De Lear for Congress Campaign in Full Swing
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org
DeLear for Congress
www.DeLearforCongress.org
November 01, 2006
Originally released October 22, 2006
Contact: Rebecca Gonzalez-Tobias, (310) 916-8888, Rebecca@DeLearforCongress.org
PACOIMA, CA -- Over 30 community leaders and civic activists mobilized in the northern reaches of the San Fernando Valley for a massive Get-Out-The-Vote drive for Green Party Congressional Candidate Byron De Lear (28th District), in an concerted effort to unseat war hawk Democrat Howard Berman in the upcoming November 7th election.
De Lear's candidacy has had a remarkable impact in this largely Democratic district.
A number of noted centrist and progressive Democrats who are outspoken in their opposition of the failed Iraqi war have joined the ranks of "Democrats for De Lear," those of note, congressional candidate Marcy Winograd who ran a tight race to oust six term incumbent Jane Harmon in the June 6th primary, delegate to the CA State Democratic Party Michael Jay, and Dr. Don Broder, President of the PSR-LA (Physicians for Social Responsibility).
Marcy Winograd proclaimed in statement, "Byron DeLear represents a clear alternative to those who continue to support the Bush administration let us vote our conscience; let us vote for Byron DeLear."
Nativo Lopez, President of the Mexican American Political Association and Gubernatorial Candidate Peter Camejo have also joined forces with the De Lear campaign in an effort to inform voters that although Latinos in the district have been traditionally underrepresented they have a choice to cast their vote for a progressive candidate who will forward their interests.
Sunday community leaders who galvanized in force were Edwin Ramirez, President of the Pacoima Neighborhood Council, Eugene Hernandez Director of the Sylmar Neighborhood Council, Juan Perez, Public Defender at the Van Nuys Government Center, and Morris Pichon, a key leader and outreach organizer for the San Fernando chapter of the NAACP.
Out of 400 Pacoima residents polled Sunday only one had heard of 12-term incumbent Howard Berman.
Edwin Ramirez and Morris Pichon, Pres. and Vice-Pres. of the Pacoima Neighborhood Council respectively, expressed their disappointment in the job Rep. Berman is doing. "We are tired of being taken for granted, the people of Pacoima and the Northern end of the Valley deserve a Congressman who makes themselves available -- not someone like Berman who is absent, unavailable and in-as-much derelict of duty," said Ramirez.
Michael Jay, delegate to the California State Democratic Party, would like San Fernando Valley citizens to know there's an option on November 7th, "Byron De Lear stands in contrast to our incumbent as a shining example of how I would want my Representative to represent me, [he] is a strong activist who would make a brilliant public servant- one who for the first time in years would represent what the 28th District believes. I'm proud to endorse Byron De Lear for Congress."
BREAKING NEWS: Daily Kos Online Poll Puts Green De Lear ahead of Democrat Berman by 11 Points!
In California, Green congressional candidate Byron De Lear (28th District) has been an active discussion topic on the popular polical blog Daily Kos running against 12-term incumbent Rep. Howard Berman (D) . In a poll conducted by Democratic Kos, however, Berman is losing to De Lear by 11 points. The normally partisan 'Kos' breaking ranks with a Democratic incumbent is due to Berman consistently voting with Republicans in favor of the Iraq war . As Code Pink member and Progressive Democrat Linda Milazzo posted, "Howard Berman might as well be Republican. He's a war hawk who has helped empower George Bush. Thanks to Berman, the Unitary Executive is well on its way to ending our democracy. I support Byron DeLear. As should anyone who sees the destruction of our Democracy. Berman is one of those Democrats WHO REALLY MUST GO!!"
Candidate De Lear can be reached at (818) 974-8964 or email: Byron@DeLearforCongress.org