Bill Hedrick

Released: September 9, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT

DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nations largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Bill Hedricks campaign to represent Californias 44th Congressional District. Bill is running against out-of-touch incumbent Republican Ken Calvert.

Bill Hedrick is an educator, elected official, and community leader with a record of commonsense problem-solving that cant be matched, said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. Democracy for America is proud to endorse Bill Hedricks campaign because of his experience, his wisdom, and his commitment to progressive values.

Bill Hedrick was born in Los Angeles in 1952. The son of a Teamster and a teacher, both from the South, he absorbed the lessons of hard work, common sense, and tolerance modeled by his parents.

A product of public schools, Bill received his BA in Social Science and MA in Education from California State University, Los Angeles. He began teaching elementary school in Hollywood in 1974, and has spent 34 years in education in Southern California, the last eight years serving as president of the Rialto Education Association, an NEA/AFL-CIO affiliate.

In November 1988, Bill was elected to the Board of Education of the 51,000 student Corona-Norco Unified School District. He has served four terms as president of the Board, representing 250,000 residents of the 44th district, and deals with an annual budget in excess of $400,000,000.

Bill and his wife of 28 years, Beth, have lived in Corona since 1981, and have five children. Their son Adam, a soldier with the 3rd ID, is currently serving a second Iraqi deployment east of Baghdad. Son Jesse served in Baquba with the 1st ID before suffering a near-fatal "heat event," while his wife, Evelyn, was an army convoy driver in Baghdad, also serving a second tour. Sarah is an apprentice electrician, and Zach and Rebekkah are students.

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 Rep. Jerry McNerney in Californias 11th Congressional District to Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Donna Edwards in Marylands 4th Congressional District.

"I am honored to have the endorsement of Democracy for America, said Bill Hedrick. The support of activists committed to real change at the grassroots level will make it possible for us to convey our message of honest, responsible, and effective government--for a change--in the 44th District."

When Bill Hedrick talks about bringing our brave men and women in uniform home from the War in Iraq, his opponent is silent. When Bill Hedrick talks about clean, renewable energy sources, Ken Calvert is too busy taking money from big oil. And, when Bill Hedrick talks about protecting American jobs and restoring the middle class, Ken Calvert says nothing because he has no economic plan, said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America. Now is the time for Ken Calverts shameful and self-serving Congressional career to come to an end.

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