University student to run for Champaign County Board

There's a lot of talk about "going green," but how often are people talking about the political party? President of Campus Greens Eric Uskali wants more awareness of his party before the upcoming elections.

He is proud of the small-party political group on campus.

"We're really just here to help support the Green Party ... help bring progressive politics to the Champaign-Urbana ... grassroots democracy is what we're all about," Uskali said.

The Campus Greens follow ten key values including nonviolence, ecological wisdom and community-based economics. That's exactly what Walter Pituc, junior in LAS, hopes to bring to the Champaign County Board.

Pituc is launching his 2008 campaign for the Green Party ticket. He says his platform deals with governmental accountability, smart urban planning and better communication with constituents.

"If we have someone who just runs on the issues, not on personality, then we'll do okay," Pituc said.

The Champaign County primaries will take place in February of 2008. Champaign County continues to have a growing number of Green Party supporters.

This year, the 2008 National Green Party convention will be held in Chicago. Pituc sees the failures of the bigger parties in the state to be a benefit for the Green Party.