Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Philanthropist Richard O’Neill Host Fundraiser for 44th CD Candidate Bill Hedrick

San Juan Capistrano, CA, October 20 – On October 19, approximately 100 local supporters came out to show that south Orange County is in play in Bill Hedrick’s race for the 44th Congressional District. The event was hosted by 47th Congressional District Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and philanthropist Richard O’Neill. Jim Dean, Chair of our nation's largest progressive political action community, Democracy for America, flew in to attend the event.

Jim Dean told the group of supporters, “Bill Hedrick is an educator, elected official, and community leader with a record of commonsense problem-solving that can’t be matched. Bill has the experience, wisdom, and commitment to progressive values that will restore faith in our system and produce the results that are so desperately needed in our nation today.”

Given Hedrick’s momentum and the incumbent, Ken Calvert’s, growing vulnerability, Congresswoman Sanchez is taking an active role in Hedrick’s campaign.

“Every election cycle at least one campaign emerges as an unexpected victory on Election Day,” stated Sanchez. “I believe Bill Hedrick’s bid for Congress is going to be the surprise campaign of 2008. As with my first campaign, Bill Hedrick is going from city to city, block to block, and living room to living room, talking to folks in person about the real problems they face and sharing his vision for change. I defied any and all predictions leading up to Election Day and won my race by a mere 968 votes. I genuinely believe Bill will do the same.”

Congresswoman Sanchez is not the only one to recognize Calvert’s vulnerability.

Calvert is a 16 year incumbent with a 10% registration advantage, but he is running from his party affiliation. He has sent out mailers without a single mention of his membership in the Republican Party and his campaign slogan is “An Independent Voice Working for You.” Would a safe incumbent with registration on his side behave this way?

Calvert clearly understands the Hedrick campaign has been on the ground for several months, educating Decline to State voters and Republican voters within the district about his ties to the economic collapse, the housing market melt-down and big oil.

Calvert knows that even in a typically dedicated Republican stronghold like California’s 44th Congressional District, his solid 94% Bush-aligned voting record and being named one of the top 20 most corrupt members of Congress 3 years running are working against him.

As the economy remains the top issue this year, voters within the district are wary of a 16 year incumbent who campaigns for Main Street, only to vote consistently for Wall Street. A glaring example was his ‘yes’ on the $700 billion dollar bailout vote – a vote that is overwhelmingly unpopular in the district.

Hedrick stated, “I promise a return to responsible fiscal policies. A return to policies that address the needs of struggling working families. A return to policies that will benefit every citizen in the district socially, economically and environmentally. And as we inundate the district with my positive message, do not be surprised to witness another return – that of Mr. Calvert to Corona on November 4th.”

Bill Hedrick is the Democratic nominee for Congress in California's 44th District, which includes Riverside, Corona, Norco, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and unincorporated areas of Riverside and Orange Counties. Bill, 56, and his wife, Beth, have raised five children in the Inland Empire; two sons and a daughter-in-law are active members of the military. An educator for 33 years, Bill is serving his fifth term on the Corona-Norco School Board, and was just reelected to his tenth year as President of the Rialto Education Association.