You might not have realized it, but today is Grandparent's Day. That is why I have traveled from Jackson to Tylertown with some of my children and all of my Grandkids. I wanted to honor my fifth great-grandfather Richard Dillon and to highlight my commitment to protecting our Environment.

Richard Dillon was a Revolutionary war hero and the first Dillon in Mississippi. In fact, he is remembered here at this very courthouse with a plaque in his honor. That is one of the reasons we are here today. We wanted to pay homage to him.

If it were not for him and others like him, our country would not be here today. We are proud that he stood up for the ideas behind America, like Liberty - free thought and Justice -equality for all. We are glad to honor him.

You might ask, "So, what does Grandparent's Day have to do with your feelings concerning the environment?" This is a good question, and the answer is, "Everything!" As a grandparent, I have been blessed with the chance of seeing my children's children. This is a perspective that others in the Governor's race do not have. This gives me the chance to see in generations. In fact, it is not a far stretch for me to imagine my oldest grandchild having a little one of his own some day. The reason I ponder this subject is because Mississippi has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation, and I want to be able to know that I did my best to protect it for my family and other families future generations.

Up until this year, Mississippi was the only state east of the Mississippi that was 100 percent in compliance with the Clean Air Act. That is according to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Sadly, that has changed this year. Lee County now holds the number one slot for highest emissions in the nation. What is even more devastating than that is the fact that the entire Eastern United States is now officially a mass of polluted air. This can't be good for our children.

As a concerned father and grandfather, I wonder at Conservatives. Conservatives usually espouse "Family Values." As the father of seven and grandfather of five, I would say I have my bases covered in this department. In fact, not one of my children ever spent a day in day care. They were always with me or my wife. As for our grandchildren, four of the five are at our house every Monday through Friday while their parents work. Basically, what I am saying is that I care about my family deeply. It is this basic concern for their well-being that leads me to be aware of the degradation of our Environment.

Those who would label environmentalist "extremist," and show no concern for what happens to our planet are obviously not taking into account the future of their children or grandchildren. I would go so far as to say, that if you are not concerned about the world in which we live and its' health, you stand convicted as your own child's worst enemy.

There is an old Native American proverb that states, "We do not inherit the earth from our fathers, but rather borrow it from our children." It is because of this fact, that we must protect the Earth! It is the only place in which we have to live. If the water is dirtied, what shall we drink? If the air looks like that of L.A. or New York, all across the land, is that not reason to weep? We must act to change our habits. We must take responsibility for the future.

I am not proposing massive overhaul of everyone's daily lives. I am proposing simple steps, like using a higher grade of gas or choosing a smaller vehicle.

The state has been doing its' part to ensure some measure of conservation by mounting the "Litter Free By 2003" campaign. Unfortunately, I don't think they have met their goal. However, I have a good idea to help them out. If elected Governor, I would send to the Legislature a "Bottle Bill." This legislation has been in existence for thirty-one years and is law in eleven states. Essentially it would levy a five to ten cent deposit on all plastic, aluminum and glass drinking receptacles. This would supply recyclable materials for a high demand market, conserve energy and natural resources, create new business and jobs, reduce waste and disposal costs, and reduce litter. Bottle bills are a proven, sustainable method of capturing beverage bottles and cans for recycling. The refund value of the container provides a monetary incentive to return the container for recycling. Plus, no state bottle bill has ever been repealed. This is a no-brainer for Mississippi. We should seek to pass this legislation to help protect the future of Mississippi.

As for the Dillon Campaign, I will be taking my message of environmental concern to all eighty-two counties and every public college and university. We must protect the Earth for the fairness of families and communities of the future.

Thank you for coming out today. If you are lucky enough to be in contact with your Grandparents, I would encourage you to talk to them today and let them know how much you love them, on this - Grandparent's Day.

Introductory Speech, Janet Rafferty, State Chair, Green Party of Mississippi:

I'm Janet Rafferty, chair of the Green Party of Mississippi's State Executive Committee.  I live in Starkville.

The Green Party of Mississippi gained ballot access in April 2002.  The party follows Greens around the world in upholding four core values:  nonviolence, grassroots democracy, social and economic justice, and ecological sustainability.

Issues that matter to many people in Mississippi are being confronted by Green Party members.  Peace and nonviolence have been first on our minds this year, as we led antiwar demonstrations around the state.  We continue to oppose the occupation of Iraq and the idea that it is acceptable for the United States to start unprovoked wars.  We want the troops to come home now.  Here in Mississippi, we oppose the death penalty as an uncivilized form of vengeance.

Grassroots democracy lies at the heart of the way the Green Party works.  We do not accept corporate donations or any donations above $200.  We advocate public financing of campaigns and instant runoff voting, so that all voters will have equal influence in deciding who wins elections.

Social and economic justice will come from paying all workers a living wage.  It will come from spending tax money to support education, not to pay for prisons filled with nonviolent drug offenders, who need help, not punishment. Felons who have served their time should regain the right to vote so that they have a stake in society.

Our belief in ecological sustainability has led the Green Party to oppose expansion of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant.  Instead, we promote use of renewable energy sources-solar and wind-that don't poison the earth.  We oppose big-fix projects like the Yazoo Pump, which benefit only a few while damaging the environment that belongs to everyone.

Members of the Green Party of Mississippi are proud to have as their first candidate, for governor, a modest and honest man who advocates and lives in light of these Green values - Sherman Lee Dillon.

Sherman Lee Dillon's Speech:

Ladies and Gentleman of the press, Friends, Greens, my dear Family, and my Fellow Mississippians: today I stand here before you to offer a message of hope, to serve as a messenger of change, to usher in a new era in the history of our state, to say that we must turn away from the misery of the past and to declare our intent to keep vigilent eyes and hearts towards a brighter future for all of the families and communites of Mississippi. Today I stand here before you to share with you my intent to run for Governor of the great state of Mississippi. Thank you.

It is my desicion to run in this race on the Green Party ticket. I truly believe in the Four Pillars of the Green Party: Environmental Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy, Social Justice, and Peace/Nonviolence. I know these values will offer a bright hope for our state.

My logic for running on this ticket is simple. I wanted to give the People of Mississippi a choice of which they could be confidant. I wanted to offer the People of Mississippi a candidate who would be beholden to them and not to campaign contributors. In this day and age, the majority of the People have come to the sad conclusion that their concerns do not matter because their elected officials will not hear them. I am here to say that we must change that. We fought a Revolution because of the idea of "No Taxation without Representation," and I would say that we are near about close to that situation today!

My Friends, I say VOTE GREEN! We are changing the face of politics in Mississippi and across our nation. The time has come to demand what is ours, and that is the right to be self-governed. We must turn away from the perverse system of bribing officials to do special interest bidding. We must be listened to because WE ARE the CITIZENS.

If elected Governor, I promise you that I will mount a grassroots campaign to ensure that the Legislature passes the Citizen's Clean Election Act, as practiced in Arizona. This legislation would help restore the waning faith of the electorate by publicly funding elections and thereby stimulate grassroots democracy. We need this legislation now!

This legislation must be a priority. If the current fundign scheme is not changed the People will not be heard.  It won't be your neighbor whispering into the Governor's ear next year. It will be Phillip Morris saying, "No, cigarettes don't cause cancer."

Special interests have only one thing in mind -- their own welfare, not that of the People. If we change the way elections are funded more citizens would be elected, not politicians.

Personally, I have set a limit on my campaign contributions of $200, and I do not except donations from corporations. Considering that this race will go down in the history of our state as the most exspensive to date, I think that is saying much. I want this to serve as a message to the People of Mississippi, to let them know that if elected Governor I will be listening to them, not the dollars that propel my competitors into office.

So, what makes me different you say? To start with I am not a politician. I am a citizen, Of the People, the most important kind of person in our Republic. I am a citizen who has raised seven children with my wife of thirty-three years. I am citizen who cares for my mother and my five grand-children on a daily basis. I know the hardships of families. I am a citizen who has owned a small business. I know what it is to struggle to maintain a business. I am a citizen who is self-employed. I know the hardships of the entreprenuer.

I do not stand here before you proclaiming to have all of the answers. I do not have them. What I am saying though is that there are a few things that need to be changed, and no one else is talking about them.

Tonight, I challenge my competitors in this race to set a limit on their campaign spending. Tonight, I challenge the People of Mississippi to take a good hard look at them versus me. See if there is not a difference. Who would they really represent while in office -- the People or monied interests?

Now is the time for change. Now is the time for Mississippi to charge into the future and set the pace for the rest of the nation. We must hold our elected officials accountable and restore the public trust.

I encourage you to talk to to your friends and neighbors, to sit down with your families and ask yourselves who has your interest at heart -- a trial lawyer, a corporate lobbyist, or a homegrown, down-to-earth, been here all my life Mississippian? I want what is best for our state, and I have been here my whole life because I love Mississippi, the best state. It is my sincere hope that on Novemeber 4, you will go to the ballot box with the bright future of Mississippi in mind, with Sherman Lee Dillon as your choice for fairness for our families and communities

Thank y'all for coming out today. I appreciate the chance to speak to you regarding my bid for Governor.

First, let me start by telling you how much I love Mississippi. Mississippi has been my home my entire life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. What do y'all think? I am I right? Don't we have the greatest state? That's why I am running for Governor because I love Misssissippi, and I want what is fair for our families and communites.

As a father of seven and grandfather to five, all of whom I care for on a daily basis, I know a little bit about family. My wife and I struggled to keep our children at home, never sending them to daycare, but rather making them our top priority. Family is number one in my life. They are a key reason for my hat being in this race. I want what is best for them, and right now I know Mississippi can do better.

Now that might sound like an echo of one of my opponent's, and it is in a way. However, the Mississippi he envisions and the Mississippi I see are two entirely different places. In my Mississippi the Four Pillars of the Green Party will be applied, and they shall lend a light to our state.

Now you might say Green Party? What's that? Well, the Green Party is a twenty year old organization in America, hailing from Germany. (It's just over a year old here in Mississippi.) It is an international body dedicated to bringing about world peace and committed to seeing that all people on the planet have the opportunity to meet their potential. The Party has Four Pillars that are adhered to the world over, and I am certain that if they are used as guideposts Mississippi will meet its' potential. The Four Pillars are:

FOUR PILLARS

Ecological Wisdom - We are all a part of the world around us. Whatever we do to it we do to ourselves. Like the old Native American proverb says,"We do not inheirit the land from our fathers, but rather we borrow it from our children."

I am not talking about extreme environmentalism where humans are the endangered species. I am talking about conservation. Given the conservative nature of our state this should be a homerun issue. We must make sure the world God gave us is in the same or better shape for our children's children. This is only fair for our families and communities.

Social Justice - The worldwide growth of poverty and injustice is unacceptable. We are working for a world in which all can fulfill their potential regardless of their gender, race, citizenship, or orientation.

The key to social justice is education. We must ensure that our people are educated. This will level the playing field, and bring about prosperity for our families and communities.

The key to a good education is a strong foundation. That means starting young.  We must ensure that our children have the oppurtunities to achieve.

Grassroots Democracy - This means making our politicians accountable to the People not their campaign contributors. Every citizen should have a voice in political, environmental and economic decisions that affect their lives.

Let me say that I am putting my money where my mouth is. My campaign only accepts donations of up to $200 and from individuals only. I want to be accountable to the People who vote for me not my campaign contributors. Considering that this race will go down in Mississippi history as the most expensive to date, I think that is saying a lot.

If elected Governor, I would push our Legislators to pass the Citizen's Clean Election Act, as practiced in Arizona. This legislation would help restore the waning faith of the electorate by publicly funding elections and thereby stimulating grassroots democracy. We need this legislation now.

Peace/Nonviolence - Greens reject violence as a way of settling disputes. It is shorsighted, morally wrong and ultimately self-defeating. We are working to end war forever.

I know. I know. Nonviolence, that might not play to well in Mississippi, but did you know that Mississippi leads the nation in violence against women? The state that prides itself for its' Southern Gentleman is guilty of aggression towards its' mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters. I have four daughters, and the thought really bothers me. We have got to rethink how we treat women in this state.

Those are the Four Pillars.  Now, I decided to join the Greens and run for Governor because I truly believe that applying these principles to our state could make people want to move to Mississippi, rather than away from it. If I can present these principles honestly and clearly to Mississippians, I will have done my part and hopefully the ballots will favor me. It is my sincere hope that by running I will provide fairness to our families and communities. Thank you for your time.