Sampling of State Leagues 2007 Elections Results:

Montana:

Conservation played prominently in several city commission and city council races across Montana, resulting in pick up seats for the environment. Montana Conservation Voters helped elect 3 of its 5 top priority candidates (Gaghen, Billings Ward 1; Friel, Whitefish City Council; Muhlfeld, Whitefish City Council), and all 7 of its 2nd priority races. Two priority race losses: - the lone City Commission seat in Bozeman, which was captured by a developer-backed candidate; and the Whitefish mayor's seat, which will now be held by a popular, moderate former mayor. This means that the Billings City Council City Council and Livingston City Councils are greener, Kalispell's is the same, and Whitefish and Bozeman are slightly less so.

New Mexico:

Last night, the second largest city, Las Cruces, in New Mexico ousted a strong, likeable, pro-sprawl development incumbent Mayor in favor of a smart growth-supporting City Councilor who had lost two previous elections to the incumbent (not usually a recipe for success). They also elected a 24-year old wilderness advocate to City Council in a three-way race in an open seat. (note: Las Cruces and its metro area comprise almost a third of NM's Second Congressional District, which is open in 2008).

Ken Miyagishima - CVNM's endorsed Mayoral candidate - won by 74 votes out of 11,416 cast. The incumbent has conceded and is not seeking a recount.

Nathan Small - CVNM's endorsed Council candidate in District 4 - won a three-way race with 42% of the vote, edging by the critical 40% run-off threshold.

Growth and development were THE issues in this campaign, which is a first in New Mexico politics. It signals great things to come.

Ohio:

We won the only two big city Mayor races in Ohio: Mike Coleman in Columbus and Wm. Healy II defeating incumbent in Canton. Split evenly on our township trustee endorsements.

Oregon:

Oregonians overwhelming back restoring farm, forest, and groundwater protections.

By a 62%-38% margin, Oregon voters overwhelming backed a measure to restore land use rules that protect farms, forests, and groundwater from excessive sprawl.  Measure 49 dramatically scaled back Measure 37, which Oregon voters had passed in 2004 under the mistaken belief that it would mainly help parents pass on a couple houses to their children.  A strong coalition of environmental groups and farm groups powered Measure 49 to passage. Here is the press release on their win:

http://www.yeson49.com/2007/11/oregonians_supp.html

South Carolina:

CVSC won a House seat and lost a Senate seat in two special elections.  CVSC endorsed candidate Heyward Hutson(R) was elected from Dorchester County in a contest that became a contest for managed growth.  CVSC endorsed candidate Rep. Bill Clyburn(D) lost by 150 votes (out of 14,000) to newcomer Shane Massey(R) in Aiken, Saluda, McCormick, and Edgefield Counties.

Virginia:

After a long campaign season, Election Day in Virginia came on November 6.  Of the 44 state Senate and House candidates endorsed by VALCV, 39 were victorious and will join the General Assembly during the 2008 session. Five of our candidates even defeated incumbents. Many of these races were very close and hard fought.  Our six top targeted Senate races came right down to the margins.  Environmental, growth and transportation, and energy issues all factored heavily in their campaigns.  Many of VALCV's Local PAC Partners had success as well on conservation/growth issues with numerous local Board of Supervisor seats going to endorsed candidates."

Now the Virginia Senate has shifted to Democratic rule with the pickup of 4 seats to claim the majority.  The House of Delegates remains in Republican hands so VALCV's goal will be to elevate conservation with both parties as they grapple for power.  With the 2008 Presidential and Congressional races at hand, Virginia's shift toward the center may tilt national attention toward our state for 2008 targeting

Washington:

It appears that we will win more than 70% of our races. In particular, we had huge victories in our top candidate priority--the Snohomish County Council. Helping to elect Mike Cooper (61%) and Brian Sullivan (69%) will have a significant impact on how the Puget Sound region grows. Also, sweeping all four races for Bainbridge City Council is a nice feather in our cap and really shows what can be done with strong commitment from local activists. And the one race with which we will likely be most readily identified--the David Della vs. Tim Burgess race for Seattle City Council--currently shows a whopping 64% vote for our candidate.

There were major disappointments with the Roads & Transit package and I-960. We also suffered some painful losses in the race for Bellingham mayor, as well as in some important suburban city elections.

New York

New York LCV had a great election. Voters turned out in force to support pro-environment candidates with the biggest successes in NYLCV targeted races in Schenectady, Brookhaven and Yonkers.

In total, 52 out of 60 of our endorsed candidates were elected (with another two races currently too close to call) and some very important ballot initiatives passed.

To get more information on New York elections go to:

http://www.nylcv.org/ecopoliticsdaily/20071107_election_day_yields_environmental_progress

Idaho

In Idaho, 10 out of the 13 endorsed candidates by Conservation Voters for Idaho won their election, including two pro-conservation county commissioners in eastern Idaho who survived a recall election.  In Boise, the voters returned three pro-conservation council members and pro-conservation mayor to city hall.  In Eagle, the newly elected city council members will have a majority beginning in January.  The Eagle mayoral race is still undecided, but our endorsed candidate received the greatest number of votes in the general election and is the front runner in a December runoff election. The Teton County Commission also remains in control of a pro-conservation majority.  In the city of Victor, also in Teton County, two endorsed candidates won their bids for city council.  The only losses were in the city of Star, where all three of our endorsed candidates were narrowly defeated, one candidate by only one vote.  Overall it was a very successful election cycle for Conservation Voters for Idaho and the issue of growth was a deciding factor in most of these races.