League of Conservation Voters Endorse Castor and Nelson

The League of Conservation Voters have endorsed Kathy Castor for District 11.

WASHINGTON, DC – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the independent political voice for the environment, today announced its endorsement of Kathy Castor in the race for Florida’s 11th Congressional District, citing her strong record and leadership on behalf of the health, environment and quality of life of Tampa Bay area families.

“LCV is proud to make an early endorsement of Kathy Castor for election to the U.S. House of Representatives,” said LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs Tony Massaro. “No one fights harder than Kathy Castor to preserve the health and quality of life of the families in the Tampa Bay area. Day in and day out on the Hillsborough County Commission, she’s been standing up to corporate polluters and other powerful special interests, protecting the area’s neighborhoods.”

As a local Environmental Protection Commission Chair, Castor has successfully fought for higher detection air quality monitors for neighborhoods and expanded notice and other requirements for all neighborhoods after a manufacturing plant was located in a working class neighborhood without adequate input from the neighbors. Additionally, Castor has worked to protect local drinking water supplies.

“Kathy understands the connection between environmental degradation and the risk it poses to her neighbors’ health,” said Massaro. “She knows that families in many disadvantaged neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from illnesses like asthma that are directly related to air pollution and other environmental factors.”

If elected, Castor is committed to preserving our clean water and clean air standards. She has also pledged to stand up to big oil and corporate polluters, and will work tirelessly to protect the coastal communities and tourism-dependent economy of the Tampa Bay area from offshore drilling. She understands that only by advancing real energy solutions, such as increased fuel efficiency for automobiles, meaningful investments in clean energy technologies and conservation, can we end our addiction to oil and combat global warming.

“We are confident that Kathy Castor will continue to expand on her exemplary record and leadership as a member of the U.S. House and that is why we urge all voters in Florida’s 11th district to send her to Congress. Her tireless efforts to protect the health of future generations and to preserve for them our natural resources make her the best choice,” said Massaro.

The League of Conservation Voters have also endorsed Senator Bill Nelson.

"LCV is proud to endorse Bill Nelson for re-election to the U.S. Senate," said LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs Tony Massaro. "Senator Nelson is an environmental leader in Congress, fighting every day to protect Florida's beaches and coastal communities from oil drilling and working to improve the health, quality of life and pocketbooks of Floridians. We urge all Florida voters to join us in supporting Senator Nelson's re-election."

Understanding the potential devastation even one oil spill could cause to Florida's environment and tourism-dependent economy, Senator Nelson has been steadfast in his leadership to protect Florida's coasts from expanded drilling. Most recently, he led a bipartisan coalition that successfully blocked attempts through both energy legislation and the federal budget to open the eastern Gulf of Mexico to drilling. Additionally, Senator Nelson continues to pursue the establishment of a permanent ban on drilling in the eastern Gulf.