Jerry McNerney's website

50-State Strategy: California - Talking with Jerry McNerney

The Democratic Party Blog recently posted a great interview with Jerry McNerney.

Excerpt:

What made you decide to run for Congress?
After September 11, 2001 my son joined the Air Force to defend our country. He is now a commissioned officer, and in 2004 he called me and said there was no one running in the Democratic primary in 11th Congressional District, and said 'I want you to do your duty like I did and run for Congress'. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to run for Congress because I felt a duty to my son and a duty to my country.

What do you see happening in the CA-11th?
I have a positive vision for the District; I want to create thousands of jobs by transforming our District into the "Silicon Valley" of renewable energy - by fostering bio-fuel, solar and wind energy opportunities. This has really resonated with people I have talked to. They are interested in these technologies, on ending our nation's dependency on foreign oil, as well as concerned about pollution and asthma rates which are on the rise and some of the highest in the nation.

Moving into the General Election, what is your strategy for success?
Last Thursday I joined the two other Democratic Primary candidates for a unity breakfast and we will be working together in the future. We won the primary with a great campaign team, a good ground game, and outreach into the District, and we'll win in November the same way. The grassroots have been a very big help and an inspiration. I feel humbled by how dedicated my supporters are. If this is what it takes to move our country forward, this is what we are going to do. We are going to appeal to our grassroots and netroots supporters and make a change.

Read the full interview now.

McNerney Picks up Democratic Endorsement from San Jose Mercury News

Give the nod to Pombo challengers: Republican McCloskey, Democrat McNerney Would Be Worthy Competitors in the Fall

For his part, McNerney has been running a grass-roots campaign fueled by support from union members that earned him the endorsement of the California Democratic Party. He wants to bring jobs to economically sluggish portions of the district in the San Joaquin Valley, in part by helping promote the area's nascent alternative-energy industry. His professional background would make him a good advocate for more sensible energy policy in Washington.

McNerney offers clear thinking on the nation's health care crisis, emphasizing the need to rally businesses to the cause of reform. And he would rescind portions of the Bush tax cuts that have disproportionately benefited wealthy Americans.

McNerney ran against Pombo in 2004 and got 39 percent of the vote, despite receiving no support from the state or national Democratic Party and being massively outspent by Pombo. That experience should come in handy in November.

A Strong First Quarter

The McNerney for Congress campaign just issued a press release, with two bits of great news, excerpted here:

The campaign raised over $50,000 in the period ending March 31, an increase of more than 25% over the final quarter of 2005, when McNerney raised $41,000. McNerney's fundraising numbers demonstrate the campaign's continued momentum and growing support within the 11th Congressional District in California.

"As we move towards the June primary I am excited that our campaign continues to grow. The dollars demonstrate our increasing financial power, but what I am most excited about is our growing people power," said Jerry McNerney. "We are building a strong grassroots network that will put an end to Pombo Politics in November."

The second bit of news:

The McNerney for Congress campaign also demonstrated its widespread support within the California Democratic Party on Saturday, nearly surpassing the 70% threshold to obtain the California State Democratic Party nomination at the pre-primary convention. Of the 39 votes cast by 11th Congressional District delegates to the State Central Committee, McNerney received 27 votes, nearly tripling the tally of his nearest competitor while finishing one vote shy of the 28 needed to secure a spot on the consent calendar for endorsement at the California Democratic Party convention April 28-30 in Sacramento.

There's a great analysis of what this means for the McNerney Campaign at the Say No to Pombo blog.

DFA Training in Stockton

You may remember that Jerry was a "Dean Dozen" candidate back in the 2004 race, chosen by the same organization, Democracy for America.

People in the area of CD-11 who are interested in helping Jerry's Campaign can sign up to attend the DFA Training Academy in Stockton, March 18th-19th at the UOP campus.

A description of the event:

We talk about having the power -- now it's time to direct it toward making a difference. And the DFA Training Academy is coming to Stockton, CA on March 18th-19th, 2006 to help you do just that.

Grassroots leaders are working to bring you a weekend full of campaign training, simulation, and serious fun.

Local and national experts on campaign management, field organizing, communications, and grassroots advocacy, and organization building will be on-hand to instruct and work with you one-on-one to develop the skills needed to take our country back.

This is no social get together; the training is an intensive two-day series of sessions and workshops geared toward your particular political landscape. We develop the program so you can go out and actually use the skills you learn as soon as you get home. We follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need in your communities.

Sign up for the training today at the link above.