CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS ENDORSE PHIL ANGELIDES FOR GOVERNOR

Letter Signed by Prominent Environmental Leaders Cites Angelides’ Experience, Vision as Keys to California’s Economic and Environmental Future

SACRAMENTO, CA - In a letter sent to thousands of business, environmental and civic leaders, over 70 prominent California environmental leaders today endorsed Phil Angelides for Governor and urged their colleagues to join them in supporting Angelides’ vision for a California with the most livable cities, the cleanest environment and the best trained workers in the world.

The letter, signed by environmental leaders including Carlyle Hall and Robert Garcia of the Center for Law in the Public Interest, Susan Jordan of California Coastal Protection Network, Mary Nichols of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment, Gary Patton of Land Watch Monterey County, Sara Wan of the California Coastal Commission, former State Senator Byron Sher, former Planning and Conservation League executive director Gerald Meral, conservationist Sam Schuchat, Global Green founder Diane Meyer Simon, and environmental advocates Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ted Danson, Ed Begley Jr. and Laurie David, praised Angelides as the "most accomplished and innovative environmental leader ever to run for Governor of California."

The letter was also signed by a number of elected officials, including Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman George Miller, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, and State Senator Sheila Kuehl, who have carved out well-earned reputations for environmental activism and leadership.

"Throughout his life, Phil Angelides has stood up for this vision of a sustainable economic and environmental future," the letter says. "He has blazed a trail on the high road by developing innovative ideas and programs to invest in sustainable development, smart growth, clean technologies and renewable energy and by prodding corporations to clean up their environmental practices."

"Treasurer Angelides has won statewide and national recognition for his environmental leadership," reads the letter. "In asking you to support Phil Angelides, we probably don’t need to tell you much more than the fact that electing Phil Angelides means there no longer will be Humvees in the Governor’s garage."

Since Angelides announced his candidacy on March 15th, more than 200 elected officials from across California have joined Angelides 2006 Co-Chairs Senator Barbara Boxer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in endorsing Angelides. Showing unprecedented strength and momentum with one year still remaining until the June 2006 primary election, Angelides' strong and growing support reflects a broad diversity of California Democrats - elected officials, business leaders, community activists, teachers and organizations that represent the working people of California.

Angelides had a successful career as a businessman and served as unpaid Chair of the California Democratic Party before taking office as State Treasurer in 1999, the only elected office he has held. During just six years in public office, Angelides has gained a reputation as an innovative national leader advancing groundbreaking new ideas and initiatives to invest in inner cities, expand home ownership, create small businesses, protect our environment, and increase educational opportunities for young people.

As Treasurer, Angelides has forged an impressive record of environmental accomplishment. Among other things, he launched the Green Wave initiative which has led California’s pension funds to invest $1.5 billion in renewable energy and environmental technologies and to push corporations to combat global warming. He has also created innovative programs and policies to curb sprawl, clean-up toxic contamination, promote sustainable development practices, and encourage the development of fuel efficient vehicles.

As a successful businessman prior to being elected State Treasurer, Angelides earned a reputation as an environmental leader. Among other things, he planned and built the community of Laguna West, near Sacramento, which was featured in the national media as a model of a livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable community.

Treasurer Angelides has won numerous awards for his environmental leadership, including Global Green’s Local Environmental Leadership Award; the American Planning Association’s 2000 Planning Vision California Award; the California League of Conservation Voters’ Environmental Leadership Award; and the Congress for the New Urbanism’s Lifetime Achievement Award.