Green Party for Pa Senate

What flavor of whine is made from sour grapes?

Mt. Gretna businessman and life-long Republican Bray Brunkhurst confirmed yesterday that he is planning to run as a Green Party candidate so he can challenge Republican Mike Folmer and Democrat John Liss.

Brunkhurst said Green Party leaders on the state level have given him approval to move forward but have not yet endorsed him.

His success will hinge on the volunteer support he can muster to gather the more than 1,000 signatures to qualify for a ballot position. Brunkhurst has established an e-mail account — brunkhurst2006@yahoo.com — where people interested in getting involved may contact him.

“... If the people in Lebanon County and District 48 want a candidate that has different credentials, I can be that candidate,” Brunkhurst said. “Over the next month, I need volunteers to help get the signatures, and I would need people who would be part of a campaign committee to get involved. ... I will need (their) time now and monetary contributions in August.”

Mr Folmer defeated Senator Chip Brightbill in one of the "ground shaking" primary victories a month ago. It's no secret in political circles that some connected elephant-type individuals were shopping around for a candidate to run a third-party campaign to draw votes away from Mr Folmer in this conservative district.

The list included a former candidate for Governor from that district.

Rumors have been flying since the primary that a well-known Republican challenger supported by Brightbill loyalists would enter the race.

Brunkhurst said he has received encouragement from friends in the GOP party, but he has not being prompted to run by Brightbill or his backers. But, Brunkhurst said, he feels that his candidacy will appeal to them and to voters who supported Folmer simply because he was not Brightbill but who may now have doubts about his qualifications.

To run for office, Brunkhurst said, he will need consent from the Green Party State Committee, and he makes no bones about using the minor party as a vehicle to get elected. He said he considered the Libertarian and Constitutional parties but felt the Green Party were more in line with his political philosophy.

The Green Party? Jeez. Some Republican.

More...

Election law, however, will not make finding that person an easy task.

Anyone registered with a political party after April 17 is not eligible to run as an independent, according to Elaine Ludwig, chief clerk of elections.

There is another method of getting on the ballot, Ludwig said, but it’s unorthodox. A willing minor party — the Green or Libertarian, for example — could allow a Republican to run under its banner, she said.

Pennsylvania Posted by AlexC at June 12, 2006 3:43 PM