Willa Kenoyer
Encyclopedia
Willa Kenoyer was the Socialist Party USA
(SPUSA) candidate for President of the United States
in the 1988 U.S. presidential election. The SPUSA had not been on the ballot in 1984 due to a lack of interest among its members, and only hoped for a vote total of five digits, expecting to do better in the next century, according to the chair Anne Rosenhaft. Kenoyer's running mate was Ron Ehrenreich
; they also ran on the Liberty Union Party
line in Vermont
, beating Herb Lewin of the Internationalist Workers Party in the LUP primary by 199 to 66, a primary socialists use to gauge the relative strength of their campaigns. They hoped to spread their ideas, finding some similarities to the goals of Jesse Jackson
's campaign, but significant differences regarding the military and intelligence agencies, and faulted him for, in their opinion, attracting more people to the Democratic Party
. The party's ultimate nominee Michael Dukakis
and platform were criticized by the campaign.
Kenoyer and Ehrenreich received 3,882 votes in the election. At the time she was working as a freelance journalist in Shelby, Michigan
, and had been a co-chair of the Citizens Party
. She was a divorced mother of four who had learned about socialism from her father, a member of the Sawmill Workers. Her mother was a member of the Newspaper Guild
. Prior to running for President, she had served a six year term on the Economic Development Commission for Oceana County, Michigan
, to which she was reappointed in 1987.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Van Buren County, Michigan
Family Independence Agency Board. She was reappointed for a term expiring in October 2009.
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
(SPUSA) candidate for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 1988 U.S. presidential election. The SPUSA had not been on the ballot in 1984 due to a lack of interest among its members, and only hoped for a vote total of five digits, expecting to do better in the next century, according to the chair Anne Rosenhaft. Kenoyer's running mate was Ron Ehrenreich
Ron Ehrenreich
Ron Ehrenreich is an American credit union officer and teacher. He was the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Socialist Party USA in the United States presidential election, 1988, as the running mate of Willa Kenoyer. The ticket received 3,882 votes, 2,587 of the votes came from New Jersey...
; they also ran on the Liberty Union Party
Liberty Union Party
The Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:...
line in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, beating Herb Lewin of the Internationalist Workers Party in the LUP primary by 199 to 66, a primary socialists use to gauge the relative strength of their campaigns. They hoped to spread their ideas, finding some similarities to the goals of Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
's campaign, but significant differences regarding the military and intelligence agencies, and faulted him for, in their opinion, attracting more people to the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The party's ultimate nominee Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
and platform were criticized by the campaign.
Kenoyer and Ehrenreich received 3,882 votes in the election. At the time she was working as a freelance journalist in Shelby, Michigan
Shelby, Michigan
Shelby is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Michigan:*Shelby Charter Township, Michigan in Macomb County*Shelby Township, Michigan in Oceana County*Shelby, Oceana County, Michigan, a village...
, and had been a co-chair of the Citizens Party
Citizens Party (United States)
The Citizens Party was a political party in the United States. It was founded in Washington, D.C. by Barry Commoner, who wanted to gather under one umbrella political organization all the environmentalist and liberal groups which were unsatisfied with President Carter's administration. The Citizens...
. She was a divorced mother of four who had learned about socialism from her father, a member of the Sawmill Workers. Her mother was a member of the Newspaper Guild
Newspaper Guild
The Newspaper Guild-CWA is a labor union founded by newspaper journalists in 1933 who noticed that unionized printers and truck drivers were making more money than they did...
. Prior to running for President, she had served a six year term on the Economic Development Commission for Oceana County, Michigan
Oceana County, Michigan
-US highways:* US-31* US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.* US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-20* M-120-Intercounty Highways:*B-15...
, to which she was reappointed in 1987.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Van Buren County, Michigan
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
Family Independence Agency Board. She was reappointed for a term expiring in October 2009.
External links
- Alternative Views #354: A Socialist President? (video) Frank Morrow (producer). Alternative Information Network. Recorded March 12, 1988.