The new Dean Dozen is out today. Here is the list.

[madfloridian]

Announced by Tom McMahon, exec director of DFA. Hit the bat for candidate training. Remember the Dean Dozen will eventually help us all by being the grassroots who take back the country. This is not a partisan thing, it is an America thing.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/004608.html#more

The Latest Dean Dozen:

Jim Stork for United States Congress from Florida. Few congressional races have attracted so much attention so fast. A former mayor and small business man featured nationally in Entrepreneur Magazine, openly gay Stork announced his run in March and out-raised incumbent Clay Shaw by over $150,000 in the first quarter of this year. In 2000, Shaw barely won reelection by 599 votes in this Democratic leaning district where Kerry is currently leading by double digits. This year Stork has the momentum. Democracy for America joins Senator Ted Kennedy, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and over a dozen members of Congress in enthusiastically endorsing Jim Stork.
www.storkforcongress.com

Tami Green for Washington State House of Representatives. Four years ago first-time candidate Tami Green lost to a well-financed, incumbent Republican by only 3 percent. This year the seat is open. And while Tami didn't think she would, Howard Dean inspired her to run again. And she is organizing! Four years ago three people attended her precinct caucus. This year it was thirty-five. As this nurse and SEIU member likes to say, "I might win without support, but I will win with Democracy for America's support."
www.tamigreen.com

Paul Babbitt for United States Congress from Arizona. Arizona's first congressional district is one of the most competitive races in the country this year. And Babbitt is going to win because as a county supervisor who has called rural Arizona home for over 50 years, he knows what is important to area residents. Democrats are registering new voters every day - and that's what it will take to unseat the vulnerable Republican incumbent.
http://dfa.paulbabbitt.us

Susan Clary for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor of Orange County, Florida. An avid outdoorswoman and award-winning member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalist, Susan is knocking on doors across Orange County - raising the profile of her race and the office she seeks. As a conservation district supervisor Susan will work with landowners to conserve the natural resources held by private citizens in central Florida.
www.susanclary.com

Eddgra Fallin for School Board in Huntsville, Alabama. Since helping to desegregate the Decatur, Alabama public schools as a child, Eddgra Hill Fallin has been working for equal access to excellence. A victory in Huntsville's non-partisan municipal elections on August 24 will mean she can continue the fight.
www.eddgrafallin.com

Scott Kawasaki for Alaska State House. Fairbanks' youngest City Councilman and a tireless opponent of certain provisions of the Patriot Act, Scott is stepping up to run for state house. Privacy, senior citizen, higher education and labor issues give Scott the edge in this tight race.
www.scottforhouse.com

Missy Taylor for Kansas House of Representatives. As a retired teacher and NEA member, Missy Taylor's first priority is a just finance plan that will fund an excellent education in all Kansas schools. Democrats need to outwork the Republicans in this district and the Taylor campaign needs volunteers to help register new voters this summer.
www.taylorforkansas.com

Patti Fritz for Minnesota State House District 26B. As the St. Paul Pioneer Press says, "Patti Fritz is the sort of person you'd like caring for your parents as they grow old." This LPN at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault, Minnesota and retired member of SEIU Local 113 came within 600 votes of victory in 2000. That strong showing has put her near the top of the target lists for 2004.
http://pattifritz.smartcampaigns.com

James Whitaker for Michigan State House. The Republican Party of Michigan doesn't think very highly of Democracy for America. Is that because they are worried that dynamic James Whitaker is challenging one of their incumbents? Could be. The Whitaker campaign gives DFA an opportunity to prove the Republicans have every reason to worry.
www.jameswhitaker.us

Edward Ableser for Arizona House of Representatives. Generation Dean's own Edward Ableser is running for state representative from Tempe. He'll be a seatmate with Representative Meg Burton Cahill in this two member district. Edward is walking every precinct in the district, knocking on doors and introducing himself and his issues: education and health care.
www.eza2004.com

Lois Herr for United States Congress from Pennsylvania. Answering Howard Dean's call to challenge the far-right across the board, Lois Herr is challenging Joe Pitts - an anti-choice Republican who has reneged on his pledge to abide by a ten-year term limit.
www.loisherr.us

Judge William O'Neill for Supreme Court of Ohio. "Money and judges don't mix. Never have and never will." That's why Judge O'Neill limits campaign contributions to $10. And that's why he wins races even when he is outspent more than 10-to-1. (I like this attitude)
www.oneillforjustice.com

Posted by Joe Rospars at 03:52 PM

[rumguy]

1. A judge too?

That's pretty cool...

[rumguy]

3. I like the new layout on his site ...

www.democracyforamerica.com

[madfloridian]

5. There is a judge from TX on the 2nd list as well.

David Van Os, I think. Very outspoken. I am so proud of all of these guys.

[WI_DEM]

2. I'm proud that Dean

has influenced so many people to run for office.

[mandyky]

4. Hope a future Dean Dozen runs in NC 6th

That Vernon Robinson needs Dean's attention and for us to get a candidate in there running...

[madfloridian]

6. "Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor" Florida needs her.

Susan Clary for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor of Orange County, Florida. An avid outdoorswoman and award-winning member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalist, Susan is knocking on doors across Orange County - raising the profile of her race and the office she seeks. As a conservation district supervisor Susan will work with landowners to conserve the natural resources held by private citizens in central Florida.
www.susanclary.com

It is amazing to support candidates like this. She already has the endorsement up at her website. This is starting from the bottom up, and it is how you make a difference.

[madfloridian]

7. We met the fundraising goal with several hours to go......

raising funds for trainers in the field. It is not exciting, but it is vital.

[Merlin]

8. For the first time, I doubt Howard's judgement. Lois Herr has NO chance.

Fine woman. Fine candidate. But there is absolutely no way in a hundred years a Democrat can win this district. It includes Lancaster County, PA--the most conservative congressional district east of the Mississippi. Believe me, I live here. The standard joke is that you can hold a Democratic party meeting in a phone booth. It's not quite that bad, but it's very, very bad.

The point is, I was relying on Dean to point us toward those races where we could make a difference, and where the candidates had a reasonably good shot at winning. Evidently that's not the case.

[madfloridian]

9. You need to read his philosophy on this.

He has said that winning the race is not the whole issue, but would help. He has said on TV over and over that he would support on the basis of their issues and not whether they would win. If you go to www.blogforamerica.com and look on the right side, you will see a lot of links to archives which explain his position.

He is after the low-level elections, like school boards, even. He is following the same pattern that allowed Gingrich and Ralph Reed to take over the country. He has studied their tactics thoroughly.

I have a couple of candidates I wish he would support, but that is the organization's decision. My hubby and I donate to a lot of them. We usually get nice emails back right away, and we have met a lot of folks that way.