Democracy for America Endorses Mary Jo Kilroy for United States Congress

Released: Sep 17, 2008 12:18 PM

Released: August 20, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Mary Jo Kilroy’s campaign to represent Ohio’s 15th Congressional District.

“Mary Jo Kilroy is an experienced grassroots fighter who has a record of accomplishment that shows she knows how to get the job done,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  “Mary Jo Kilroy doesn’t wait on the sidelines and she doesn’t give up.  She gets involved and will bring the progressive solutions we need to Washington.”

Mary Jo Kilroy was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  The daughter of a pipefitter and World War II veteran, her parents instilled in her the importance of hard work and education.  Mary Jo graduated from Cleveland State University before earning a law degree from The Ohio State University.

As a public school mother, Mary Jo first ran for public office in 1991, winning and serving two terms on the Columbus Board of Education.  Franklin County voters elected Mary Jo to her first term as a Franklin County Commissioner in 2000, and re-elected her in 2004.  Under her leadership, Franklin County has dedicated itself to fiscal responsibility, economic development, quality health care for its residents, and environmental protection and sustainability.  During Mary Jo's tenure as commissioner, her leadership resulted in Franklin County earning the highest bond rating, "AAA," from Moody's Investors Services and Standard & Poor's, placing the county in the top 1% of counties nationwide.

In 2006, outspent by $2 million, Mary Jo came within only 1,062 votes of winning this district – less than 0.5% of the vote.

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 for America believes that we need to end the war in Iraq and stop global warming, I agree whole-heartedly with these issues and that's why I am proud to accept their endorsement,” said Mary Jo Kilroy.  “When I am elected to Congress I will bring the change to Washington that we need to accomplish these goals."

“Mary Jo Kilroy will put an end to Bush administration policies that have done nothing for working men and women.  She knows we need to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and focus on bringing good paying jobs back to Ohio,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA.  “Mary Jo Kilroy’s green energy and gas plans will ease our dependence on foreign oil, break the oil companies’ strangle hold on our energy policy, and put America at the forefront of the renewable energy movement.”

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