Gubernatorial Candidate Peter Camejo, Green Party Assail Exclusive Democrat/GOP Governor Debate as 'Insult' to California Voters

Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org

Vote Camejo
www.votecamejo.com
Contact: Cres Vellucci 916.996-9170 Jo Chamberlain 650.346-3775

October 09, 2006
Released October 06

SACRAMENTO, CA - Green Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo - on the eve of the only televised debate in the governor's race - criticized the debate as an "insult" to voters and part of a plan by Democrats and Republicans to limit the choices Californians have at the polls.

Camejo announced he will hold a news conference and will participate in a Green Party picket Saturday, at 5 p.m. just outside the debate room at CSUS, shortly before the debate is due to begin.

Camejo cited a nonpartisan opinion poll last month shows that as many as 63 percent of likely voters with an opinion favor the inclusion of him in any debate. 

"The poll shows that the two corporate-funded candidates who fill the airwaves with tens of millions of dollar in advertising, and receive the bulk of news coverage are not the only candidates Californians want to hear. To deny voters their wishes by excluding me from debates in undemocratic, and an insult to voters," said Camejo. 

"To exclude me from the debates benefits only the Democrats and Republicans. It limits the choices and information that voters deserve," said Camejo, who was considered, in surveys of news media and public, the winner of the 2003 recall election debates.

"This race is over. Phil Angelides cannot overcome the huge lead of the incumbent governor. People will waste their vote if they vote for Phil now. Instead, voters should send a clear message, by voting Green, that they want the rich to pay their fair share of taxes, that they want a clean environment and they want us out of Iraq now," he added.