Maryland Green Party Coordinating Council
Nov. 25, 2025
Opened: 7:35
Attending - 9
CC Members: Brian Bittner, Renaud Brown, Mary Rooker; Dana Polson, Nancy Wallace
Guest: Darryl! Moch, DC Statehood Greens
Observers: Bill Barry, Bill Orleans, Merryl Azriel; David Alan Tibbetts joined at 9:00pm
DECISIONS
1. We supported the formation of an independent working group to study the recommendation of a constitutional convention in 2030.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Everyone: email the message below to marylandgreens@gmail.com:
I hereby petition the Maryland Green Party to hold an Emergency Assembly to consider bylaws amendments in relation to the 2026 candidate nomination process and other urgent matters.
Signed, ___________________________________________________
2. Brian: email the list inviting all to form an independent constitutional convention in 2030 working group.
3. Bill Orleans(?): email to locate those interested in occasional meetings of DC, NoVA, MoCo, and PG Greens.
Quorum
Seeing 5 of 9 CC members present, quorum was declared.
Darryl! Moch, DC Statehood Greens Presentation
Contact Darryl! at nubianphoenix1@gmail.com
Highlights:
1. Darryl! assumes that Robert White will run for/become Mayor, so Darryl! might run for that seat. He’s likely to run for at-large, but is assessing.
2. Many candidates run as Independents. More DC folks are registered than Green than Republican, but it’s a small margin. And more are moving to Independent.
3. Open primaries have served the DC Greens fairly well, better than he thought it would.
4. For robo calls, he’s worked with Ron Schneider, President, Premiere Political Communications
www.premierepolitical.com T 866-750-6610; found his rates very reasonable. Can also design and print signs, etc.
5. When young folks come into the party, let them work on the issues they have passion for. Don’t say “we tried that, it didn’t work.” That was 10 years ago; let them try now.
6. We need to be lining up a Green who can run in Vermont when Bernie steps down.
7. Don’t trashtalk Democrats, because many of those who vote for us are registered Democrats.
8. Bill Orleans proposed that we have occasional meetings of DC, NoVA, MoCo, and PG Greens.
Constitutional Convention 2030
DEFINITION. Merryl Azriel presented. Every 20 years, the general electorate can vote to have Maryland hold a constitutional convention. 1967-68 was the last time one was held, and the proposed constitution was not approved. So our base constitution is still very Jim Crow. 2030 is the next opportunity, and MD Greens could make it an issue to run on. Instead of chipping away on one issue at a time, we could make big change on many issues in one effort. Independent citizen referendum; put budget responsibility with the legislature, not the Governor; rights of Nature; and ranked choice voting. Possibly add a longer legislative session.
DISCUSSION. Andy’s gubernatorial campaign is considering this. Brian noted that we could promote it as a Green New Constitution.
PROPOSAL. Merryl suggested that we have a working session that reviews the MD constitution and comes up with actions. Where do we find out how this failed in the past?
Brian: Folks can gather without it being a MD Green Party thing and present when ready.
"This is because calling a convention requires a majority of all voters participating in an election, while ratifying an amendment requires only a majority of those who vote on the specific question. This "silent veto" by voters who skip the question has prevented the convention referendum from succeeding even when it wins majority support."
Brian will post an announcement to the listserv for anyone who wants to work on this.
Emergency Assembly Petition for Bylaws
We need to update our rules before the 2026 primary process because we didn’t do it last year at our regular annual assembly. We need 25 signatures; please sign. You can also ask other Greens to sign the petition as well. Once 25 members sign, the assembly can be scheduled. To sign, email the message below to marylandgreens@gmail.com:
>>>>>>>
I hereby petition the Maryland Green Party to hold an Emergency Assembly to consider bylaws amendments in relation to the 2026 candidate nomination process and other urgent matters.
Signed, ___________________________________________________
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9:13 pm.