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Revision as of 18:43, 28 February 2005 by DJ Silverfish (talk | contribs) (added category for US regional and state political parties)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Mountain Party is a minor political party in the state of West Virginia. It is a progressive and environmental party. The party platform calls for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining. It also calls for timber regulation that reduces flooding, erosion and eliminates clear-cutting and destruction of old-growth forests. Other platform planks include an end to corporate welfare, and the establishiment of small community schools, universal health care and campaign finance reform.
Under West Virginia ballot access laws, a party gains automatic ballot access for the subsequent election cycle by gaining one-percent of the votes for Governor. The party, having obtained access by petition in 2000, achieved that one-percent in that election and again in 2004, meaning it will have access through 2008.
2004 gubernatorial candidate Jesse Johnson unsuccessfully sued to be included in debates between the major candidates. As of November 2004, 637 West Virginians had registered as Mountain Party voters and were eligible to vote in party primaries.
While the Mountain Party has never elected anyone to any office, it has obtained good results in local elections.
2004 Elections
Governor
Jesse Johnson (Charleston) received 18,430 of 744,433 votes or 2.48%.
12th Senate District
John M. Williams (Weston) received 2048 of 43,858 votes or 4.67%.
2002 Elections
15th Senate District
Kit Patten (Great Cacapon) received 1173 of 26,264 votes or 4.47 %.
55th Delegate District
Vince George (Scrabble), in a two-candidate race against a Republican, received 1396 of 3589 votes or 38%.
36th Delegate District
Bob Henry Baber (Richmond) received 376 of 3868 votes or 9.72%.
2000 Elections
President
Ralph Nader received 10,680 votes or 1.63% of presidential votes cast in the state.
Governor
Denise Gardina received 10,416 votes or 1.62% of gubernatorial votes cast.
External Links:
- Mountain Party
- West Virginia State Election Commission
- West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey article on Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining