Enjoy live music, food,community, resources, family-friendly activitiesand more at this free, indoor/outdoor event.

MontCo Greens will be boothing and collecting signatures for Tony Dastra / Craig Bolton's Campaign for Pennsylvania Governor. 

https://montcopagreens.com/

https://www.dastraforpa.org/

https://www.gp.org/tony_dastra_for_governor_of_pennsylvania 

Are you tired of corporate interests and special interest groups compromising candidates?

Are you tired of the same lies, over and over again, in order to scheme your vote?

Are you tired of major parties and their privileged loyalists keeping other parties off the ballot at election time?

Are you tired, yet?

Be seen being Green. Escape the two party trap.

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS
Saturday, January 17, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

PA Green Party Elects 2026 Leaders

On January 11, the Green Party of Pennsylvania State Committee met virtually to elect its leaders for 2026. More than 40 elected delegates and friends of the Green Party from 14 counties participated. They elected five officers to the GPPA Steering Committee, while one co-chair and the secretary are in mid-term. GREEN STAR, the GPPA monthly newsletter, asked the 2026 Steering Committee members to introduce themselves.

Colleen Schmotzer (Allegheny) was elected to a two-year term as co-chair of GPPA. She had been a member at large of the Steering Committee during 2025. Colleen told GREEN STAR, “As the new co-chair of GPPA, my initial focus will be to revitalize our four action teams. I plan to achieve this by actively recruiting team leads and team members from within the Green Party. This will involve outreach not only to seasoned members exploring how we can rekindle their involvement, but also to new members to understand their interests and motivations. Our Communication Team manages the public image of the Green Party. The GPPA Core Team assures the smooth functioning of the party. The Finance Team will increase the value of GPPA and plan the use of its resources. The GPPA Greenwave Team will recruit and support candidates for election and expand the reach of the Green Party.”

GPPA Treasurer Jeff “J.J.” Kondrich (Westmoreland) was re-elected to a second term. J.J. told GREEN STAR, “In 2026, I plan to make sure we meet our reporting requirements and have a robust, secure, and intuitive method of record keeping. If we can organize our data and finances securely, I think the Green Party has a workable future. To help us build the Green Party, I plan to work with our Finance Team to aim fundraising efforts at sources outside of the party, lessening the implicit financial burden of party members. Hopefully a new merchandising plan will also help with this.”

Tony Dastra (Lancaster) was elected to be a Steering Committee member at large. He ran for Mayor of Lancaster City last year. Tony told GREEN STAR, “As a new leader, I plan to bring a different energy into our conversations, not just talking about the issues to be worked through within the system. After last year’s budget standoff in the PA General Assembly, I think it is time to consider a PA Constitutional Convention or amendments. In my opinion, PA needs to consider a unicameral legislature to stop this back and forth between the major parties that have gerrymandered the state capitol into gridlock. Also, the uniformity clause preventing taxes that make sense for the working class and damaging municipalities needs to go. To build the Green Party, I plan to bring new members and involvement. It is time to be more looked-to for constitutional guidance and pragmatic governance. Having pragmatic candidates and approaches, does not mean changing our strong positions as a party. It means people who do not feel like they agree with the Green Party can still approach Green Party candidates for dialogue, despite knowing that disagreement is to be expected, especially at the onset of new conversations.” 

Wendy Keslick (Chester) was also elected to be a Steering Committee member at large. Last year she was a Green Party of Chester County delegate to the GPPA State Committee. Wendy told GREEN STAR, “I am excited for the opportunity to serve the GPPA in a state-wide capacity. In 2026, we will continue to see the collective failure of the two corporate-run parties, and the Green Party will have the opportunity to become the alternative that Pennsylvanians are seeking. I look forward to working collaboratively with other Steering Committee members to ensure that the Green Party is structurally ready to grow in numbers and to lead us to a thriving and better future for our beautiful state.”

Elizabeth “Beth” Schongar (Allegheny) was elected to be a member at large of the GPPA Steering Committee. She held the same office during 2022. Beth told GREEN STAR, “On the Green Party Steering Committee I will be looking at every effort according to three criteria. First, does it reflect the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom and social justice/equal opportunity? Second, can we do it: do we have the time, people, expertise and resources? Third, will it make the public more aware of the Green Party and what it stands for?”

Two members of last year’s GPPA Steering Committee did not stand for election because their terms end in 2027. Bryarr Misner (Allegheny) will remain GPPA secretary, and Tim Runkle (Lancaster) will continue as co-chair.

Incumbent Co-chair Tim Runkle told GREEN STAR, “As I begin the second year of my co-chair term, I want to first thank Theron Gilliland, Jr. (Allegheny), Erin King (Centre) and Barbara Laxon (McKean), the outgoing Steering Committee members for their commitment and hard work. They have contributed to strengthening the Green Party of Pennsylvania. Their efforts have helped sustain the party through challenging times and laid important groundwork for what comes next. I also look forward to working with the incoming Steering Committee members and to seeing them share their knowledge, skills, and experience in ways that will strengthen our collective leadership.”

“During 2026,” Tim continued, “my focus as co-chair will be on practicing servant leadership and helping the Steering Committee continue the construction of a comprehensive, member-driven plan for the future of GPPA. I believe our success depends on meaningful engagement with our members encouraged by listening, inviting participation, and creating opportunities for Greens to lead, organize, and contribute. Rather than imposing a top-down agenda, my hope is that the new Steering Committee will advance a plan shaped by the ideas and energy of our members. When we empower more people to get involved and to take ownership of the direction, we will continue to grow the Green Party as a strong, democratic, and principled alternative in Pennsylvania politics.

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA 

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Green Party of Pennsylvania

Green Party Endorses Global Sumud Flotilla

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party 2025 Candidates will Appear on PA Ballot 

On August 11, three Green Party's candidates were accepted on the 2025 General Election ballot by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The nomination of one Green Party candidate has been challenged.

Nomination signatures have been approved to place on the ballot Michael Bagdes-Canning for re-election to Mayor of Cherry Valley Borough in Butler County; Tony Dastra for Mayor of Lancaster City in Lancaster County; and Alexander Noyle for Auditor of East Norriton Township in Montgomery County.

The nomination of Theron Gilliland Jr for County Council in Allegheny County has been challenged by three voters who claim that Gilliland did not submit enough valid signatures. The challenge will be decided in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

GPPA Steering Committee Member Colleen Schmotzer (Allegheny County) said, “I am excited to see so many Greens running for local offices in this day and age. We need to break the duopoly, and this is going to give us a chance to continue to do so here in Pennsylvania. We wish them all the best! Theron Gilliland’s Campaign was challenged, but the Green Party is fighting back.”

Green Party organizer Chris Robinson (Philadelphia) added, "Our candidates will give PA voters the opportunity to vote for an end to hunger and homelessness in our commonwealth. Green Party candidates also stand for an end to political corruption and corporations controlling other political parties.” 

Those interested in volunteering and helping the Green Party continue to make history, may email [email protected]. Those who would like to contribute to the Green Party, may visit, https://www.gpofpa.org/join_us 

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA

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Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, April 27, 2025

CONTACT: 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party Has "Hands On" World Peace

Following the massive "Hands Off" demonstration on April 5, the Green Party asked its leaders to describe what the Green Party had its "Hands On." 

By Erin King (Centre County)

Steering Committee, Green Party of Pennsylvania

Although I was a lifelong Democrat until 2024, I'd had my doubts about some Democrats in office. For the most part, I held my faith that many of them were determined to uplift the working class and remain on the right side of history.

The rudest awakening overtook my entire being when I witnessed my government's brutally amoral response to the apartheid State of Israel's full-scale attack on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. On October 7, 2023, Hamas waged an aggressive onslaught against Israel, including seizing 251 Israeli persons as hostages; a direct response to decades of extreme oppression and violence imposed against Palestine and its indigenous peoples.

Soon I would learn that not only had Israel helped for some time to fund Hamas but later admitted to murdering its own people on October 7. I would also come to know several other facts, which revealed to me the United States' long, dark history with the Israeli government. The U.S. has wholeheartedly participated in ensuring that the apartheid, illegal occupation, and endless human rights violations in Palestine, continues -- with our tax dollars, no less.

Now, we are well into 2025. We still see no end to the genocide that persists at the hands of Israel and the U.S. against the people of Palestine. Israel has become so emboldened by our corrupt White House and Congress, it has also launched genocidal attacks against Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.

I knew even prior to 2024 that I would never again vote for Joe Biden. I also did not feel any better about the prospect of voting for Kamala Harris. Eventually, I realized that I had heard numerous derogatory things about the Green Party --namely about Dr. Jill Stein -- over the years without doing any real fact-checking about the party. Once I decided to shut out all the ignorant screeching from the neoliberals and started to research the Green Party on my own, I discovered that this is where I need to be.

One stance on which the Green Party is clearly "Hands-On" is that of being for World Peace, which resonates with me like never before. The Green Party truly cares about the American people and wants to create a country that works the way it's supposed to for all Americans and not just the billionaire class .The Green Party is against the money-torching, soul-crushing war machine that has taken over our economy for an eternity. Instead of rebuilding our infrastructures, investing in more modern, reliable public transportation across the country on a grander scale (similar to what exists in Europe), increasing funding for education, hospitals, healthcare, affordable housing, and mental healthcare, the vast majority of our taxes fund the U.S. military and endless, pointless wars and genocide.

This is the bottomless pit that our hard-earned tax dollars are thrown into year after year, with nothing to show for it other than millions of lives destroyed both here and abroad and everyday life becoming more and more difficult for many Americans. Those at the top of the food chain, many of whom hold state and federal offices, enjoy the lucrative financial benefits of starting a war every 15 to 20 years at our expense.

There is something very sobering about finally waking up to what a mess your country and its people have become, largely due to the two ruling parties and their continuously obscene abuse of the American war machine. I cannot begin to explain how, even through all the mess, I still refuse to give up on doing whatever I can to arouse people from apathy and convince them that to see a different, better result, they'll need to seek a better party and cut all ties with the ones that will never stop hurting us.

I believe in the Green Party and in its strong, overall message of "Hands On" inclusion, fairness and justice for all.

• The Green Party has "Hands On" world peace.
• The Green Party has "Hands On" an end to settler colonialism and the international crime of apartheid.
• The Green Party has "Hands On" a 50 percent cut in the Pentagon budget.
• The Green Party has "Hands On" closing more than 700 Pentagon bases abroad.
• The Green Party has "Hands On" ending U.S. arms sales to other nations.
• The Green Party has "Hands On" ťthe U.S. ratification of the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons. 

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA 

For more information:

Platform Green Party of the U.S.; D. Foreign Policy; 1. Peace and Disarmament; https://www.gp.org/democracy#demForeignPolicy

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