Steven Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Steven J. Schmidt is an American media entrepreneur and a political and environmental activist.
Schmidt was the lieutenant governor nominee of the Green Party in New Mexico in 1994
, receiving 10.4 percent of the vote, an unusually high percent of the vote for third party candidates. As a result of the vote, the New Mexico Green Party became the first independent political party in the state’s history to qualify as a major party with ballot-access under state election law.
After the campaign, Schmidt was nominated for a constitutional position on the New Mexico State Board of Education and confirmed by the Legislature. As “constitutional officers” the Board members were responsible for policy, management and oversight of over 50 percent of the state budget.
Schmidt was an adviser to the Center for Voting and Democracy and from 1993-2003 collaborated with Green party advocates to build a major third-party. After the 1994 New Mexico election, Schmidt put forward a Green model for organizing a platform-based national campaign. Schmidt became the key drafter of the founding platform of the Green Party of the United States
as chairperson of the Platform committee from 1995–2001 and became a principal figure in the formation of the national Green Party.
In the international arena, Steve Schmidt created a first-of-its-kind 1999 “Blue-Green” initiative bringing labor groups and environmentalists together for sustainable jobs and conservation; proposed and co-drafted the initial “Common Ground Platform” aligning U.S. Greens and thirty two European Green parties; participated in the subsequent proposal and drafting of the first international “Global Greens Charter
” and in 2004 attended the founding meeting of the European Green Party
in Rome, Italy.
In 1998, Senator Paul Wellstone
, who reviewed campaign finance and voting reform proposals with Schmidt from 1990 on, met in Albuquerque with Schmidt to discuss his writing for the Senator’s exploratory committee for President. Schmidt agreed and worked with him until his decision in 1999 to abandon the campaign due to health issues.
In 2004, Schmidt co-established the Green Institute/Green Policy360 with Dean Myerson and co-authored with Roger Morris its first strategic policy paper, “Strategic Demands of the 21st Century: A New Vision for a New World.” He co-established the Green Policy Wikimedia site in 1994 to “compete with the Republican’s Legislative Exchange, ALEC strategy
.” A writer on security and peace issues, Schmidt co-organized the 2006 “Surviving Victory” conference in Washington, DC.
Schmidt was the lieutenant governor nominee of the Green Party in New Mexico in 1994
New Mexico gubernatorial election, 1994
An election for governor and lieutenant governor of New Mexico was held in 1994 for the four-year term beginning in 1995. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor ran on a ticket as running mates....
, receiving 10.4 percent of the vote, an unusually high percent of the vote for third party candidates. As a result of the vote, the New Mexico Green Party became the first independent political party in the state’s history to qualify as a major party with ballot-access under state election law.
After the campaign, Schmidt was nominated for a constitutional position on the New Mexico State Board of Education and confirmed by the Legislature. As “constitutional officers” the Board members were responsible for policy, management and oversight of over 50 percent of the state budget.
Schmidt was an adviser to the Center for Voting and Democracy and from 1993-2003 collaborated with Green party advocates to build a major third-party. After the 1994 New Mexico election, Schmidt put forward a Green model for organizing a platform-based national campaign. Schmidt became the key drafter of the founding platform of the Green Party of the United States
History of the Green Party (United States)
The Green Party is a political party which was first established in Tasmania in 1972, with organizing in the United States begun in 1984, inspired by the success of European Green parties, notably that of the German Green party. In 2007, it became the third modern party with a Federal Elections...
as chairperson of the Platform committee from 1995–2001 and became a principal figure in the formation of the national Green Party.
In the international arena, Steve Schmidt created a first-of-its-kind 1999 “Blue-Green” initiative bringing labor groups and environmentalists together for sustainable jobs and conservation; proposed and co-drafted the initial “Common Ground Platform” aligning U.S. Greens and thirty two European Green parties; participated in the subsequent proposal and drafting of the first international “Global Greens Charter
Global Greens Charter
The Global Greens Charter is a document that 800 delegates from the Green parties of 72 countries decided upon a first gathering of the Global Greens in Canberra, Australia in April 2001 ....
” and in 2004 attended the founding meeting of the European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
in Rome, Italy.
In 1998, Senator Paul Wellstone
Paul Wellstone
Paul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
, who reviewed campaign finance and voting reform proposals with Schmidt from 1990 on, met in Albuquerque with Schmidt to discuss his writing for the Senator’s exploratory committee for President. Schmidt agreed and worked with him until his decision in 1999 to abandon the campaign due to health issues.
In 2004, Schmidt co-established the Green Institute/Green Policy360 with Dean Myerson and co-authored with Roger Morris its first strategic policy paper, “Strategic Demands of the 21st Century: A New Vision for a New World.” He co-established the Green Policy Wikimedia site in 1994 to “compete with the Republican’s Legislative Exchange, ALEC strategy
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
.” A writer on security and peace issues, Schmidt co-organized the 2006 “Surviving Victory” conference in Washington, DC.