[1] Green started his public service in 1971 when was appointed to the Norwalk planning commission.

In 1987, Green ran in a special election for the California State Senate seat left open after incumbent Paul B. Carpenter (D-Cerritos) resigned to join the California State Board of Equalization.

In an upset,[3] he defeated assemblyman Wayne Grisham (R-La Mirada) by more than 9 points, a wider than expected margin.

[4] In fact, Grisham's loss was such that Democrats saw it as a sign of weakness and went on to oust him from his assembly seat the following year.

[5] In 1988 Green faced a tough reelection for a full term against Republican Cerritos city councilman Don Knabe (who had originally planned to run in the special election but deferred to Grisham).