|
SIERRA CLUB DECLARES VICTORY AS POMBO (CA-11) GOES DOWN Statement by Executive Director Carl Pope Pleasanton, CA - "The Sierra Club congratulates Jerry McNerney on his important victory over Richard Pombo. We salute McNerney for fighting the good fight, for defying the odds and taking on Pombo when almost no one else would. Jerry McNerney's win is testament to the values of courage and persistence. The hope he has given to millions of Californians and Americans will not go away any time soon. "It has been clear to us for a long time that Richard Pombo's views were way too extreme and his relationships to special interests way too cozy to honestly serve the public on issues like clean air, clean water, and protecting wildlands. We are very pleased to see that the voters in the 11th-district agreed with us. "The hundreds of Sierra Club volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly this past year to hold Richard Pombo accountable deserve a ton of credit for turning what many pundits thought would be a cakewalk for the incumbent into a win. They, along with fellow environmental organizations, sent an important message that any candidate who allows him or herself to be recklessly out of touch with mainstream environmental values is vulnerable. "Pombo's defeat is not just a victory for the people of California's 11th-district. This is a moment to be savored by anyone who loves Yosemite National Park or the California coast or Giant Sequoia National Monument, places Pombo worked to mine, drill, or log. On the issue of energy policy in particular, America is extremely fortunate to be replacing someone who's energy priorities were dictated by Big Oil with a man who is an expert on renewable wind power and who has the vision to help our nation develop smart new energy technologies and jobs." For detailed information on the Sierra Club Political Committee efforts to defeat Richard Pombo, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2006-11-07.asp ### |
