The Auburn Citizen
by Robert Harding
October 22, 2010

AUBURN — Three days removed from the gubernatorial debate at Hofstra University, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins brought his campaign for governor to Auburn Thursday.

Hawkins spoke and took questions at the Universalist Unitarian Society Building. The venue’s significance to the Green Party movement was noted at the outset by Ron Van Nostrand, who said the building was instrumental in holding the first New York Green Party convention.

Believing the Green Party can become the third major party, Hawkins took swipes at both major party candidates for governor, especially Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who Hawkins believes will win the race, but has been hiding out and ignoring discussion about the issues.

“If I had the money, I would put his face on milk cartons,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins outlined his platform, which includes what he calls the “Green New Deal.” He said Democrats abandoned the New Deal legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his positions not only protect the New Deal legacy, but implement new ideas as well.

“When we talk about the Green New Deal, we are trying to defend some good principles that came out of the New Deal and expand it to the Green New Deal and bring up the idea of sustainable development,” he said.

Highlights of the Green New Deal include full employment to address high rates of underemployment and unemployment and the establishment of a single-payer health care system — Medicare for all — to provide health insurance for everyone. Hawkins also supports public financing of elections, a permanent ban on hydraulic fracturing and free tuition at SUNY and community colleges.

While Hawkins set a goal to become the third major party, he is striving to get the Green Party back on the ballot. To do that, Hawkins needs 50,000 votes in the general election.

Becoming the third major party requires 200,000 votes, he said, and to do that he needs help getting people out to vote for him.

“Knock on doors, make phone calls, and draw up a list of people you know,” he said. “Everybody here has friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, a contact list. Call those people and give them a 1, 2, or 3. One is they support us. Two is persuadable. Three is they’re hopeless. Go to your ones and go back to your twos and, on Election Day, make sure they vote.”