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.
