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Democracy for America Endorses Stephen Gorham for Hillsborough County School Board
Released: August 12, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Stephen Gorham’s campaign for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7.
“Stephen Gorham has a range of experience that makes him the best choice for the School Board. Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Our public schools are a sacred trust and Stephen Gorham will work everyday to ensure our children are equipped with the skills to succeed in the 21st Century.”
Stephen Gorham and his family moved to the South Lakeland/Plant City area when he was eight years old. Upon graduating from high school, Stephen enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard. While serving as a reservist in Tallahassee, Stephen attended Florida State University.
In 1999, Stephen left College and enlisted in the US Navy. While serving in the navy Stephen earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
Stephen is currently the Director of Networking and Telecommunications and Chief Security Officer for Hillsborough Community College. Stephen is a member of the Hillsborough County School Board Citizens Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the Florida Army National Guard and Plant City Fire Rescue Reserve. Stephen is proud to claim membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Florida Association of Community Colleges.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America, an organization who understands the importance of local races and believes in the power of grassroots politics,” said Stephen Gorham. “I look forward to working with the DFA community in the upcoming weeks to bring positive change to the Hillsborough County School District and get our schools back on the right track.”
“Stephen Gorham knows our children deserve and require a safe school environment that allows them to excel and flourish,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Stephen Gorham will be a progressive voice for our children with a fiscally responsible vision to increase student achievement and guarantee safe schools.”
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Democracy for America Endorses MA State Representative Carl Sciortino for Re-Election
Released: August 12, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Carl Sciortino’s re-election campaign for Massachusetts’ 34th Middlesex District.
“Carl Sciortino has been a progressive leader in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since he was first elected in 2004 and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Carl Sciortino does more than represent his constituents. He works for them, he fights for them, and he delivers for them.”
Carl Sciortino is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represents the 34th Middlesex district, including neighborhoods in both Somerville and Medford. Rep. Sciortino serves on the Joint Committees of Transportation, Public Health, and Community Development & Small Businesses. He was first elected in November 2004, defeating a conservative Democratic incumbent.
Prior to serving in the legislature, Rep. Sciortino worked in the public health field as a research manager at a community health center specializing in HIV/AIDS. He graduated with a degree in Biology from Tufts University. He is Vice-Chair of the Medford Democratic City Committee, a member of the Medford Ward 4 Democratic Committee, Progressive Democrats of Somerville, Mass NOW, the Sierra Club, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
"I'm honored to receive this endorsement from Democracy for America," said Rep. Sciortino. "I applaud their commitment to supporting grassroots candidates and training local advocates to get involved in the political process. Real democracy comes from an engaged, informed electorate. I'm proud to stand with them in support of those values."
“Carl Sciortino is running a grassroots campaign that is empowering people and staying true to the fundamental idea of government of the people, for the people, and by the people,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Carl Sciortino is committed to advancing a progressive agenda which values public education, encourages economic development, and supports public transportation.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Jeff Merkley for United States Senate
Released: August 12, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Jeff Merkley’s campaign to represent Oregon in the United States Senate. Jeff is running against Bush administration rubberstamper Gordon Smith.
“Jeff Merkley is a commonsense progressive with the experience, wisdom, and judgment we need in Washington,” said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. “Jeff Merkley’s record in the Oregon State House shows he can work across the partisan divide to get results that improve the lives of Oregonians. With the serious challenges we face -- from ending the War in Iraq, to providing health care to all Americans, to solving the climate crisis – Jeff Merkley is the only choice for the Senate.”
Born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Jeff Merkley has spent his lifetime fighting for change for Oregon families. The son of a sawmill worker, he spent his early years in Roseburg, where the children of loggers and mill workers learned the value of honest work, good schools, and strong families. Jeff worked hard, earned scholarships and became the first in his family to go to college. He went on to serve as a national security analyst, first for the Pentagon and then for Congress.
Nearly two years ago, Jeff led a band of new leaders to take control of the Oregon House and end the gridlock in state government. As the first Democratic speaker in sixteen years, Merkley brought Democrats, Republicans and citizens together to make real progress addressing Oregon’s challenges.
As Speaker, Jeff helped lead the fight against special interests to make health care more affordable, clamp down on pay day loan scams, pass landmark environmental legislation, and create thousands of family-wage jobs in Oregon. Working together, Oregonians achieved results – restoring fiscal responsibility by creating the state’s first “rainy day fund,” cutting taxes for working people, and passing sweeping ethics reform to clean up government.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
“I am so honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America,” said House Speaker Jeff Merkley. “It’s going to take a national grassroots effort to defeat Gordon Smith in November and we are on the road to making that happen. I have spent my whole career taking on the special interests and delivering for our families, our workers, and our planet. It is time to right the wrong of George Bush and Gordon Smith and put people before the powerful special interests in Washington D.C.”
“Gordon Smith has a shameful record that only George Bush could be proud of,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America. “Jeff Merkley is the whole package and the real deal. Unlike his opponent, Jeff Merkley doesn’t need to play games with voters or hide from his past. Gordon Smith can try and fool people into thinking he’s not a Republican, but folks know better.”
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DFA Endorses Sherrie Matula for Texas State Representative
Released: August 12, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Sherrie Matula’s campaign for Texas House District 129.
“Sherrie Matula is a citizen activist with the experience and knowledge we need in the Texas House of Representatives,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Sherrie Matula is an educator, former elected official, and community leader with a progressive agenda and the skills to get the job done.”
Sherrie Matula is a Texas native with decades of experience in education, children’s issues, and community leadership. She worked for over 25 years as a classroom teacher in the Clear Creek and Pasadena Independent School Districts. Sherrie was elected to two terms on the Clear Creek ISD school board, is a former board member of Texas State Teachers Association, and served as President of the Galveston County Education District.
Sherrie has spent 30 years as a citizen lobbyist in the Texas Legislature, advocating for children and schools. She is a founding board member of Clear Creek ISD’s Community in Schools, Science Magnet Program and Education Foundation. Additionally, Sherrie is the president of the Clear Lake Symphony Society and the Middlebrook Community Association.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
“It’s a huge honor to be endorsed by Democracy for America. I am running a people powered campaign, with volunteers knocking on many thousands of doors to bring our message of positive change to the House District,” said Sherrie Matula. “Like DFA, I believe government should be responsive to the needs of everyday citizens, and I look forward to providing that type of leadership to the community when I am elected.”
“Sherrie Matula is ready on day one to tackle problems like skyrocketing insurance costs and preserving the environment while protecting jobs,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Sherrie Matula’s commitment to integrity means she won’t be cutting backroom deals when she works on such important issues as guaranteeing public schools receive the funding they need to give our children the education they deserve.”
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Democracy for America Endorses PA State Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith for Re-election
Released: August 11, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Barbara McIlvaine Smith’s re-election campaign for Pennsylvania’s 156 Legislative District.
“Barbara McIlvaine Smith is a citizen legislator with a phenomenal progressive record and Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “In two years in the General Assembly and with a lifetime of community and business leadership, Barbara McIlvaine Smith has shown time and again she has the experience, wisdom, and judgment we need in Harrisburg.”
Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith, a lifelong resident of Chester County, was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2006. Her win by 28 votes pushed the Democrats into the majority for the first time in 12 years.
A former small-business owner, educator, local elected official, and community leader, Rep. McIlvaine Smith serves on the board of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) and also serves as the 3rd vice president of the West Goshen Lions Club. She is a member of many community organizations, including The Human Relations Council of the Greater West Chester Area; NAACP; American Association of University Women; West Chester Fish, Game and Wildlife; Chester County League of Women Voters; National Organization for Women, as well as others. Rep. McIlvaine Smith is an enrolled tribal member of the federally recognized Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma.
In the state Legislature, Rep. McIlvaine Smith currently serves on the Aging & Older Adult Services, Children & Youth, Education, Health & Human Services, and Local Government committees. She is the majority chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Special Education.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
"I am honored to have the endorsement of a strong grassroots organization like Democracy for America,” said Barbara McIlvaine Smith. “Since 2004, DFA has actively changed the dynamics for running a successful political campaign and I appreciate the trust they have placed in me. DFA’s mission and mine is to continue the progress of bringing the power of government back to the people."
“Barbara McIlvaine Smith knows progressive solutions like universal health care and quality public education makes Pennsylvania and the United States stronger,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Barbara McIlvaine Smith is a tireless champion of ethics reform, working to bring increased transparency and accountability to the Assembly.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Dina Titus for United States Congress
Released: August 7, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Dina Titus’ campaign to represent Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Dina is running against Dick Cheney’s best friend, incumbent and Bush-Republican, Jon Porter.
“Dina Titus has a 30-year record of accomplishment and leadership that can’t be matched and Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign.” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Dina Titus has shown in the legislature, the classroom, and the community that she understands the challenges we are facing and how to get the job done.”
Dina Titus has dedicated her entire professional life to education and public service. She has taught American and Nevada government at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for 30 years. She has represented the people of Senate District 7 in the Nevada Legislature since 1988, serving as the Democratic Minority Leader from 1993 – May 2008.
A strong advocate for education at all levels, Dina has fought to maintain smaller class size in the important early grades and sponsored legislation for full-day kindergarten.
Developing renewable energy resources has been one of Dina’s priorities in the legislature. She has successfully pushed legislation to establish a portfolio standard requiring utility companies to acquire a certain percentage of green power. She championed creating a net metering program to allow individuals to generate their own power and sell the excess back to the utility companies, as well as green pricing options for consumers and tax incentives to companies that develop solar and wind energy generation.
Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
“I am honored to be endorsed by Democracy for America. Your members' energy and commitment have helped advance the important issues and causes of the Democratic Party,” said Dina Titus. “I will take that same energy to Washington and fight for a comprehensive energy policy that makes renewable sources a corner stone, an end to the war in Iraq, and a stronger economy for working men and women.”
“You don’t have to tell Dina Titus to fight for better schools or a solution to the health care or energy crisis because she’s been a leader on these issues and now is the time for her to take her experience to Washington to fight for Nevadans and all Americans,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Dina Titus will not take marching orders from Dick Cheney or John McCain, but will fight for her constituents to bring good jobs to the district and to end the War in Iraq.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Jill Derby for United States Congress
Released: August 6, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Jill Derby’s campaign to represent Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District. Jill is running against Bush Republican lapdog Dean Heller.
“Jill Derby is an educator, an activist, and a community leader committed to serving her constituents. Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign.” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Jill Derby’s grassroots campaign is putting people-power into action and that is why she will win in November.”
Jill is a fourth generation Nevadan and started life on her family's Flying Flapjack Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada. She grew up in California, where her father trained pilots for the Air Force, and her family continued to spend time every year at the Lovelock ranch and at the family home at Lake Tahoe.
Jill has spent her career as an educator, teaching at Western Nevada Community College, Sierra Nevada College, the National Judicial College and the University of California, San Francisco. Jill served 18 years on the Nevada Board of Regents, a non-partisan, elected governing board for the Nevada System of Higher Education. As a Regent, Jill served as chairman and vice chairman.
Most recently, Jill has served as Chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party where she was a key player in planning and executing the successful January Caucuses. Jill tirelessly traveled the state working with local party activists to train caucus volunteers and encourage all Nevadans - Democrats, Republicans and Independents - to participate in Nevada's Caucus. Turnout for the Caucus exceeded all predictions, with 120,000 Nevadans participating at more than 1,700 precinct meetings across the state.
Democracy for America is the key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America,” said Jill Derby. “The work that DFA does to bring grassroots change nationwide has made the difference in many races, and I look forward to working with them to bring real change to Washington.”
“Jill Derby knows we must embrace new technologies to break our dependence on foreign sources of oil. She knows we will be a stronger country when we bring our brave men and women in uniform home from the War in Iraq. And, we must provide every Nevadan and every American with quality health care.” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Jill Derby’s opponent thinks it’s just fine to vote against health care for children and to rubberstamp the regressive Bush agenda. Jill Derby has the courage to lead and the wisdom we need in Washington.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Patrick McCabe for Massachusetts State Representative
Released: August 6, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Patrick McCabe’s campaign to represent the 35th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
“Patrick McCabe has been fighting for working families his whole life and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign.” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Patrick McCabe is committed to a progressive agenda that puts people in charge and that is why he is the best choice for Democrats in this election.”
Patrick McCabe was born into a working class Irish family in Somerville, Massachusetts. Patrick's Dad was a trucker and his Mom was a letter carrier, and early in life they taught him the importance of hard work, community, and social justice. Patrick is a 1994 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served seven years as an officer in the United States Army, joining the elite Airborne Ranger Special Forces, and achieving the rank of Major. The highlight of Patrick's military service was leading 300 men and women from the 101st Airborne Division on peacekeeping missions in war-torn Kosovo, where he and his soldiers worked to protect the victims of the Serbian genocide.
After leaving the military, Patrick and his wife, Amy, settled in Medford, Massachusetts, where they are raising their two children, Madeline and Braeden. Amy works for a non-profit that helps military families struggling with the financial hardships of long deployments, and Patrick has worked for the past four years as the Organizing and Communications Director for SEIU local 1984, a public employee union in New Hampshire, where he helps working families fight for the dignity and fair treatment they deserve.
Democracy for America is the key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.
"I am honored to have the support of Democracy for America, an organization that demonstrates every day what grassroots democracy really means,” said Patrick McCabe “DFA makes a difference by empowering the disadvantaged and the non-well connected to find their voice in our political process, and that's exactly what I intend to do in this campaign."
“Patrick McCabe knows it's wrong to deny sick people access to important medical breakthroughs like stem-cell research. It’s wrong to deny women the right to reproductive freedom. And, it’s wrong to deny Americans the right to quality health care and that's why he'll fight for a universal health care solution that will serve the needs of every American.” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “As the progressive Democrat in this race, Patrick McCabe knows what’s right and has the experience, judgment, and wisdom to bring real change to Massachusetts.”
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz Still Doesn't Get It
Released: August 5, 2008
DFA Renews Its Call for Rep. Wasserman Schultz to Support Democrats
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, endorsed Annette Taddeo’s campaign to represent Florida’s 18th Congressional District because she is a qualified candidate ready to put her experience to work for South Florida. Ms. Taddeo is running against Bush Rubberstamp, Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Party line toting lapdogs like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and their failed policies are bad for South Florida and bad for America. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, co-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program, should support progressive Democrats like Annette Taddeo.
“Debbie Wasserman Schultz should join Democracy for America, the AFL-CIO, Women’s Campaign Forum, Orange to Blue, United Teachers of Dade, and many others who support Annette Taddeo because Ms. Taddeo will bring a new beginning to South Florida and America. Annette Taddeo will stand up for working families and fight everyday to move this country forward,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America. “Debbie Wasserman Schultz is either going to stand with Democrats to end the War in Iraq, create good paying jobs, and make health care affordable and accessible or she is going to stand alone.”
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Why Does Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Love Medicare Fraud?
Ros-Lehtinen Voted Against Medicare Accountability Banked $180,000 From Special Interests
Released Jointly with the Florida Democratic Party
Miami, FL – Sunday’s Miami Herald reported billions of dollars in Medicare fraud takes place in South Florida every year – by far the worst record in the nation for Medicare abuse.
In 1998, the largest home health care provider in South Florida was charged with bilking Medicare for more than $45 million in fake services. The company’s founder had been a donor to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s campaign for re-election to Congress.
Congress did have the opportunity to fight back against Medicare fraud before it reached crisis proportions, but Ros-Lehtinen voted against allowing Congress to pursue its Constitutionally-mandated oversight role. In 1995, she voted for the so-called Medicare Preservation Act (HR 2421, Roll Call 731, 1995). The Act that Ros-Lehtinen voted for “crippled the efforts of law enforcement agencies to control health-care fraud abuse in the Medicare program,” according to the then-inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Even then, Ros-Lehtinen voted with the Republican Party line and against the best interest of the people of her district, a pattern that continues almost 15 years later.
Annette Taddeo, Ros-Lehtinen’s opponent in this November’s election, responded by saying she was not surprised. “This vote does not surprise me. It fits a pattern. For 18 years, Ros-Lehtinen has been claiming to be a moderate, but consistently places the interests of her party above the interests of the people of she is elected to serve.”
As Congresswoman, Taddeo says she will work to give every American access to affordable, quality healthcare. She supports allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with the prescription drug companies to get the lowest possible price for Seniors, and she will fight for a prescription drug plan that really works and doesn’t just benefit the big drug companies.
“It is time for a change in South Florida’s leadership,” said Taddeo. “It is time for a new beginning, where government is transparent and accountable to the people.”
Ros-Lehtinen has taken nearly $200,000 in campaign gifts from Big Pharma and HMOs. She has voted to cripple law enforcement’s ability to control Medicare fraud, and a year later, she simply refused to vote on a bill that was written expressly to stop Medicare fraud in 1996 (HR 3103).
“Rather than working to crack down on Medicare fraud, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen instead chose to profit off the people who are stealing millions of dollars from our seniors,” said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman. “Ros-Lehtinen is either complicit or easily bamboozled, but any way you cut it she has no business representing South Florida in the United States Congress.”
“Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from pharmaceutical companies and the insurance industry while betraying her constituents,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director for DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, which has endorsed Annette Taddeo’s campaign. “Ileana Ros-Lehtinen cares more about protecting her big money donors than she does about protecting the American people from fraud, waste, and abuse.”
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