Fred Johnson for Congress Press Information

SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES JOHNSON - Conservation Group Praises Work to Protect Michigan’s Environment

2010-09-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

Muskegon, MI -- The Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club today announces its support of Dr. Fred Johnson for Michigan’s Second Congressional District.

"We are very pleased to announce today that the Sierra Club officially endorses Dr. Fred Johnson," said Craig Ressler, Chair of the West Michigan Group Political Committee. "We believe he will work to protect Michigan’s environment for our families and for our future. Dr. Johnson presents a clear choice for Michigan voters. He is a candidate who will work to protect our natural areas and pursue clean energy jobs.” Pursuit of renewable energy sources has been one of the hallmarks of the Johnson campaign.

Dr. Johnson is a veteran of the Marine Corps and a history professor at Hope College in Holland. He is making his second run for the Lakeshore seat in the U.S. Congress.

The Sierra Club has 18,000 members in Michigan and is the nation’s oldest grass roots environmental organization.

Craig Ressler will make this announcement with Fred Johnson, in person, at Kruse Park in Muskegon at 1:30pm on Monday, September 20, 2010. The park is at the west end of Sherman Boulevard. Please go to picnic area number 1 near the north parking lot and the rest rooms.

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HISPANIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE INSPIRED BY FRED JOHNSON CAMPAIGN

2010-09-25T19:24:00.001-07:00

Holland , MI – “Some members of our community said they’d never been asked for their votes and their support before the Fred Johnson campaign reached out to them,” says Maggi Rivera, chair of the newly-formed Hispanic Leadership Committee in Holland. Volunteers from the Leadership Committee will be receiving training from the Ottawa County Clerk’s office on Wednesday to enable them to do voter registration. They’re helping with the campaign to elect Johnson to the U. S. Congress from the 2nd Congressional District as their first project but the committee is intended to outlast the campaign.

Rivera says they expect to make a difference. "The members of this committee are dedicated to positively impacting the voter turnout for this election. Candidates like Fred Johnson and Lupe Ramos-Montigny, will be our voice in Washington. We must do whatever it takes to get the Latino vote out to the polls on November 2nd!"

Staff from County Clerk Dan Krueger’s office will conduct the training, which is required for volunteers to be deputized to do full registrations. At least ten volunteers will be attending the training session at 6:00 pm on Wednesday at the office of Latin Americans United for Progress at 96 W. 15th Street in Holland.

In addition to canvassing for the Johnson for Congress campaign, the committee is planning a rally on September 23, 2010 at the Park Theater on South River Avenue in Holland.

Fred Johnson is a Democrat, making his second bid for the seat being vacated by Pete Hoekstra. Johnson is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and currently teaches history at Hope College.

In addition to chairing the Hispanic Leadership Committee, Maggi Rivera is employed by West Ottawa Public Schools.

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LATINO COMMUNITY TO RALLY FOR FRED JOHNSON SEPTEMBER 23 WITH SPECIAL GUEST BALDEMAR VELASQUEZ

2010-09-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Holland, MI – The Holland Hispanic Leadership Committee (HHLC) will hold a rally in support of Fred Johnson’s run for the U.S. Congress on Thursday evening, September 23, 2010 from 7:00 to 10:00pm at the Park Theater in downtown Holland. Dr. Johnson will speak to supporters at the event, which will also feature a keynote from Farm Labor Organizing Committee founder and MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient Baldemar Velasquez.

According to chair Maggi Rivera, the HHLC is honored that Baldemar Velasquez will join them in supporting Fred Johnson. Rivera says Velasquez and Johnson are both “champions of the interests of ordinary working people instead of corporate special interests and business as usual in Washington.”

The free event will also feature local Mariachi band Son de Mexico and traditional food. Donations will be accepted to benefit Fred Johnson’s campaign and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee.

Marine Corps veteran Fred Johnson teaches history at Hope College and is making his second run to represent the 2nd Congressional District. The Holland Hispanic Leadership Committee was formed in the last few weeks to help engage members of the Latino community in the political process.

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2nd CD candidate Fred Johnson sees strong chance for November win

2010-08-31T09:14:00.001-07:00

Holland, MI – Although the conventional wisdom is that Michigan’s 2nd Congressional district will be an automatic win for the Republican candidate, Fred Johnson, the Democratic nominee for the seat, believes the pundits haven’t taken all the data into account. “No one owns this district except the voters,” says Johnson, who teaches history at Hope College and was the nominee in 2008. Johnson points out that the Senate seat held by the late Senator Ted Kennedy for nearly 47 years was flipped recently to newcomer Scott Brown despite widespread predictions to the contrary, adding “if that can happen, no district is a safe district.”

Johnson earned more votes against popular incumbent Pete Hoekstra than any other Democrat in previous races. This year, with Hoekstra out of the picture due to his unsuccessful run for governor, there is no incumbent to beat. Historically, an open seat has made a change of party three times as likely. And Johnson Campaign Manager Lance Penny says the voters of the second district are just not as uniformly conservative as they’re portrayed, “President Barack Obama came within 2000 votes of winning here and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) has won it.” The Lakeshore district has several Democrats in the state legislature as well.

Johnson insists that as a Marine Corps veteran he doesn’t retreat and will battle for the seat straight through to November. And Johnson says he’s kept his powder dry for the big battle, “we were able to win the nomination decisively with a very small expenditure and I think voters appreciate the fact that I am not beholden to big money donors and corporate special interests.”

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For planning purposes only – not for broadcast or publication

2010-08-31T09:13:00.001-07:00

The Fred Johnson For Congress campaign will be headquartered at the Fraternal
Order of Police Lodge at 109 Elberdane (just off 136th Ave) Street in Holland to
watch the election returns and celebrate.

Dr. Johnson and campaign manager Lance Penny will be on site for
interviews/reaction. Please contact Ruth Stein at 917-846-2081.
We will also be premiering our first television ad.

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FRED JOHNSON CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING WELL AHEAD OF 2008

2010-08-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Media Inquiries:
Ruth Stein
media@fredjohnsonforcongress.com
917-846-2081/616-724-4530

July 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FRED JOHNSON CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING WELL AHEAD OF 2008

Holland , MI -- Second quarter filings with the Federal Election Commission show the grassroots campaign of Hope College professor Fred Johnson out in front of his 2008 report by 30% overall. In addition, campaign cash on hand is twice what it was at the end of June 2008. Johnson got more votes than any previous Democrat versus Rep. Pete Hoekstra in the 2008 race. Hoekstra has given up his Congressional seat this time to run for Governor.

“Our campaign has been all about listening to the needs of Michigan families ahead of the corporate interests that tend to dominate Washington, DC,” says campaign manager Lance Penny, “and that seems to be resonating with voters. Instead of party PACs and big business, our contributions are from individuals who want to see a change in the way business gets done in Congress. ”

The federal filing shows the Johnson campaign raised a total of $54,945 by the end of June. Penny adds that if Johnson comes out on top as expected in the August 3rd primary he will run a very competitive campaign, “we’ll be ready for whoever manages to distinguish himself from the crowd on the Republican side.”

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Lakeshore Democrat Gains Support for Congressional Run

2010-08-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

June 23, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lakeshore Democrat Gains Support for Congressional Run

As a Marine Corps veteran and a historian, Congressional candidate Fred Johnson of Holland knows all about long campaigns and hard-fought battles. But the Democrat vying for Pete Hoekstra’s seat has a lot of ammunition in his fight for the nomination in the 2nd Congressional District. Dr. Johnson picked up the nod from the Michigan Nurses Association this week to cap off a long list of endorsements. State Representatives Dan Scripps (D-101st), Doug Bennett (D-92nd) and Mary Valentine (D-91st) have signed on as have the Democratic Party organizations in Allegan, Benzie, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa Counties to name just some of the Democrats supporting him for the August 3rd Primary.

Dr. Johnson, who ran against Hoekstra in 2008 and teaches history at Hope College, says he isn’t taking anything for granted. “History suggests this is a tough district for a Democrat. It was tough in 2008. But history also suggests that voters take a much closer look at the candidates when a seat is open. I believe that voters will respond well when they look at my record of service and my ideas for solving the most important problems facing American families today.”

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Media contact:
Ruth Stein
917-846-2081
media@fredjohnsonforcongress.com

Press Information

2010-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

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