Illinois Green Party Elects New Officers, Changes Internal Structure

At a State Membership Meeting in Springfield on Saturday, September 13, the Illinois Green Party approved bylaws changes to restructure the organization, and elected new officers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, September 19, 2008

Illinois Green Party Elects New Officers, Changes Internal Structure

Contact:
Phil Huckelberry
Illinois Green Party Chair
309-268-9974
phil.huckelberry@ilgp.org

Julie Samuels
Illinois Green Party Vice-Chair
708-383-7711
julie.samuels@ilgp.org

Patrick Kelly
Illinois Green Party Media Coordinator
773-203-9631
media@ilgp.org

At a State Membership Meeting in Springfield on Saturday, September
13, the Illinois Green Party approved bylaws changes to restructure
the organization, and elected new officers.

Under the new changes, a five-person Executive Committee will handle
more of the day-to-day operations of the state party, with all
officers directly elected by the party's membership. Previously ILGP
used a system of five co-chairs elected by the party's Coordinating
Committee. Unlike other parties in Illinois, the Green Party
maintains an annual-renewal membership structure that seeks to empower
rank-and-file members, and the new structure is intended in part to
further empower members.

The new officers are Phil Huckelberry (Chicago), Chair; Julie Samuels
(Oak Park), Vice-Chair; and AJ Segneri (Sterling), Treasurer.
Continuing officers are David Black (Belvidere), Secretary; and
Patrick Oldendorf (Homer Glen), Membership Steward. In their new
roles, Huckelberry and Samuels will serve as the primary spokespersons
for the Illinois Green Party.

Phil Huckelberry has served as one of ILGP's co-chairs from 2002-2007
and again in 2008. He is also Co-Chair of the Green National
Committee, and has twice run for State Representative in Illinois'
88th District (Bloomington-Normal). Julie Samuels was the Green
Party's candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2006, and previously had
run twice for State Representative in Illinois' 8th District (Oak
Park). AJ Segneri is Chair of the Whiteside County Green Party and is
exploring options for a possible run for office in 2010.

"Our membership has changed in the last few years," said Huckelberry.
"We are attracting more African-Americans, Latinos, and disaffected
Republicans, all at the same time. We have already staked a claim as
the second party in Chicago, and around the state we expect to field
more numerous and more experienced candidates in the next couple of
election cycles."

"This organizational refinement is the latest example of how we have
risen to the challenges of being an 'established' party," said
Samuels. "We will be better able to insure that we are actively
represented in discussions on the important issues in our state, and
will better be able to work for the benefit of every person in
Illinois, not just the monied or powerful interests."

55 Green Party candidates are on the ballot across Illinois in 2008,
the first time in decades that a party other than the Democrats or
Republicans have run so many candidates in Illinois.

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