NATIVE VOTE 2012

Navajo Congressional Candidate Reports Over 2,000 Individuals Contributors

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - The Wenona for Arizona campaign committee announced on Tuesday that over 2,000 individual donors made campaign contributions during the 4th quarter of federal reporting to the committee.

The Wenona for Arizona campaign committee is the official committee for Wenona Benally Baldenegro, who running for Congress in Arizona's First Congressional District.

Benally Baldenegro is Navajo and will be the first ever American Indian woman elected to Congress when she wins. In the history of the United States, less than ten American Indians have ever served in Congress.

Her strategy to win involves reaching out to the 99 percent crowd. There are ten American Indian tribes based in the newly reconfigured First Congressional District. Some 40 percent of the voters are Latino.

"I am running a grassroots campaign that is not accepting donations from corporations and big money interests. I am only accepting money from regular folks - those of us who make up the 99 percent of our country. I'm doing this because I want to be held accountable to the people, not to corporations and the very wealthy,"

stated the Harvard Law School educated Benally Baldenegro.

The Wenona for Arizona campaign committee cites a book by Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig about the influence of corporate money in politics, and about what he calls the "money-centered daily dance between lawmakers and lobbyists." According to Lessig, members of Congress spend 30 to 70 percent of their time raising money, or what they refer to as "dialing for dollars." As a result, members of Congress obsess about raising money, and they become dependent upon the funders of their campaigns, not the people who they are elected to serve.

"This is a fundamental problem with our political system, and I will not fall prey to it. I am only accountable to the people of my district, and not a servant to corporations or big-money interests,"

comments Benally Baldenegro on the theme of the book.

Benally Baldenegro has been endorsed by the United Steelworkers of America, Congressman Raul Grijalva from Arizona, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez from California, Congressman Keith Ellison from Minnesota, and the Progressive Democrats of America, among many other Arizona elected officials and tribal leaders.

"As Congresswoman for Congressional District One, I will bring good, sustainable jobs to our district, I will create educational opportunities for our children, and I will absolutely protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, "

said Benally Baldenegro.

"I am proud to be the only candidate in CD1 who is standing up for Arizona's working people, seniors, and middle-class families,"

she continued.

posted January 18, 2011 6:00 am est