Brent McMillan – His part in shaping the Green Party in this country

A powerhouse guiding the national Green Party has stepped down after devoting more than seven years of his life to the cause. Brent McMillan left the position of Executive Director for the Green Party of the United States at the end of 2010. He had held the position since January 2009 and, prior to that, was Political Director, from February 2004.

Brent’s impact will always be a part of my political growth and of Green Party history.
~ Deanna Taylor

As graduate of Ball State University, McMillan started out as a Republican, but then embraced the Green Party wholeheartedly. He became involved in the Green Party in 1991 with the Delaware County Greens in Muncie, Indiana and served as secretary for the first statewide gathering of Greens in 1992. In 1996 he co-founded the Green Party of Seattle and served on the first coordinating council. In 1998 he co-founded the Green Party of the 36th District and served as its treasurer until 2004. In 2000 he co-founded the Green Party of Washington State and served as the first state facilitator (chair). In 2002 he was elected as one of two delegates to represent the state of Washington on the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States.

In 2003 McMillan was a candidate for the newly created Seattle Monorail Board. He finished third out of seven candidates and was endorsed by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Seattle Weekly.

Nationally, McMillan served as a national liaison with state Green Parties, officeholders and candidates, including outreach to potential presidential candidates. He tracked Green Party elections and ballot access efforts, and identified and solicited party contributors. He taught outreach and fundraising techniques at regional campaign schools and provided party resources for local campaigns.

As a speaker, McMillan is conversant not only on electoral and party issues, but also on transportation, permaculture, and environmental justice.

Deanna Taylor, past co-chair and National Committee delegate, Green Party of Utah and 2006 candidate for Salt Lake County Council summed up the thoughts of many Greens about McMillan with these words:

“Brent has always been the “Political Gentleman,” the professional presence with just the right personal touches when working with people. Brent was always there to lead the way on any issue or questions about running for office, attending to issues between our state Party and the national Party, and lending his knowledge and expertise on ballot access issues when our state party lost its ballot access. The support that was provided by Brent on numerous items was invaluable to not only our state, but to state Green Parties around the country. Cheerfully focused on his efforts to improve and grow the Green Party, Brent’s devotion and dedication, even in the worst of times, have always inspired me to move forward despite the political climate or roadblocks in the way of growth. Brent has not only upheld the values set forth in the GP platform, he has lived them through example, hard work, passion and above all, a love for life on our planet that has infectiously touched the lives of thousands of people fortunate enough to have worked with and known him. Brent’s impact will always be a part of my political growth and of Green Party history.”