I want you to hear this directly from me, personally.  If you wish to
forward this, please forward it in its entirety.

As the only elected governmental official on the Green Party of California
state Coordinating Committee, I have for some time been uncomfortable with
the GPCA's ongoing inability to file legally required political donation and
expenditure records for a number of checks intended by donors for the Green
Party, but apparently diverted through a privately controlled account.
After four years, the matter finally was put before the California Green
Party's highest decision-making body, the General Assembly, this past
weekend.

Delegates from around the state were presented with written documentation,
including a letter from the GPCA Finance Committee that explained the
seriousness of the situation. That letter, part of each delegate¹s
information packet, concluded,

> It is fair to describe the public outcry over the mismanagement of the funds
> in the account in question as the worst public scandal in our party's history.
>
> That scandal is now part of our history -- an indelible part. The only
> question remaining is whether you, the representatives of the Green Party of
> California, wish the party to continue our efforts to bring this problem to a
> conclusion based upon legal compliance and a political resolution based upon
> our own principles and values.

Instead of seeking responsible resolution, a minority wishing to avoid the
issue refused to ratify the previously-circulated agenda, and succeeded in
delaying the meeting by almost five hours.  Eventually, the 80-odd
frustrated delegates voted to remove only one item from the day's general
assembly agenda -- the matter of the legally-required financial filings.

Greens, who advocate for political transparency and clean campaign
financing, have now actively chosen to ignore compliance with California's
primary political finance disclosure law, 1974's Political Reform Act.

As an elected official trying to represent Green integrity in local
governance to a Santa Monica constituency unfortunately very familiar
through hometown headlines with ³the worst public scandal in our party¹s
history,² I find myself in an intolerable conflict.

I've done my best, but I still have unresolved concerns with California
Green Party leadership that considers itself above the law on financial
transparency and electoral integrity.

I have this morning re-registered as ³decline to state.² I shall continue to
work with you on implementing the Ten Key Values in Santa Monica,
California, the nation and the world.

Thanks,

Kevin McKeown
Santa Monica City Council