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To the Editor: 

As the initial results of this month’s election rolled in, I was worried that, once again, the Greens would be blamed for “spoiling” the Democratic governor's seat in Sacramento. Luckily, as more results poured in, Davis gained a plurality. The Democratic Party needs to look at future elections and decide whether it is willing to risk losing an election by not reforming election laws. Clearly, in a closer race, in which the Republicans have a more formidable candidate, the 5.3 percent of the vote that Camejo garnered could easily spell the difference between winning and losing. 

You would be hard pressed to find a Green who would rather have Simon over Davis or Bush over Gore but you would also be hard pressed to find a Green who will give up their right to vote their conscience. You would also have difficulty finding a Green Party candidate anywhere in the country who does not promote Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). It is curious to me that a campaign manager for the Democratic Governor is so fervently opposed to IRV, that he would rather see the Democratic Party implode than let 5 percent of the people express themselves freely. Mulholland should realize that there is an axiom in nature, “survival of the most cooperative.” It should be clear to the leadership of the Democratic Party that the Greens are not going away. The Green party is continuing to grow all over the world. 

David Heller 

Berkeley