FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 18, 2014
CONTACT:
Mike Berkowitz
248-345-9808
mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org
SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES CANDIDATES & BALLOT
PROPOSALS
The
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, a non-partisan environmental protection
organization, today announced its first round of 20 candidate endorsements in
Michigan’s upcoming state legislative elections. The Sierra Club also announced positions on
three statewide ballot proposals.
“These
Sierra Club endorsed candidates have solid environmental records as elected
officials. They are champions who demonstrate strong leadership in promoting
clean air, clean water, cleaner energy and a healthier Michigan,” said Mike Berkowitz, Political Director of the
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Our members are committed to making sure
voters are aware of the strong environmental values of these endorsed
candidates we will work hard to ensure they return to Lansing next year.”
Michigan Sierra Club endorsed
the following candidates for state Senate:
Steve Bieda (D-9)
Rebekah Warren (D-18)
Sean McCann (D-20)
Terry Brown (D-25)
Jim Ananich (D-27)
Sierra Club also endorsed the
following candidates for state Representative:
Sarah Roberts (D-18)
Jim Townsend (D-26)
Pam Faris (D-48)
Charles Smiley (D-50)
Gretchen Driskell (D-52)
Jeff Irwin (D-53)
David Rutledge (D-54)
Adam Zemke (D-55)
Tom Cochran (D-67)
Andy Schor (D-68)
Sam Singh (D-69)
Theresa Abed (D-71)
Brandon Dillon (D-75)
Collene LaMonte (D-91)
Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-92)
The Sierra Club also
announced it will oppose a proposal for a part-time legislature in Michigan and
support two referendums linked to wildlife issues: A ballot proposal to overturn Public Act 520,
which designated Grey Wolves as game species, and to overturn Public Act 21. PA
21 gave the Natural Resources Commission authority to designate game species
and blocked a public vote on wolf hunting.
Sierra Club volunteers from among the
organization’s 150,000 Michigan members and supporters will work with endorsed
candidates in their own communities, identifying and recruiting other likely
voters who are concerned about the state’s environmental and energy policies,
said Richard Morley Barron, Political
Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.
“Sierra
Club is a grassroots organization and our strength is in educating and
mobilizing environmental voters,” said Barron.
“Given the unprecedented challenges facing our Great Lakes, our climate
and a weakening of pollution protection and enforcement, we are committed to
implementing the most robust effort of any election year in our history. The times demand it and our members expect
it.”
The
Michigan Chapter’s Political Committee conducts thorough reviews of all
candidates based on their environmental history, voting records and policy
positions through candidate interviews and responses to candidate questionnaires.
A full list of candidates and
ballot proposals endorsed by the Michigan Sierra Club, including federal, state
and local candidates, is available at the following website: http://michigan.sierraclub.org/politics/articles/2014Endorsements.html
About
the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is
America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization,
with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide, and over 150,000
in Michigan. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages,
levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club
works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and
preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public
education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.
Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Grand River
Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)
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