After unenrolling from the Democratic Party this
spring, Maine State Rep. Ralph
Chapman announced Thursday he has joined the Maine Green Independent
Party, becoming the only Green state representative
in Maine, and the first since John
Eder finished his term in the 122nd Legislature in
2006.
In a letter announcing his enrollment with
the Maine Greens, Chapman wrote, "I have joined the Maine Green
Independent Party in order to highlight the democracy-diminishing
effects of corporate funding influence on the statehouse party
leadership of Maine's two largest political parties."
The
Greens, he notes, do not accept corporate donations, in contrast to
the Democrats and Republicans. "I saw more clearly," Chapman said,
"that even our state legislature is largely controlled by
accountability to funding sources, not people. The Maine Green
Independent Party offers an alternative. In essence, the Maine Green
Independent Party is demonstrating, by its actions, how to behave as
though the Citizens' United Supreme Court decision were
overturned."
Chapman is in his fourth term serving
District 133, which comprises Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville,
Castine, Sedgwick and Surry. He sits on the Joint Standing Committee
on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.
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