidate remarks and then cast secret ballots.
The new Chair of the Philadelphia Greens will be Galen Jah Tyler, who was a Member-at-Large of the City Committee for the last two years. Tyler said, "I plan to kick off introductory meetings for registered Greens. These monthly social events will help unite our members and educate them about the role of the Green Party as the main opposition to the two corporate parties." Tyler, who lives in Torresdale (Ward 65), is director of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and a founding member of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign .
Charles Sherrouse was elected as a new City Committee Member-at-Large. He said, "My priority will be getting Greens involved with ballot access petitioning across the city, and extending our campaign outreach to campuses. The Green Party's performance in the 2015 City Council race has earned us state recognition as a political party in Philadelphia, which can help boost our membership." Sherrouse lives in Oxford Circle (Ward 54), and he was a founding member of GPOP, having served on the City Committee more than a decade ago.
Green Party members are prepared for Sherrouse's initiative. They formed an Electoral Operations Working Group in 2015 with three tasks: recruiting candidates for electoral office, organizing registered Greens to work on those campaigns, and creating a campaign infrastructure.
The Green Party members also elected Belinda Davis as GPOP Recording Secretary. Davis said, "I will focus not only on electoral politics, but also on bringing people together in political action that champions social justice, ecology, grassroots democracy, and non-violence. " She was referring here to the Green Party's Four Pillars . Davis first became active with GPOP in 2004, working on a campaign for Philadelphia City Council. She lives in Chestnut Hill (Ward 9), and had been treasurer of GPOP during 2011 and 2012.
The other four members of the Green's leadership were re-elected, some to new offices. Hillary Kane retained her seat as Treasurer, and Julian Robinson was re-elected as Member-at-Large. Kane and J. Robinson both live in Cedar Park (Ward 46). Eric Hamell was re-elected to the GPOP City Committee, this time as Member At Large, while Chris Robinson was returned in a different capacity as Membership Secretary. Both Hamell and C. Robinson live in Germantown (Ward 59).
GREEN PARTY of Phila. settled on its leadership and candidates for 2016 at meeting at Ethical Society. From left, front, are Julian Robinson, Eric Hamell, Belinda Davis, Hillary Kane, new Chair Galen Tyler and outgoing Chair Glenn Davis; rear, Chris Robinson and Charles Sharrouse. Photo by Wendell Douglas
The Green Party is an independent political party founded on the four pillars of nonviolence, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and social justice. For more information about the Green Party or to become a member, please call 215-843-4256 .
