PRESS RELEASE

Pombo's bid to re-enter Congress ends with a whimper
Denham wins GOP nomination with Pombo trailing in third place

The following statement is from Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen in response to news that Richard Pombo has been defeated in the Calif.-19 Republican primary election, ending his effort to re-enter Congress four years after loosing in Calif.-11:

"This is a victory for everyone in the 19th district and, for obvious reasons, this is also a huge victory for conservationists across the county. Richard Pombo was damaged goods from the very beginning of this campaign and the cloud of corruption that caused him to lose his seat in Calif.-11 never dissipated.  He also made it clear that he had more interest in fighting old battles with old enemies − whom he called 'radical environmentalists' − than he did in charting a new course for the citizens of Calif.-19. 

“But Pombo was right about one thing. He certainly knows the ways of Washington - all too well, in fact. That’s what led to him being named by an independent watchdog group as one of the most corrupt members of Congress. Voters in the 19th district saw his political baggage and the unanswered questions surrounding his unethical dealings, and decided to vote for something new instead."

Background
In 2006, the Defenders Action Fund took on then-Congressman Richard Pombo in his Calif.-11 district. Using TV and radio ads, and an extensive canvass operation, Defenders ran an independent campaign for over a year exposing Pombo’s corrupt record for his constituents. He was the only sitting committee chairman defeated that year.

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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.