PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ACTION FUND ENDORSES ANN KIRKPATRICK IN ARIZONA'S 1ST DISTRICT

Kirkpatrick prepares for new energy future while her opponent looks back

Washington, DC -- State Representative Ann Kirkpatrick today received the endorsement of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, complimenting her campaign run on a platform of creating a "green" economy that protects Arizona's air, land and water.

"Ann Kirkpatrick is exactly the kind of change America needs to shake off the corruption and greed of the now infamous Rick Renzi", said Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund president, Rodger Schlickeisen. "Ann Kirkpatrick will restore people's faith in their representatives by being part of a new vision in Washington, putting her constituents' best interests before the special interests."

Ann Kirkpatrick is up against Republican candidate, Sydney Hay. Hay's strong support for oil and gas exploration, along with her position as president of the Arizona Mining Association, points to where her energy priorities lie. So far in her campaign, Hay has already received $27,000 from oil, gas and mining companies.

"Sydney Hay already has close ties to dirty energy industries and she hasn't even been elected yet. How is she going to be part of forging a clean, secure energy future when her campaign was partly financed by the giants of our unsustainable energy addiction?" continued Schlickeisen. "If elected, Ann Kirkpatrick will go to Washington, beholden to no one apart from the people who elected her."

Defenders Action Fund's endorsement of Kirkpatrick is part of its biennial Conservation Majority Project, the goal of which is to install a permanent congressional majority that will implement meaningful conservation measures nationwide. In 2006, DAF targeted 26 different House races as part of the project and will be targeting 15-20 different races this cycle.

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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.