Democracy for America Endorses Martin Heinrich for United States Congress

Released: Sep 26, 2008 1:12 PM

Released:  Monday, September 22, 2008                           
                                                                                                
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Martin Heinrich's campaign to represent New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. 

"Martin Heinrich has been fighting for working men and women his whole life and he's ready to take his progressive message of hard work and opportunity to Washington," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  "Whether it was as an engineer, president of the Albuquerque City Council, or working with Rep. Tom Udall to preserve New Mexico's natural treasures, Martin Heinrich has the skills, judgment, and experience to get the results that make a difference in people's lives."

Martin Heinrich grew up in a middle class family that worked hard to make sure their children had the opportunity to succeed. His parents taught him to work hard, play by the rules, and to always lend a helping hand.  As the executive director of an educational foundation, Martin was dedicated to providing young people with natural science and environmental education experiences through wilderness expeditions.  As Executive Director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, Martin Heinrich tripled the enrollment, acquired more land for the Foundation, and set up a permanent endowment for funding.  

Martin Heinrich served as President of Albuquerque City Council; his tenure as president has been called one of the most productive periods in Council history.  While on the City Council, Martin balanced the city budget every year and led the two year struggle to raise Albuquerque's minimum wage, after bringing together both business and labor leaders together to find common ground. Because of this, Albuquerque is one of four cities in the entire nation with a minimum wage above the state or federal level.

Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California's 11th Congressional District.

"Democracy in our nation is based on the voices of every American, standing up and taking part in the political process. I'm honored to have the endorsement of Democracy for America, not only because of what it stands for, but also for the people it represents," said Martin Heinrich. "This is a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground organization that gets Americans involved because like me they know that our nation has to start heading in the right direction, and we are the ones who have to make it happen."

"Hardworking New Mexicans have been left behind by seven years of misguided and misdirected Republican polices, that is why Martin Heinrich supports a permanent middle class tax cut and a return to a fiscally responsible balanced budget," said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA.  "New Mexicans need a leader like Martin Heinrich to stand up for their concerns and values.  He will fight for a comprehensive energy policy that breaks our dependence on foreign oil while working to bring our brave men and women home from the War in Iraq."

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