A state first: Former Democratic,GOP candidates abandon their own parties, endorse Green in CA congressional race

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 20, 2004

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SAN MATEO – In what may be a first in California politics, former Democratic and Republican congressional candidates have revealed they will not endorse their own party's candidates in the 12th Congressional District, but instead will support the candidacy of surging Green Party candidate Pat Gray.

Republican Mike Maloney, the 2002 GOP candidate for the seat and Maad Abu Ghazaleh, a Democrat who ran against the incumbent Tom Lantos in the March primary, said they would be supporting Gray in November at a news conference last Friday here.

The endorsement of a Green candidate by a Republican and a Democrat – the Peace & Freedom Party also has endorsed Gray – may be a first for the Green Party. Democrats especially refuse to acknowledge the more progressive Greens.

"This is an indication of the universal dislike for Tom Lantos. He has done enough damage with his pro-war votes and sponsorship of the USA PATRIOT Act," said Gray. "It's time for Tom Lantos to move on...even members of his own party agree."

Gray also cited an Associated Press poll last month that showed 4 in 5 voting Democrats are now opposed to the war, as opposed to Lantos' continued support for the war. Gray is calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Earlier this year, Gray – a retired school teacher, labor activist and grandmother – was endorsed by Academy-award winning film maker Michael Moore, Global Exchange founder Medea Benjamin, San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez and vice-presidential candidate Peter Camejo.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org