Sierra Club Endorses Chris Daggett for Governor

For Immediate Release
August 17, 2009

Contact: Jeff Tittel, Chapter Director, 609-558-9100 Richard Isaac, Political Chair, 973-985-6306

             Sierra Club Endorses Chris Daggett for Governor

The New Jersey Sierra Club announced today that it has endorsed Chris Daggett for Governor. This is the first time in the environmental organization's history that it has supported an independent candidate for that position.

"By endorsing Chris Daggett for governor, the Sierra Club not only made the principled choice but the right choice," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "Chris Daggett has shown leadership and a real commitment to protecting our environment. He has demonstrated his willingness to stand up to special interests and politicians to do what's right for the environment. It's very rare when you have the opportunity to endorse someone of such principle and integrity with a broad background in environmental issues."

For 25 years, Daggett has been a leader on a full range of New Jersey environmental issues and has a record of accomplishment in the public, private and nonprofit sectors unmatched by any current or prior candidate for governor.

"The Club endorsed Chris Daggett because he is a person of the highest integrity and has an outstanding environmental record of real achievement," said Chapter Political Chair Rich Isaac. "Chris Daggett is not beholden to special interests or making backroom deals and has consistently proven that he is committed to protecting the environment."

Daggett said he was honored to receive the group's endorsement and he will work to achieve a nonpartisan consensus to tackle the state's challenges.

His actions as Regional Administrator for the EPA and DEP Commissioner earned Chris Daggett a reputation as an effective and independent leader who put partisan politics aside in the interest of addressing issues critical to the people of New Jersey. Chris Daggett has proved beyond doubt that he cares about protecting the state's water sources and open spaces, and is willing to stand up to developers and fight against sprawl and pollution.

As Regional Administrator for the EPA, Chris Daggett ended ocean dumping at sludge dumpsite 12 miles off Sandy Hook and initiated negotiations to end all similar practices. He worked out a deal with polluters to pay $17.5 million to clean up Price's Pit in Atlantic County, a pact which was then one of the largest polluter-financed Superfund cleanups in the nation.

As the Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency from 1984-1988, Chris Daggett was not afraid to stand up for what was right, even if pressured by powerful interests within his party. He blocked the construction of controversial $2 billion Westway transportation and development project in Manhattan against the wishes of President Reagan and New York City business, political, and union leaders. At the EPA he also worked to get sewer plants to upgrade their discharge, resulting in the cleanup and protection of our waterways and beaches.

Chris Daggett has an admirable history of fighting pollution. As EPA Administrator, he crafted a widely-praised agreement between the United States and Canada to cut dumping of toxic chemicals in Niagara River by 50 percent.

Daggett, as DEP Commissioner, continued to make great strides in fighting pollution and sprawl. He implemented the Wetlands Law and set up Skylands Task Force. He was appointed by the U.S. Forest Service to head the Highlands Working Group to develop a plan for protecting the Highlands Region to implement the Highlands Forest Service Study.

He denied a permit for a Chatham Township sewage treatment plant in order to protect the Great Swamp against harmful development. As DEP Commissioner he worked to stop medical waste, garbage and other debris that was polluting the ocean and washing up on our shores.

"To those who say an independent can't win in this state, I say think again," said Isaac. "Chris Daggett has already qualified for matching funds and to be in the gubernatorial debates, and he's won the Sierra Club endorsement, something we've never given to an independent gubernatorial candidate before. The Club will bring all its resources to bear on this race, and do whatever we can to help Chris Daggett become the next governor of New Jersey."

"The fact that Chris Daggett has raised enough money to qualify for matching funds and is in the debates shows that he is a viable candidate," Tittel said. "As the two major party candidates throw mud at each other and beat each other up, Chris Daggett will show the people of New Jersey that there is not only an alternative but there is someone who knows the issues and will fight for them."

The Sierra Club is the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the country, with a membership of over 750,000 nationwide and approximately 20,000 in New Jersey. Sierra Club is also only one of two statewide environmental groups that can endorse candidates for election.

Kara Seymour, Program Assistant NJ Sierra Club

145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618

609.656.7612

(f) 609.656.7618

<http://www.newjersey.sierraclub.org> www.newjersey.sierraclub.org

Received on 2009-08-17 10:22:28

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