About the Hillsdale County Greens

Doug Baker had joined the Green Party in 2005 after having worked on the Presidential campaign of Ralph Nader the previous year (though Nader didn't run that year as a Green Party candidate, many Greens joined his independent candidacy). By the middle of 2006, Doug found himself actively campaigning for a number of Michigan Green Party candidates, and involved himself in numerous social and political issues, most notably the anti-war movement.

As Doug became more politically active, he encouraged his brother Randy to do the same. By August of 2006 Randy had decided to join the Green Party of Michigan and even helped staff the GPMI table at the 2006 Hillsdale County Peace Festival.

Richard Wunsch is a long-time political veteran and member of the Green Party of Michigan, and is active in a number of groups, including the Hillsdale County Coalition for Peace and Justice, which operated the Peace Festival. Well-known and respected as one of the area's most progressive voices, Richard serves as a contact point for individuals and groups who don't fit the area's conservative mold.

Banny Bishop and Jenny Halloin are Hillsdale area progressives who met Doug and Randy through Richard during a number of local political events. Hearing of the plans for a Green Party local through Doug, they approached him and expressed their interest in joining the venture.

Minerva Brown, the last of the original six founding members of the Hillsdale County Greens, has known Doug, Randy and Richard through their joint participation in the Hillsdale Annex, a cooperative non-profit coffee house and entertainment venue. Minerva first became familiar with the Green Party by visiting the GPMI table at the 2006 Peace Festival and, in 2007, decided to join the newly forming local.

The first five members of the Hillsdale County Greens met twice during the last weeks of 2006 to hash out the bylaws of the local and, on January 29, 2007, formally approved them. Minerva was elected Secretary. Doug, the original driving force behind the creation of the local, was elected Chair. Randy and Richard were elected as delegates to the Green Party of Michigan's State Central Committee (SCC).

Once the bylaws, platform and officers were in place, the The Hillsdale County Greens immediately began working on plans for reaching out to the local community and coordinating our efforts for the 2008 elections. We hope to play a dynamic and positive role in the future of Hillsdale County, and invite all progressive members of the Hillsdale County community to join us in our efforts. If you'd like to know more about our issues and ideology, please review our Platform.

~~HCG~~