Norman is an experienced hand, a good listener, an articulate writer and spokesman for progressive interests in this district previously represented by Lynn Woolsey. He knows that to make a difference in Washington it's necessary to fight hard for your district's needs and carve out a different sort of politics, less dependent on the banks and corporations now dominating the flow of money and more dependent on the grass roots forces fighting for consumers, working people and environmentalists.

Norman is willing to stand apart from the usual crowd when it matters, as Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee did in the lonely times when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were escalating. Today those wars are gradually winding down, because the decision-makers are listening to public opinion and the strong bloc of Congressional peace forces. As a result of these early efforts, today President Obama and the vast majority of Congressional Democrats recognize that the savings from these military quagmires can be in the trillions of dollars--funds that are desperately needed for schools, health care and infrastructure at home. We need Congressional leaders to assure that the wars indeed end, and not escalate to Pakistan or beyond. Norman has been in the thick of the peace movement for the past decade.

The same leadership is needed to battle global warming, offshore drilling and nuclear power, and to put the environment and green jobs back on the national agenda. As a former legislator representing the southern California coast, I know how effective a Congressional member like Norman can be in this epic environmental battle.

I urge you to listen to Norman's message, make your hopes and needs plain to him, host a house party, put placards on your lawns, send him a little money, and join this campaign to make a difference.