Jerry McNerney is one of the candidates I selected for the Booman Tribune ActBlue Page. He’s is running for Congress in California’s 11th District. McNerney is an engineer and energy specialist who has a company that specializes in wind turbines. He claims that throughout his career he has “contributed to saving the equivalent of approximately 30 million barrels of oil, or 8.3 million tons of carbon dioxide – the main greenhouse gas – as well as other harmful pollutants.” He is an avid hiker and enjoys the Sierra Nevada mountains. He’s also a novelist. His opponent is Richard Pombo, perhaps the worst sitting member of Congress.
I could go into great detail about just how bad he is, but fortunately the McNerney campaign just sent me an email that highlights all the endorsements Jerry has been receiving. These editorials says it all better and more completely than I could.
First, the Modesto Bee set off an editorial firestorm by endorsing Jerry McNerney — the first time the Bee has ever editorialized against Richard Pombo’s re-election to Congress.
Then, the San Jose Mercury News endorsed McNerney, telling readers that Pombo was “a national disgrace to the Republican Party” and “deserves defeat.”
The next day, the Los Angeles Times opined about Richard Pombo’s “wacky” right-wing extremism as a “Congressman We Could Do Without.”
Later that day, the San Francisco Chronicle joined the growing chorus of editorial endorsements, calling Pombo “an embarrassment” and describing Jerry McNerney as a candidate who “brings a low-key probity that the district and House deserve.”
Twenty-four hours ago, the New York Times wrote a scathing editorial (“Mr. Pombo’s Map”) that excoriated Pombo for his shameful giveaway of billions in corporate welfare to Big Oil in his “Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act.” The final sentence said it all: “When we try to envision the America that Mr. Pombo has mapped out for us, all we can see is a nation committed to devouring itself, one barrel of oil at a time.”
And now, the largest newspaper in the Central Valley — serving tens of thousands of readers in the 11th Congressional District — has come out in favor of Jerry McNerney.
Chris Bowers has this race rated as a Tier 1.5 Toss Up/Lean Republican race. The most recent (Democratic) poll has McNerney down 48%-46%. Of course, that poll came out before all the horrible press for Pombo was published. In endorsing McNerney, the Sacremento Bee noted (emphasis mine):
McNerney is a political neophyte, a Ph.D. engineer who attended West Point, once worked at Sandia National Laboratories and now owns a wind power company. He wants to develop alternative energy to create power and jobs. Wonkish and facing a charisma deficit, he has so far eschewed big corporate contributions — meaning he will be thoroughly outspent.
That’s where we come in. We may not live in his district, or even in California, but we all have an interest in getting rid of Richard Pombo. Here’s how the Los Angeles Times put it:
CALIFORNIA’S REPUTATION FOR WACKINESS doesn’t necessarily rest on its representatives in Congress — the roots of our unconventional ways go far deeper — but they certainly haven’t hurt…
Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy), a seven-term congressman who appears to have a vendetta against the environment, has tried repeatedly to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act. He has proposed selling federal wilderness for a pittance to mining interests. His latest bill wouldn’t just open up vast stretches of the coast to drilling, it would slash the royalties that companies must pay for shale-oil leases, potentially costing taxpayers billions of dollars. And then there’s his tarnished ethics record, which earned him a spot on a watchdog group’s list of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress last year.
Is this the kind of guy you want as Chairman of the Resource Committee and Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Committee? I am certainly not happy with Pombo holding those positions. I want him out of Congress, which is why I gave McNerney money and selected him for the Booman Tribune ActBlue Page. Please give him some money.
He will be a huge advocate for the environment and alternative energy and he will replace one of the worst and most powerful enemies of the environment. Bush went and stumped for Pombo last week. They know this seat is at risk. But they have a huge cash advantage. Donate. You’ll feel better.