(Scott Loughrey conducted this interview with Myles Hoenig, City Council candidate for the 14th District for the Baltimore Greens, on Instant Messenger. The answers were edited for clarity.)


Why are you running against Mary Pat Clarke?

Myles Hoenig: I’m not running against MPC. I’m running against the Democratic party. However, she does represent many of the things that are wrong with the Democratic party.

Such as?

Hoenig: She has a coziness with the major power brokers that puts all of us at the mercy of old friends being friends with each other.

She is too closely tied to developers. Her husband owns some serious property [under the development plans of Struver Bross Ecles & Rouse in Charles Village] in an area that is now being contested by community representatives.

Although she was combative against the mayor when she was Council President, I feel she's too aligned with [Mayor Martin O’Malley] to show any real independence.

I also have to look at her campaign finances. As a Green Party candidate I will not accept non-human [i.e., corporate] money and no contribution greater than $100. I'd like very much to see which side her bread is buttered.

Obviously you oppose the commercial development in Charles Village and in Woodberry. Do you oppose all commercial development? If not, what are your criteria?

Hoenig: As President of a Waverly Improvement Association, I have to represent a community on development issues. Personally, I have never supported a project that I didn't feel matched my Green values.

I have been a community leader on: the redevelopment of Eastern High School for Johns Hopkins University. I supported the demolition of Memorial Stadium and replacing it with both a senior citizen complex and a YMCA. This was very controversial because the senior complex uses federal money and offers little revenues to the city. I also supported an expansion of a gas station to make it more of a food court for Greenmount Ave pedestrians. Lastly, the largest development outside of Memorial Stadium is the Giant coming to 33rd St. Although I have problems with its size, as I always said to the City I supported it coming to Waverly because it's needed.

So, what's coming up for your campaign?

Hoenig: The demonstration on September 3rd is my most immediate GP issue. If the devil offered me the chance to save Woodberry but I had to leave the race I’d leave it. Woodberry isn't even in my district but as a candidate, as a Green, and as a mensch, I owe it to follow through on my fight to stop the destruction of the forest by Loyola College.

Anything else?

I'm waiting to see who wins the Democratic Party primary. I hope to have something for the primary voters as a reminder that the real race begins that night.

That leads to a nice segue. You've recently announced a change in policy. You've decided to keep the primary open to competition even though as the BGP-endorsed candidate for the 14th district you had the option to close it off. Can you tell us why you made this switch?

Hoenig: The Greens are going through a rebirth and a growing period. For the first time we will be offering a slate of Green Party candidates for many offices in Baltimore City. By this very fact, we will be the de facto minority party, win or lose. The Republicans aren't even running in the 14th.

At this time the Greens are working out a lot of difficult issues. There are differences of opinions on Green philosophy, yet not denying "Greenness" to anyone. I have taken certain positions that I feel would best maximize our efforts to go beyond mere philosophy to actually winning elections. However, some are feeling that their differing philosophy would best achieve these same results. Rather than fight for a position that I feel is correct but could potentially alienate a minority, I don't have a problem with compromising on this issue. My goal right now is to achieve greater Party unity.

What do you believe is the future of the Green Party in Baltimore and Maryland?

Hoenig: By the very virtue of running a slate, and possibly winning, we will achieve the status of minority party in Baltimore. I feel successful campaigns, even those that lose, will give many in Baltimore a real alternative to a stale party; i.e., the Democrats.

Thanks Myles.