Live blog NOW with Karen Marie Otter and Mishonda Baldwin

[trillian]

Live blog with Karen and Mishonda at kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/19/15431/4411


FIGHTING DEM SPOTLIGHT on Karen Marie Otter and Mishonda Baldwin
by Veterans for a Secure America
Sun Mar 19, 2006 at 01:43:01 PM PDT

Karen Marie Otter and Mishonda Baldwin are both superb candidates and both have primary challenges to battle. Unlike Tammy, who has a primary on Tuesday, they do not have DCCC backing and need netroots support in their brave efforts. We hope that the focus will be on Karen and Mishonda and their races and not on the looming Illinois primary. They are superb candidates and will need the power of the netroots to back up their grassroots support.

* Veterans for a Secure America's diary :: ::


Mishonda Baldwin for U.S. Congress (MD-03)


Military Service: Captain, U.S. Army. Mishonda served as an Army Intelligence Officer and is a decorated Desert Storm Iraq Veteran. Mishonda was the 1st African American woman to serve as ROTC Battalion Commander.
Website: BaldwinforCongress.com
Donate

Opponents: Alan Zukerberg is the only Republican to date to seek the seat of 10th term incumbent, Benjamin L. "Ben" Cardin (D), who is running for U.S. Senate; there is a large field of Democrats running in the primary.
District Profile: Cardin received 63.4% in '04 but the odds are that the Democrat's nominee will take the district.
Statement: A Leader who is Qualified to Serve
As a long-time Maryland resident, Ms. Baldwin has a commitment to the issues concerning Maryland residents. Ms. Baldwin has served her community, her county, and her country in a variety of capacities. Her record of accomplishment of dedicated service led to her serving for three years as the youngest Board of License Commissioner. As an even younger woman, Ms. Baldwin made the courageous move to join the military. Now, a decorated Desert Storm war veteran she brings compassion and a unique perspective to the Iraqi War. Ms. Baldwin served as an intelligence officer, which provides her with the ability to provide tremendous insight to Homeland Security issues. Most recently, she served as a United States Delegate to Egypt and Jordan for the American Council of Young Political Leaders.
A Leader with Integrity and Education
A product of the public school system, Ms. Baldwin has not allowed the stereotypes about public education to hold her back in any way. She possesses a Bachelor of Sciences in Social Policy and Planning from the University of Connecticut, a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Finally, she is living out her faith while simultaneously attaining a Masters in Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary. As a practicing attorney, Ms. Baldwin protects and advocates for the rights of her clients on a daily basis. Her long standing commitment to public service, her desire to speak up for those whom are voiceless, and her concern for others demonstrate the many ways in which she uses her education for the benefit of all people.
A Leader who has Broken Down Barriers
Ms. Baldwin's life is demonstrative of using obstacles as stepping stones to reach her goals. She was one of the first African American woman ROTC Battalion Commanders. She was the first woman elected twice to serve as the chairperson of a national community service organization. In addition, as one of the youngest owners of a national franchise, Ms. Baldwin has a tremendous understanding for small business needs. Her experience led to her service of providing advice and assistance to emerging growth companies as a mentor for the University of Maryland Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. She has effectively restored breaches, brought hope to the hopeless, encouraged individuals who have given up, and reached out to individuals who others had thrown away. Ms. Baldwin hopes to continue making history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives in the state of Maryland.
A Leader for a Time such as Now
Child of a union representative. Long-time Maryland resident. County Commissioner. War veteran. Intelligence Officer. Leadership Fellow. U.S. Delegate. Attorney. Seminarian. ROTC Battalion Commander. Chairperson. Entrepreneur. Ms. Mishonda Baldwin's life experiences are clearly demonstrative of real leadership working for real people. It is time for Maryland to have effective representation based on real life experience. Vote Mishonda Baldwin for Maryland's Third Congressional District.

Karen Marie Otter for U.S. Congress (CA-52)

Military Service: Sergeant, U.S. Army. Karen served as a Pershing Missile Crewman. Assigned to Army units in Oklahoma and Germany.
Website: OtterforCongress.com
Contact: Webpage contact form
donate
Opponent(s): 13th term Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter; faces two other Dem candidates in the primary.
District Profile: Hunter won by a margin of 69.2% in '04, but Hunter is under fire for from constituents for accepting nearly a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions from missile defense contractors over the past five years and other connections with the GOP culture of corruption. Otter has taken a public stance not to take such donations and criticized Hunter strongly for supporting the war in Iraq while raking in funds from defense contractors. Here, as in other districts, voter indignation may change the demographics. Duncan Hunter is the man who caused Eric Massa to resign from his position on the House Armed Services Committee for refusing to renounce his friendship with General Wesley Clark, then running for president.
About Karen Otter

Karen was born and raised in San Diego, California.

After graduating from high school, Karen enlisted in the United States Army and served as a Pershing Missile Crewman. Assigned to Army units in Oklahoma and Germany, Karen found remarkable the dedication to service of her fellow soldiers. The discipline and training of the Army ingrained in Karen a superior work ethic and responsibility to service.
After leaving the military, Karen worked in increasingly responsible areas of administration and management. She obtained certification as a Community Association Manager. She has extensive experience in management of entities of a governmental nature where budgets are essential and rules and regulations are enacted and enforced.
Karen Marie Otter is determined, disciplined and dedicated to reforming our government. She believes government restrictions have their place but not in our bedrooms, in our bodies or in our thoughts.
She will never back down or be silenced.

Speak truth to power.
~~~~

[UncleNoel]

1. This is great to see...

Two women vets helping take back the Hill.

More power to them.

Noel