PRESS STATEMENT

Richard Pombo's corrupt past exposed in new radio ad
Group that ousted Pombo from CA-11 follows him into CA-19

WASHINGTON - Today Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund launched its first ad buy against former congressman Richard Pombo who is attempting a political comeback in California's 19th district. In 2006, the Action Fund played a pivotal role in defeating Pombo in CA-11, starting early and leading the coalition that highlighted his extreme record for his constituents. Today's radio ad focuses on many of the same questionable actions, media reports of potentially unethical behavior, and third-party charges leveled at Pombo in 2006, all of which ultimately led to his ouster.

"We want to make sure that voters in California's 19th district know who they'll be getting if they vote for Pombo," said Defenders Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen. "People need to know that he was and likely will always be a creature of the special interest culture that has so corrupted our political process."

The new radio ad names just a few of the many embarrassing incidents from Pombo's past; namely that he billed nearly $5000 to taxpayers for a two-week family vacation, as well as paying his wife and brother over $500,000 out of his campaign funds. These proven indiscretions, among others, led to Pombo being named one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress by the independent watch dog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a fact also cited in the ad.

"To many, Pombo was an example of the classic unethical politician while in office - taking money from special interests while doing their bidding - and nothing he can say during this campaign can alter that shameful record," concluded Schlickeisen.

In 2006, the Defenders Action Fund led a coalition of organizations in a year-long independent campaign exposing Pombo's record for his constituents. Through TV and radio ads, extensive canvassing and grassroots work, and earned media, the coalition ultimately proved pundits wrong who had said he was safe for re-election, and defeated the 7-term incumbent. He was the only sitting committee chairman defeated that year.

The sixty-second radio ad, entitled "Unbelievable", will air across the 19th congressional district for at least two weeks, and represents only the beginning of Defenders Action Fund's campaign to keep Pombo from returning to Congress.

Listen to the radio ad.

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The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.