Camejo for Governor!
Hi folks, here’s the latest, written by The Man himself…
Tyler
UPDATE 7/10/03
Camejo Campaigns in the Latino Community
An AP story went out prior to our June 30th press conference announcing that
Peter would run again if the recall gets on the ballot. Papers throughout
California picked up the AP story.
Peter was immediately invited on a one hour talk show in the largest Spanish
language program in Los Angeles. The program host, Alicia Alarcon, started
the program by saying, “With us tonight is the man I am going to vote for
for Governor”. In a shorter radio program in Spanish in San Francisco, it
became clear that the new support from the Latino Community for the Green
Party is still there.
On June 19th this became even more clear as several hundred Mexican American
workers marched in San Jose including a large VOTE GREEN sign. Monitors on
the march went up and down the line shouting, “We must vote for Camejo, Vote
Green, the Party that defends us”. At the march was Senator Gilbert
Cedillo, a hero to the activists in the battle for the driver’s license.
Cedillo, in front of radio, TV and newspapers said, “I have known Peter for
years and I respect and admire his efforts for our people.” At the end of
the demonstration a large cheer went up from the demonstrators when they
were asked to support the recall and throw Davis out of office.
On July 3 Peter visited with Lieutenant Governor Cruz M. Bustamante.
Attending the meeting were two members of Centro Azteca and Tyler Snortum
Phelps of the Green Campaign. Bustamante made it clear he supports the
driver’s license and is also working to raise the minimum wage. Peter
invited Bustamante to join with him at the upcoming march in Fresno for the
driver’s license. He thanked Bustamante for his efforts behind those points
that Greens and Bustamante agree on such as the minimum wage issue and the
driver’s license. The meeting was amiable and hopefully will lead to further
discussions, especially should Bustamante become governor. This could happen
if Davis resigns under pressure of low poll numbers.
CAMEJO MEETS WITH GREENLINING INTERNS
The Greenlining Institute, a non-partisan coalition of community groups
supporting people of color, engages in research around issues related to
specific communities. Peter, accompanied by Daniel Cabrera and Greg Jan, met
with about 20 of the Greenlining staff and interns. The interns critiqued
some of the figures and points Peter would be making in the campaign and
provided invaluable information on issues such as housing and the impact of
Proposition 13. The Greenlining Institute offers its information and
resources to help educate political figures from all points of view.
PRESS CONFERENCE SHOWS WIDE SUPPORT GROWING FOR GREENS
Joining Peter at the June 30th press conference to formally announce the
Camejo for Governor campaign was a group of prestigious labor and community
leaders. One of the most exciting was a report from Caroline Lund, a worker
at the NUMMI Plant (General Motors and Toyota) in Fremont California.
Caroline explained how on March 13 Governor Davis gave NUMMI a 6.4 million
dollar gift of state funds, at the same time that he is proposing cutbacks
in education funding. After a press conference Davis wanted to walk through
the plant, but the workers booed his advance people out of the plant as they
shouted “You cut from education to make gifts to corporations!”
The gift is supposedly for worker training. The management at NUMMI actually
makes workers sign a statement that they have received training, when in
fact there is no training. Caroline refused to lie and sign the statement.
Caroline is a Trustee of the UAW and in the most recent union election got
the second highest vote in the over 5,000-worker plant. The management
threatened to make her work Saturdays if she didn’t sign. She refused. At
the press conference she explained how some union leaders try to make it
appear that all workers are Democrats, but that is not true. She pointed out
that many workers like her have started voting Green.
Also at the press conference was African American union leader Ron Dicks
from IFPTE Local 21. Ron spoke in support of comments by Donna Warren on the
issue of three strikes and the explosive growth of prisons. (Prisons have
gone from 3% of the budget to 12%).
Ed Rosenthal, probably the most famous fighter for medical marijuana, was
present to endorse Peter for his positions in the fight for a rational
policy towards drug addiction and to decriminalize marijuana. Dr. Agha
Saeed, President of the American Muslim Alliance, declared his support for
Peter and the commitment to defend civil liberties for all. Chris Kavanagh,
an elected official from Berkeley, came to declare his support for Peter,
joining Matt Gonzalez the President of the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors who introduced Peter.
Peter presented two charts to show how the poor are taxed at a higher rate
than the rich and how the present deficit need not have happened at all
given the enormous surplus of income the State has received over the last
five years. KPFA did a great job in summarizing the press conference and
their report was played both the evening of June 30th and the morning of
July 1. Reports appeared in many major newspapers including the San Jose
Mercury News which repeated Peter’s phrase “political suicide pact”,
referring to the Democrats who have pledged not to run, leaving only Camejo
to stop the Republicans.
LOS ANGELES TIMES POLL
A detailed LA Times poll of July 2nd showed some rather interesting figures
for the Greens. If no Democrat runs, among independents and those calling
themselves “liberal”, Peter at present is neck and neck with Richard
Riordon. Peter is at 18 and 19 percent of the vote in those two categories,
beating Schwarzenegger, Simon, McClintock and Issa and just 1% and 3% behind
the front-runner Riordan. Among Democrats, Peter is only at 8%. Democrats
prefer Riordan, and Schwarzenegger over Peter but he is still ahead of
Simon, McClintock and Issa.
Among Republican voters Peter falls to the bottom of the list at 2%.
This poll shows the strength Greens have among liberal and independent
Californians. Peter’s name recognition is higher than treasurer Phil
Angelides and is closing in on the level of Garamendi and Bustamante as well
as Republicans like Issa and McClintock.
If all the candidates being considered run, including many Democrats and
Republicans, Diane Feinstein walks away with the governorship at 25%, double
the support of Riordan and Schwarznegger who come in at 11%. All other
candidates including Camejo fall sharply to levels at 1% to 6%, except for
Simon who comes in fourth at 9%. Lockyer and Angelides, the supposed
frontrunners of the Democrats for the nomination in 2006, average the same
support as Peter.
CAMEJO DEBATES REPUBLICAN
For almost an hour Peter debated Bill Simon on a major conservative talk
show out of Sacramento, the Eric Hogue show on KTKZ. Peter called for a
fair tax in which the poor do not pay more than the rich. He pointed out
that corporations today pay 7% of the tax revenues when 20 years ago they
paid 14%. Bill Simon said that was due to corporations leaving the State of
California.
CAMEJO MEETS WITH DENNIS KUCINICH
Peter and congressman Dennis Kucinich, the progressive Democratic Party
presidential candidate, both spoke at the Sonoma County Health and Harmony
Festival. Afterwards Dennis and Peter had a chance to get to know each other
on the drive down to Marin where Dennis addressed a couple hundred
supporters of his campaign. Peter was welcomed for his attendance at the
rally. Peter explained that as a Green Party candidate he will not endorse a
candidate in another party’s primary, but he recognizes that Dennis has been
a consistent supporter of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, opposing the
USA PATRIOT Act and has supported many other issues crucial to the Green
Party.
The host of the Kucinich rally reminded everyone that Peter will soon be
running for Governor again and that he deserves support. Kucinich thanked
Peter in his comments for his efforts in California.
FURTHER ACTIVITY
We will try to bring you updates by email on the developments of the
campaign. A mailing to over 2,000 campaign supporters just went out asking
for some initial funds to get the campaign going.
Please send donations to Camejo for Governor at PO Box 32102, Oakland CA
94605.
Thursday the 10th Peter will be in Fresno at a 5:00 p.m. march with the
Latino community. The march starts at Fulton & Tulare.
Our Southern California campaign will be co-chaired by Donna Warren, our
outstanding candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2002. Donna continues to
take the lead in the struggle to amend the cruel and unconstitutional Three
Strikes law. For further SoCal information email Donna Warren at
cottry@worldnet.att.net. If you want to form a campaign committee in your
area call Tyler at 925-521-1330.
On July 13th Peter will speak at a gathering of Green Party activists in
Santa Rosa sponsored by the Green Party of California’s Campaigns &
Candidates Working Group.
We area eagerly seeking need a web-savvy volunteer to help us develop our
website and we are also looking for all kinds of volunteers for other
essential projects. Email tyler@votecamejo.net if you are prepared to donate
time, especially during the day. Thank you.
Peter Camejo
Tyler Snortum-Phelps
(925) 521-1330
tyler@votecamejo.org
1010 Oak Grove Rd.
Concord, CA 94518
