Laura Wells, Green Party Candidate for Governor at Court on Election Day

California gubernatorial candidate Laura Wells of the Green Party was scheduled to spend her election day Tuesday, Nov. 2 appearing for her arraignment on misdemeanor trespassing charges for the "crime" of attending a Governor's Debate Oct. 12 at Dominican University.

Laura Wells was flocked by supporters at the Court House in San Rafael. A Marin Independent Journal reporter interviewed her, and she made a public statement (See link to the video.

Wells has retained former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez as her attorney.

Laura Wells was banned from the debate Oct. 12 because only the Democratic and Republican nominees for Governor were allowed to debate. However, when she attempted only to sit in the audience to watch, Wells was hauled away, handcuffed and arrested.

In the last few days, nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition asking the Marin County DA office dismiss all charges, and investigate those responsible for her arrest. The petition states: "Laura Wells, the Green candidate for Governor of California, was arrested on Oct. 12, 2010 at the California Governor's Debate. Her arrest is a violation of her civil rights. She had a ticket and the right to attend the debate. We request that you dismiss the criminal charge against Ms. Wells and launch an investigation into why she was arrested."

Wells, who garnered more than 400,000 votes when she ran for Controller in 2002 on the Green ticket, is a financial analyst who talks about solutions – not politics – to California's budget mess.

Among many other solutions to the state's woes, Wells wants to "reform" Prop. 13 so it benefits individuals and small businesses, as was promised, not large corporations. She is promoting the concept of a "State Bank" that would partner with local banks and make loans to residents, including students for college loans and profit California, not private, Wall-Street bailed-out banks.

She received 64,445 1.2% of the vote in the election yesterday, an election where more than half of California's registered voters failed to vote, reflecting the apathy, cynicism, disconnect, with the political process, which has enabled the corporate parties to dominate the debate, and marginalize the possibilities for substantial, systemic change.