Jonathan Carter (politician)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Carter is an American politician
, environmentalist
, teacher
and scientist
who has run twice for governor of Maine
as a Green Independent
. In 1992, Carter ran for Congress in Maine's 2nd congressional district
. This campaign was not designed to educate the public and to establish a green network of social, economic, and ecological activists. He was able to get 27,526 votes for 8.8% of the vote with an expenditure of less than $20,000 and no paid media.
Carter moved to Maine in 1978 and lives on a farm in Lexington, Maine
, which is located in the unorganized territory of Central Somerset, Maine
. His farm grows organic food as well as maintaining a woodlot. He earned a B.A. from Williams College
, an M.S. in Botany and Forest Pathology from the University of New Hampshire
, and begun work on a doctorate at the University of Maine
and Antioch College
.
In 1994, Carter made his first run for governor of Maine. Carter's campaign received 32,695 votes for 6.4% of the vote, which was enough for the Maine Green Party to achieve ballot status in eyes of the state.
In 2002, Carter again ran for governor. In that campaign, he was the first Green statewide candidate in the United States, receiving 46,903 votes for 9.3% of the vote . Carter's campaign was deemed significant enough that the Library of Congress
recorded and stored a web archive of his campaigns website. His campaign also retained and extended the ballot status of the Maine Green Independent Party through 2006.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
who has run twice for governor of Maine
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
as a Green Independent
Maine Green Independent Party
The Maine Green Independent Party is the oldest state Green party in the United States. It was founded following an informal meeting of 18 environmental advocates, including Bowdoin College professor John Rensenbrink and others in Augusta, Maine...
. In 1992, Carter ran for Congress in Maine's 2nd congressional district
Maine's 2nd congressional district
Maine's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. Covering , it comprises nearly 80% of the state. It is the largest district east of the Mississippi River and the 24th-largest overall. The district consists of all of the state north of the Portland and...
. This campaign was not designed to educate the public and to establish a green network of social, economic, and ecological activists. He was able to get 27,526 votes for 8.8% of the vote with an expenditure of less than $20,000 and no paid media.
Carter moved to Maine in 1978 and lives on a farm in Lexington, Maine
Lexington, Maine
Lexington, Maine is a township in Somerset County, Maine, United States. Lexington, along with the township of Concord, is located in the unorganized territory, Central Somerset. The population of Central Somerset was 336 as of the 2000 census...
, which is located in the unorganized territory of Central Somerset, Maine
Central Somerset, Maine
Central Somerset is an unorganized territory in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the unorganized territory has a total area of 201.4 km²...
. His farm grows organic food as well as maintaining a woodlot. He earned a B.A. from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, an M.S. in Botany and Forest Pathology from the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
, and begun work on a doctorate at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
and Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
.
Environmental Work
Carter is best known in Maine for his work on forestry issues. He directed the 1996 ban clear cutting campaign, 'No on the Compact' (1997) and the 'Forest for the Future Campaign' (2000). In spite of the fifteen million dollars spent by the paper corporations to defeat his efforts, the under funded campaigns kept it close. Unfortunately for Carter, both referendum campaigns were unsuccessful http://www.portlandphoenix.com/archive/features/01/12/07/feat_greens.html. He currently serves as director of the Forest Ecology Network, the largest grassroots forest activist network in Maine.1994
In 1994, Carter made his first run for governor of Maine. Carter's campaign received 32,695 votes for 6.4% of the vote, which was enough for the Maine Green Party to achieve ballot status in eyes of the state.
2002
In 2002, Carter again ran for governor. In that campaign, he was the first Green statewide candidate in the United States, receiving 46,903 votes for 9.3% of the vote . Carter's campaign was deemed significant enough that the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
recorded and stored a web archive of his campaigns website. His campaign also retained and extended the ballot status of the Maine Green Independent Party through 2006.