Conservation Groups Unite behind Kulongoski

For Immediate Release:
July 12, 2006

 Jonathan Poisner, Executive Director, OLCV cell: 503-490-1234; Jay Ward, Executive Director, ONRC ACTION cell: 503-407-8490; Jill Workman, Oregon Chapter Chair, Sierra Club cell: 503-421-3635

Portland Today, the political action committees of three of Oregon’s pre-eminent conservation groups announced their joint support for Governor Kulongoski’s reelection bid. The Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV), Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC ACTION), and the Sierra Club praised the Governor’s leadership in reducing the state’s dependence on foreign oil, combating global warming, and fighting the Bush administration’s assault on Oregon’s forests and wildlife.

“We’ve reached a tipping point in our history, where we need a leader with both a commitment and a strong plan to promote renewable, clean energy and make Oregon a leader in the fight against global warming,” said Jonathan Poisner, Executive Director of OLCV.   “That leader is Ted Kulongoski.”

“Ted Kulongoski is the only candidate for Governor Oregonians can trust to promote both a robust economy and a healthy environment,” said Poisner. 

The three organizations highlighted Kulongoski’s fight for cleaner air in standing up against Republican legislators and the auto industry when they tried to keep Oregon from adopting cleaner emission standards for new cars.  Kulongoski has also taken bold action against Bush Administration efforts to open up Oregon’s last wild, roadless forests to commercial logging and development.

“When it comes to the environment, Ted Kulongoski has time and time again stood up for Oregon values” stated Jay Ward, Executive Director of ONRC ACTION.  “Ted understands that our clean water, wildlands, fish and wildlife make Oregon a special place to live, work, and raise our families.”

With the groups’ shared commitment to re-electing Governor Kulongoski brings both resources and added momentum to an already vigorous campaign.

“24,000 Oregonians are members of the Oregon Sierra Club,” said Jill Workman, Chair of the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club.  “Our membership is energized to join forces with other Oregonians to work hard to elect Ted Kulongoski -- the only candidate we can trust to keep our state a great place to live.”

An estimated 180,000 Oregonians are members of a conservation or environmental group and are registered to vote.  In the 2002 election, these voters were 32% more likely to vote than average voters and therefore environmental families represented almost 20% of the voting electorate.  OLCV, ONRC Action, and the Sierra Club will be working to ensure that these families vote for Ted Kulongoski in 2006.