NEWS RELEASE

July 17, 2007 Contact: Mark Lotwis

Bellevue, WA (July 17) – 21st Century Democrats, one of the largest and best-respected national Democratic campaign organizations, today offered its enthusiastic backing to Democrat Darcy Burner and her campaign for Washington State’s 8th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Iraq surge supporter Rep. Dave Reichert.

The organization involved itself in the campaign early despite being fully aware of published news reports that state Senator Rodney Tom, a real estate agent from Medina, was planning to announce his entry into the race later today as a Democrat.

“We don’t make endorsements lightly, particularly in contested Democratic primaries, but this race was a no-brainer,” said Mark Lotwis, 21st Century Democrats’ executive vice-president.

Lotwis added, “While we appreciated Tom’s recent decision to flip from Republican to Democrat before last year’s election, we are troubled by Tom’s recent vote in favor of social security privatization, his vague statements about Dave Reichert’s staunch support for George Bush’s misguided war in Iraq, and his support of social conservative Dino Rossi in the 2004 governor’s race. When stacked up against Darcy’s Burner’s courage in opposing the war and her determination to fight on behalf of the families of the 8th District, it was no contest.”

“Darcy Burner reflects the core Democratic value of hope. Darcy is running for Congress to fulfill her commitment to human rights – including the moral obligation to end an unjust war in Iraq. To Darcy, human rights include the right to be taken care of with dignity and respect when a person is ill. She will fight to make sure everyone has access to universal healthcare. To Darcy, human rights include the right to a clean and sustainable environment. She has a commitment to dramatically reduce greenhouse gases to protect the planet’s environment and the health of all people,” said Lotwis.

21st Century Democrats is a Washington, D.C.-based grassroots-oriented political action committee that endorses and helps elect progressive Democrats who will be leaders in the Democratic Party by placing field organizers in campaigns. In the last nine years the organization has helped over 165 candidates in 31 states win election; has employed and trained 475 field organizers and 500 canvassers; and has trained 4,400 activists in the fundamentals of grassroots organizing. By focusing its attention on building aggressive and quantifiable field campaigns in marginal districts, 21st Century Democrats has won the majority of its races for 9 straight years.

Contact: Mark Lotwis (703)447-3356