1.
What distinguishes you from your opponents?
None of the Iowa Green Party candidates are what could be
called professional politicians. Being a full-time
politician is not necessarily a bad thing, but working one (or more) full-time jobs does
give us a good perspective on workplace and economic issues important to
Iowans.
The Iowa Green Party gubernatorial campaign does not accept contributions
from corporate donors or PACS , and limits all
donations to a maximum of $100 per person. In this way, we hope
to show that we will not be beholden to any special interest, and live out our
commitment to campaign finance reform. We also hope to
encourage more widespread contributions among our supporters.
Iowa Green Party candidates support "Green Values"
: Grassroots Democracy, Ecology, Social Justice and Nonviolence. Of
course, every candidate says they support this, but the Green Party is
currently the most clear and outspoken in our advocacy of clean sources of
renewable energy; sustainable, humane, family farm-based agriculture
as opposed to continued subsidies for giant agribusiness (we are the
only official party in Iowa advocating a return to local control over
placement of huge animal confinement lots); opposition
to the federalization of
the national
guard (I believe we are the only party whose governor would
not sign off on allowing Iowa national guard troops to be sent to Iraq,
given the event the Bush administration decides to invade that country). Given
the large population of senior citizens in Iowa, I believe we need to
seriously look into a state-based single-payer health insurance program
that will cover all Iowans, and ensure that prescription drugs are
affordable. Greens advocate community-based economics that serve and build
local communities, not giant, corrupt corporations.
My special interest lies in the area of increasing options
for third parties
to achieve and retain official party status in Iowa, and in
promoting the use of voting methods that would reflect a more accurate view of
the public's wishes, involve more people in the political process by
giving voters more choices of candidates that reflect their values. Such
methods would include Instant Runoff Voting, Preference Voting and a move
toward more proportional representation.
2. How long have you been involved in
politics? Do you remember the
first time you voted?
I first voted for Jimmy Carter, in the '70's. I
have supported some form of
progressive politics and attended precinct caucuses, but it
was in 1996 that I became involved in party politics when I volunteered
to help with the petition drive to get Ralph Nader on the Iowa presidential
ballot. I then became involved in the organization of the Iowa Green Party.
3. What is the greatest challenge of public
service?
I believe, once elected, an office-holder must listen to all
constituencies, including those he or she doesn't agree with, and
try to be open and fair,
while also supporting those policies and values on which he
or she ran.
4. What is the most important issue facing
the State of Iowa?
This could be summed up thus: corporatization of our entire
way of life.
This involves our means of food production, education and
economy.
Simple answer, but I don't think it's simplistic...
5. What advice would you give someone
thinking of running for public
office?
Start preparing early.
6. What was your first car?
A Gremlin (by which you could guess that I voted for Jimmy
Carter).
7. What was your favorite subject in High
School?
French and German.
8. How did you become involved in the (G)
Party?
In 1996, I read an article in The Nation about Ralph Nader
running in the
California primary. I called the 800 number to
find out if he was on the
ballot in Iowa, and was asked to help gather petition
signatures to place
Mr. Nader on the Iowa ballot. Following
the 1996 election, I became
involved in the newly-organized local Green Party, and began
reading more
about Green politics.
9. What is your favorite music and music
composer?
Classical - all the major classical composers,
and the current
"minimalist" composers such as Philip Glass, John
Adams (goes well
with politics), Steve Reich and Arvo Part.
10. Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002? Should
they invade?
I hope not. No, we have absolutely no reason and
no business invading
Iraq. I believe the real issue is Enron. Yes,
Enron - don't' tell me you
already forgot about that - !?
11. If you were in the Lt. Gov. today, what would
be your first bill to see
through the Senate?
It's difficult to name a single piece of legislation. Iowa's
current economic
state is not good; however, this provides a chance to make
some choices about how we move forward. I would like
to see choices that move away from engaging in the same cycle of economic
dependency on large corporations (such policies have obviously failed!)
and be more creative in coming up with solutions that are both
environmentally friendly and good for the economy - renewable
energy is just one
example.
12. Why should the citizens of the State of Iowa Elect you
on Nov. 5th,
2002?
Greens are not "owned" by corporate donors. Greens
promote humane
values!
13. What is your take on the Tobacco issue?
Get all the money we can from the tobacco companies and use
this to
fund the start of single-payer health insurance that will
cover all Iowans.
14. What issues will you fight for if you are elected Lt.
Gov.?
Everything I've mentioned above!
15. Do you believe music education is a key ingredient in
educational
development?
Is this a trick question?! With the current state
of the economy, music and
arts education would seem to be expendable. However,
I believe we
need to maintain cultural education for Iowa's students. Music
education
does have a positive impact on other areas of
childhood and later student
development, helps the student develop discipline and skill,
and when
involving school ensembles, helps foster the ability to work
"in harmony"
with others.
Holly
Hart
Interview:
Holly Hart (G) for Lt. Gov. for the State of Iowa