The Oil Patch Hits an Ice Skid

Washington, DC -- The polls in Maryland were kept open an extra hour and a half yesterday because of an ice-storm -- and I missed my flight back to San Francisco because of huge traffic jams caused by the ice.

In the hoopla of the Potomac primary there may be some questions that appear close to being settled (like the Republican nominee), and some questions that are still somewhat up in the air (like the Democratic nominee), but in Maryland there was one clearly decisive win -- environmental activist and champion Donna Edwards soundly beat incumbent Al Wynn.

In a time when citizens are demanding change, Donna Edwards represents a rejection of the politics of the past and instead stands for a cleaner, brighter future.

Donna Edwards took on Wynn in 2006 and came within less than 3,000 votes out of more than 82,000 cast. To his credit, Wynn took a second look at his district -- the northern suburbs of our nation's capital filled with federal employees who share family-oriented and environmental values -- and over the last year voted the district on key energy and environmental issues.

But unfortunately, Wynn maintained his polluter-friendly reputation and continued taking money from some of the largest and most polluting energy companies in the country." And Big Carbon and developers chose to make this race all about energy and environmental issues, pouring their contributions into Wynn's coffers  in enormous volumes at the end of the campaign.

In response, in the weeks leading up to the Potomac Primary, our volunteers came together with other progressive groups and braved the sometimes cold, sometimes balmy weather to get out the message that Donna Edwards was the candidate for a clean energy future. On Election Day, folks walked through snow, rain, and sleet. Congressman Wynn conceded last night, and with 88 percent of precincts reporting, Edwards led with 60 percent of the vote to Wynn's 36 percent.

In 2006, with the defeat of the anti-environmental poster-boy Richard Pombo, Congress was put on notice that Americans want a cleaner environment and cleaner government. Donna Edwards's upset win in 2008 should serve as a reminder to any incumbents who failed to listen the first time.

Comments

[Curious George]

Hmmm, I noticed you "forgot" to mention that Wynn is a democrat. And if his taking contributions from polluting companies is bad you'd better go look at who on Wall Street is giving to Hillary Clinton, or is that okay? She has received more money from big business and Wall Street than any other candidate in either party. Check out her and her husband's stock holdings of the last several years as well (before she decuided to run). They include big oil boy Exxon.

HILLARY RAKES IT IN FROM WALL STREET

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aVustr6gnSvs

[Curious George]

Oh, but congrats to Donna Edwards, it's good to see a green making progress!!!