[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Green candidates for Congress to watch in 2006

[Jim Stauffer]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, April 5, 2006


Green candidates for Congress to watch in 2006:
• Michael Berg, for U.S. House, Delaware
• Aaron Dixon, for U.S. Senate, Washington
• Rae Vogeler, for U.S. Senate, Wisconsin


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens running for the U.S. Senate and House of 
Representatives have emerged in 2006 with strong campaigns in several 
states, leading the political movement for withdrawal of U.S. troops from 
Iraq and asserting Green Party leadership on a host of other national and 
state issues.

Among them are three high-profile Green candidates, Michael Berg (Delaware), 
Aaron Dixon (Washington), and Rae Vogeler (Wisconsin).  For other Greens 
running for Congress and other offices, visit 
<http://gp.org/elections.shtml>; more will be featured as the campaign 
season progresses.

• MICHAEL BERG, running for Delaware's lone seat in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, is the father of Nick Berg, who was taken hostage and 
murdered in Iraq in 2004 in retaliation for the torture and murders by 
American troops in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.  Mr. Berg is a leading 
outspoken opponent of the Iraq invasion and occupation.

In the past week, the Berg campaign has experienced an outpouring of support 
from people throughout Delaware and across the U.S.  Several high-profile 
media appearances, including television interviews, have sparked a new level 
of interest in a campaign that has made ending the war on Iraq its #1 
priority.

"The war on Iraq is the most urgent immediate threat to the safety and 
well-being of Americans in Delaware," said Mr. Berg.  "There are other 
important issues Congress should address, like rebuilding our schools, 
providing single-payer universal health care, and protecting our country 
from catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina.  Global Warming is a threat that 
can overwhelm all others.  But as long as American troops are in Iraq, 
Americans are targets for retaliation wherever we are, and it is hard to 
imagine that funds and National Guard units will be available for urgent 
domestic needs while we are building permanent bases in a country whose 
people want us to end our occupation."

Contact: John Atkeison, Campaign Manager, 302-345-0607, 
john at bergforcongress.us
Website: http://www.bergforcongress.us

• AARON DIXON, candidate for U.S. Senate in Washington, will hold his 
campaign kickoff on Saturday, April 8, in an event featuring special guest 
Elaine Brown, former chair of the Black Panther Party and recent Green 
candidate for mayor of Brunswick, Georgia.

Since his years as Captain of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther 
Party, Mr. Dixon has been working effectively for nonprofit organizations 
that serve the public in different ways, from preventing drug and gang 
violence to providing shelter for youth on the streets.  In 2002, he founded 
his own nonprofit organization, Central House, to provide transitional 
housing for homeless young adults.  Central House also has a Youth 
Leadership Project that operates at four Seattle public high schools.  The 
Project teaches youth to think positively, graduate from high school, and 
control their own destinies.  It also teaches them the importance of serving 
their community.

"My experience in bringing diverse people together to stand strongly for 
peace and justice will help us build a new political movement, one that can 
bring home the troops and redirect our resources to meet the needs of our 
people and our planet," said Mr. Dixon.

Contact: Mike Gillis, 206-755-4262, media at aarondixon.org
Web site: http://www.aarondixon.org

• RAE VOGELER is running for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, where 26 out of 
32 communities voted on Tuesday in favor of a ballot initiative calling for 
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq 
<http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/iraqreferendum>.  Ms. Vogeler is a 
working mom, a peace and social justice organizer since the 1970s, and is 
co-founder of the Madison Area Peace Coalition.

"April 4, 2006 was an historic day for Wisconsin.  Thousands of people went 
to the polls to vote on bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.  The referendum 
drive, which was initiated by the Wisconsin Green Party, is a triumph for 
democracy -- it shows what grassroots organizing can accomplish," said Ms. 
Vogeler.

Contact: Jill Bussiere, 920-255-2175, jdt at itol.com
Web site: http://www.voterae.org


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193


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