FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June, 16,
2014
CONTACT:
Mike Berkowitz
248-345-9808
mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Endorses Shari Pollesch, Bert Johnson, Bryan Mielke
in State Legislative Races
Nation’s Largest Grassroots Conservation
Organization Backs Three Proven Climate and Clean Energy Leaders in Michigan election
Bids
LANSING, MI -The Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club
announced its endorsement of three environmental champions for Michigan’s upcoming state legislative
elections. Shari Pollesch in state
Senate District 22, Sen. Bert
Johnson’s in District 2, and Bryan
Mielke in state House District 99 all earned the organization’s support.
“These candidates
have demonstrated strong support for clean air, clean water and for strengthening
Michigan’s clean energy future,,” said Mike Berkowitz, Political and
Legislative Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “These are issues everyday Michiganders care
about and should be priorities for the next legislature.”
Shari Pollesch
served on the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Board, including two years
as chair. Pollesch regularly participates in Sierra Club activities including
Citizen Lobby Day, advocacy trips to Washington D.C., writing letters to
newspapers, and engaging in the fight against fracking in Livingston County.
Sen. Bert Johnson has
a proven environmental track record during his time in the Michigan Legislature.
Johnson regularly engages with Sierra Club members from his district on
transportation, energy, and water policy. He received a 97% score from the
Sierra Club for his voting record in the legislature.
Bryan
Mielke is a computer
scientist who designs software that monitors the safety of pipelines, an
important job particularly in light of recent pipeline spills in Michigan. As a Union Township trustee,
Mielke helped write the township’s smart growth master plan and also reformed
wind turbine zoning to enable more wind energy installations.
The
Sierra Club also endorsed Tim Killeen for Wayne County Commission District 1
and David Woodward for Oakland County Commission District 19.
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.
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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