Sacramento Green Applies for GPCA Coordinating Committee
August 16, 2021
Nicole Castor
Application for GPCA Coordinating Committee, women’s seat, October 2021
Citrus Heights, Sacramento County
UPDATE: I am no longer supporting the "NOC #1" strategy, and instead urge, "Castor #1, NOC #2, 3+ vote your conscience)
I am applying to the GPCA Coordinating Committee in order to effect a positive change within our party’s administration. I know the GPCA Bylaws like the back of my hand and have read the duties expected of CC members, listed in the internal procedures of the Coordinating Committee, and feel confident I can manage these responsibilities.
I first got involved with Green Party in 2016,* as a disillusioned former Bernie-supporter. A chance meetup to reactivate our county’s party led to the forming of a wonderful team and enduring friendships over these last few years. Since that first meeting, we have come so far, and I am incredibly proud of the dedication to keeping our party alive that I am lucky enough to be a part of.
I was born and raised in New Jersey, moving to California as a teen. I received a BA in Sociology (as well as AA Psychology, AA Sociology, AA Social Science) from CSUS in 2008, and went on to have a family and dedicated many years to raising my two children.
I am now in my second term on the County Council for Green Party of Sacramento County, this one having been elected on the ballot, and being the largest vote-getter in the group! This turnout was important to me, not just to tease the rest of the gang about, but because it confirmed to me that I have had an impact on our community and that I must continue contributing to the work we do to serve our county Greens. I am motivated by an obligation to the people who gave me those votes.
As a California Green, I have served in the following roles:
Co-Coordinator, County Council of the Green Party of Sacramento County (2016-2020), (2020-present)
Legislative Advocate, registered with the California Legislature to represent GP Sacramento County (2019-present)
GPCA GA/SGA Delegate, Sacramento County (2016-present)
National Delegate to the Presidential Nomination Convention, Green Party, for Hawkins (2020)
Presidential Elector, for Howie Hawkins (2020)
Candidate for City Council, Citrus Heights, Dist. 1 (2020)
Some of the things I am the proudest of in my time serving in GP Sacramento County:
The effort contributed toward our first activation meeting- the setup, the scheduling, getting enough nomination signatures, and getting people to show up!
The effort contributed toward getting on the ballot for our second term- again nomination signatures, getting around without a vehicle and a lousy public transit system!
Hosting the June 2017 General Assembly at Camp Pollock, Sacramento over a 110-degree weekend!
Co-sponsoring many local events
All the coalition-building we have done locally
Representing Green Party to young people at two High School Voter Symposiums
Starting a fight at Earth Day with a local Dem Club for co-opting our name, which led to them changing their name from “The Green Dems” to something else. You’re welcome.
Starting a Legislative Working Group at the county level & taking positions on legislation; winning concessions
Being right about our former spokesperson’s behavior and being unrelenting in seeing that toxic element out
Running for City Council and getting 38%!!
Exposing corruption in our internal party
Representing our Ten Key Values in my work with the party
Why I am Running and What I Hope to Accomplish on CC
First and foremost, I am submitting this application to encourage all delegates to vote for No Other Candidate in rank#1, as I will, and had in the last election. Vote for Nicole Castor in rank #1, No Other Candidate in rank #2, and anyone else in the #3+ positions.
I want everyone involved in our internal administration to understand the protest behind this statement. The very first duty for CC Members, Ensure that CC actions are in accordance with GPCA Bylaws and Rules and Procedures, and the CC Internal Procedures, has been disregarded for some time, and as such, party members feel a duty to put a stop to bad actions when they happen. But this is about actions, not people, not personalities.
I have heard from folks who are very upset because they feel that I or our county have something personal against members of the CC or party, and I want everyone to know that nothing can be further from the truth! These criticisms do not reflect on anyone as individuals, and I could list a dozen or so things I admire in almost everyone responsible for the current disaster… These are simply complaints regarding a breach of trust and duty in following our internal rules. And to anyone who thinks that violating bylaws is not a big deal, then I suggest you find another area to contribute your talents in this party, because you are a liability to all of us.
What I want to accomplish on the CC, is to grow our party, and to help facilitate a party with more substance. Our party will grow when we get it to a place where it is operating in a legal and professional way, in a way which we can be proud of, and in a way that is inclusive. In order to be taken seriously, we have to start acting in a way which others can respect, by abiding by our own rules and principles, and operating in a trustworthy manner.
As far as practicality, I would also like to break up the gridlock so evident after reading over a year’s worth of CC minutes. I want us to actually accomplish something other than wasting everyone’s time once a month discussing “who’s job is what in CC” for literally an entire year. I believe timewasters can be redirected into something productive and if anyone in this party is bold enough to call out this counter-productive behavior, it is me. Our county party has methods for dealing with such meetings issues, and we acknowledge that everyone’s time is valuable, and as such, I have experience with this.
The duties of CC are administrative. Activists should go activist during the appropriate times, and stop using this as an excuse to stall important tasks. We have had countless missed deadlines and opportunities over the years due to this posturing and all the while, we hear about how we are breaking bylaws because we should be more focused on “action.” I think enough time has passed that we can plainly see the “action” never came.
It is time to be responsible and take care of our party before it is too late. We grow our party by setting a good example, following our rules, and staying out of trouble! And, we do this by electing responsible people into our central committee.
Please vote No Other Candidate #1 and Nicole Castor #2. Please vote Nicole Castor #1 and No Other Candidate #2.
Thank you for taking the time to read my application.
Sincerely,
Nicole Castor
*non-paywalled reprint of link above