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Contact: Sandré Swanson |
Sierra Club Endorses Swanson for Assembly
The Sierra Club endorsed Sandre Swanson for the 16th Assembly District in the Democratic Party primary, the Swanson campaign announced today.
Over the last three decades, Swanson has compiled an extensive record of environmental protection, working as Chief of Staff and senior policy adviser to Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Ron Dellums. From his work on military base conversion to the successful dredging of the Port of Oakland, Swanson has been a leader in efforts to clean up the environment while creating jobs.
“I am honored to have the support of the Sierra Club,” Swanson declared. “Protecting the environment – and standing up for environmental justice – will be among my top priorities in the Assembly.”
Swanson cited the delay of the Department of Defense in completely and quickly cleaning up and transferring all former military base land to the cities of Oakland and Alameda as one of the key environmental challenges facing the East Bay.
“We are still struggling with the lack of timely federal financial support in completely cleaning up military sites in our district,” Swanson noted. “It is not environmental regulations that are slowing growth in this case. It is the broken promise of the Department of Defense to clean up its former military sites in a timely manner.
“I will continue to challenge the Department of Defense to meet its timely clean up responsibility and oppose President Bush’s plan to use former military bases for new oil refineries,” Swanson concluded.
Swanson also declared his intention to address the issue of port pollution. “I will promote innovative truck stop electrification technology, where trucks can hook up to equipment that provides electricity instead of idling for hours. I will also look into the feasibility of utilizing more hybrid trucks at our port and electric train service from the port,” Swanson said.
Swanson has won the support of the Alameda County Central Labor Council; the California League of Conservation Voters; the California Nurses Association; the Oakland Chamber of Commerce PAC (OakPAC); and the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. He has also earned the support of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Ron Dellums; Assemblywoman Loni Hancock; State Senator Don Perata; Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson; and the majority of city council members in both Oakland and Alameda.