Joseph R. DeMare, co-chair of the Wood County Green Party, has announced that his petition drive to get on the ballot in November is a success.

“We needed 86 valid signatures and we turned in almost 150, so we felt pretty good about our chances,” DeMare said. “I’d like to thank everyone who signed and everyone who carried petitions.

“We need to end Bowling Green’s penalty on having solar panels and break the city’s 50-year contract with the Prairie State Coal plant which is driving up our electricity prices while putting billions of tons of CO2 into the air,” he added.

Although he is running as the endorsed candidate of the Wood County Green Party, his name will appear on the ballot as an independent.

“The Republicans and Democrats may have taken our ballot line,” DeMare said. “But we are determined that they won’t destroy our party. One of our key values is grassroots democracy. That means giving the voters real choices. That’s what we aim to do.”

Some of DeMare’s other priorities include opposing the proposed PR zoning district and putting in place policies that help renters and encourage home ownership.

“One of the facts that has come out in the zoning battle is that 70% of the households in BG are renters. We need to make it easier for people to own homes, and improve the quality of life for everyone in Bowling Green,” he said.