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September 
PA's 2025 General Election
Ballot Includes 3 Green Party Candidates
LANCASTER, PA — The Green Party of
Pennsylvania announced that three of its candidates have been accepted
on the 2025 General Election ballot by the Pennsylvania Department of
State, while the nomination of one candidate has been challenged. One
of the candidates accepted on the ballot, Tony Dastra, is running for
mayor of Lancaster, GPPA said in a press release.
The others are Michael Bagdes-Canning,
who is vying to be re-elected as mayor of the borough of Cherry Valley
in Butler County, and Alexander Noyle, who is running for Auditor of
East Norriton Township in Montgomery County. The nomination of Theron
Gilliland Jr., who is running for County Council in Allegheny County,
has been challenged by three voters...
“I am excited to see so many Greens
running for local offices in this day and age," GPPA Steering
Committee Member Colleen Schmotzer (Allegheny County) said. "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
...”
Dastra is running against Jamie Arroyo,
who won
the Democratic primary in May. At the time, Arroyo's victory meant he was running
unopposed due to the lack of Republican candidates. Now, Dastra is in
the running, along with Independent candidate J.S. Woody Chandler.
"Our candidates will give Pa. voters the
opportunity to vote for an end to hunger and homelessness in our
Commonwealth," said Green Party organizer Chris Robinson. "Green Party
candidates also stand for an end to political corruption and
corporations controlling other political parties.”
STORY HERE
PA Green News
Edited by Chris
Robinson
The Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP)
stands in support of the brave crew of the Handala which was
seized by Israel on Saturday, July 26. The interception occurred in
international waters outside Palestinian territorial waters in
violation of international maritime law.
All eyes were on Handala as it
transported 21 civilians to help deliver medicine, baby formula, and
stuffed animals to the children of Gaza. The Handala,
launched from Siracusa, Italy, on July 13, was attempting to break the
devastating and illegal blockade on Gaza imposed by Israel and to
bring much-needed relief to the Palestinians . . . .
The Green Party of Philadelphia stands in
solidarity with those aboard Handala and calls upon the
necessary precautions and protections that States may offer in
ensuring safe passage in the service of humanity and adherence to
international law. We must highlight the conditions that prompt people
of conscience to sail are predicated on the inaction of States to
prevent this genocide from occurring. The United States government has
materially and ideologically supported Israel in such a way that the
genocide inflicted against the Palestinians ought to be known as a
U.S. crime as well. The Green Party calls on elected officials to stop
the genocide by refusing to fund Israel with our tax dollars and to
cease shipping arms to Israel. STORY HERE
– By
Colleen Schmotzer
The Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) has
been very active this year on many issues that are currently weighing
down our community. I am the Working Groups Coordinator for GPOAC, and
we are organizing around homelessness, combating ICE, and we cannot
forget about Palestine. The atrocities that are taking place there are
despicable to say the least. Allegheny Greens have gone to many
protests such as No Kings Day of Defiance on June 14, Hands Off on
April 5, and Sunrise Movement Picnic on May 31. There is always a nice
turnout, and we have had no problems at all. Many groups come together
with GPOAC for these events. Jewish Voice for Peace and Pittsburgh
Palestine Coalition are just a few . . . . Let's come together and see
what we can do. We are stronger together! Consider joining us no
matter where you are located, we need you and your voice. If you would
like more information about GPOAC, please feel free to reach out to
me, [email protected]
Colleen
Schmotzer (she/her) is a Member at Large of the Green Party of PA
Steering Committee. She was a co-chair for the Abandon Biden (Harris)
Campaign. Colleen was also a team lead in Allegheny County for Dr.
Jill Stein’s 2024 campaign for
President.
STORY HERE
Campaign Updates
Edited by Chris Robinson
Three Green Party candidates have been approved to run for
local office this year. Other Green Party candidates who plan to run
in 2026 are welcome to contact GREEN STAR at [email protected].
November 4, 2025, General
Election
Michael Bagdes-Canning for
Re-Election to Mayor of Cherry Valley
Borough
Butler County
Michael told GREEN STAR, “Being Green means a lot in
government. A commitment to grassroots democracy and ecological wisdom
pays dividends. In a tiny rural community like Cherry Valley, every
day is a campaign event. My neighbors don’t ask much of their local
government. We all want roads that are in good repair, bills paid on
time, and a commitment to neighborliness. My neighbors made it known
that they wanted our roads to be in better shape and for one
particular intersection to receive some attention because vegetation
was making it dangerous to cross.
“To that end, the Borough Council and I applied for and
recently received a $50,000 grant to stabilize the base of our three
miles of roads and to eliminate vegetation that was blocking sight
lines. The grant is a huge deal for communities like Cherry Valley.
This investment in our infrastructure should provide 15 years of
benefit. Already, we have reaped one such benefit: the recent spate of
torrential rains were safely diverted away from our road surfaces and
no damage was done.
“Although I
am the only Green in Cherry Valley, I am also hard at work on
improving ballot access for my neighbors who are Democrats and
Republicans. It is very difficult for rural communities to fill
elected offices. To that end, I have been lobbying my elected
representatives to see if we can come up with ballot access laws that
make sense for all.”
Tony Dastra for Mayor of
Lancaster City and for
Lancaster
City Council
Lancaster
County
Tony told GREEN STAR,
“It’s easy for people to say, ‘more budget equals more police, which
equals quicker and better responses’ or ‘less budget equals less
police which equals less excessive use of force.’ But, we need to get
real here, folks. We’re going to have a local police force, otherwise
we get the State Police. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have
local police. We need to start working towards something better for
all of us. I refuse to let the police department
decay away into a defensive body trying to keep things the way they
are. I refuse to allow the police to continue operating within the
status quo, when we can set a new bar, and be an example for other
communities. I’ve seen some of our police do great work, literally
being impressed in the moment, and I’ve also seen some of our police
do poor work, literally being left in tears. We don’t need to jump
down every officer’s throat, but we definitely should challenge the
department as a whole when it comes to our interests as a
community.”
You may follow Tony Dastra’s campaign
here,
Website - https://www.tonydastraformayor.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dastraforlancaster
Theron Gilliland Jr. for
County Council at
Large
Allegheny County
According to WESA 90.5 FM in Pittsburgh, “an order signed
Monday by Common Pleas Judge John McVay Jr. said [Theron Gilliland
Jr’s] candidacy would be set aside because ‘after … discuss[ion] with
opposing counsel and Allegheny Department of Elections, the candidate
agreed not to defend against the challenge and withdraw his
candidacy.’”
Alexander Noyle for Election
to Auditor of East Norriton
Township
Montgomery
County
Volunteers for Election Day
may email [email protected]
or send him a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alex4Auditor
Global Green News
Edited by Hal Brown
Canadian Activists
Speak at General Dynamics War Factory
Repentigny, Québec — Hundreds of
demonstrators gathered outside the General Dynamics munitions plant
this week to denounce Canada’s role in arming Israel’s assault on
Gaza...Green Party of Québec leader Alex Tyrrell connected the protest
to a broader vision for Quebec’s economy. Speaking directly to the
1,350 people employed at the Repentigny plant, he offered solidarity
but also a challenge: “Every morning thousands of people get up and go
to work to make bombs and ammunition used to kill people abroad,
especially in Gaza. For the people who work here, I want to address
you directly: people should have a job guarantee somewhere else in
Quebec, another industry that is not perpetuating death
abroad.”
STORY
HERE
Belgium: More Than a Year Without a
Government
Ecolo
welcomes the initiative launched by Groen, Vooruit, and the CD&V.
[In Belgium, Ecolo is the French-language Green Party, while Groen is
its Flemish equivalent.] Marie Lecocq, the Ecolo co-president, met
with Facilitator Yvan Verougstraete (Les Engagés). For Ecolo, the
exchange took place in a constructive and open spirit . . . . Ecolo is
fighting to maintain the quality of life of Brussels residents, as
well as for the survival of associations and businesses: by working to
reduce rent prices; by guaranteeing resources for the aid, reception,
homelessness, and mental health sectors; and for the economic sector,
which is worried about its future. “But these efforts are not enough.
Without a coalition, Brussels remains blocked,” concludes Marie
Lecocq. STORY
HERE
Latvia Greens, “Public Debt a Tool for Investing in
Healthcare
Andris Šuvajevs, leader of the Latvian
Green Party "PROGRESĪVIE," emphasized in an interview that public debt
cannot be seen as a problem but rather as an opportunity. STORY
HERE
GPPA Meeting Dates for 2025
Pennsylvania State Committee
Meetings
Saturday, September 13,
at 2:00 pm, hybrid in Harrisburg
Sunday, November 9, at
noon
GPPA Communications
Team
Issue Credits
Editors: Hal Brown, Patrick O. McNally, David Ochmanowicz,
Jr. and Chris Robinson
Contributors: Michael Bagdes-Canning, Tony Dastra, Theron
Gilliland Jr, Alex Noyle, Chris Robinson, Beverly Rolfsmeyer and
Colleen Schmotzer
Layout: Hal Brown, Sherri Miller, and David Ochmanowicz
Jr.
Graphic Arts: Kevin Richardson
Everything we do is based on our
Four Pillars and Ten Key Values. If you find that you share these ideals,
come and join the movement.
Join
us and help bring
about a future where people and planet are valued over profits. We
have a new, tiered membership structure that allows you to determine
your level of commitment and support. And if you want to get more
directly involved, consider joining
an action team Work with other committed
progressives and activists in activities such as planning events,
developing media content, or helping with campaigns.
The GREEN STAR is
an official publication of the Green Party of Pennsylvania
Communications Team * 2025.
Green Party of Pennsylvania
https://www.gpofpa.org/
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