Press Release

www.sierraclub.com

SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES KELLY HAYES-RAITT FOR STATE ASSEMBLY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 1, 2006

Contact: Emil Lawton, (818) 784-9090 or Alan Sanders (805) 488-7988

The nation's strongest and largest environmental organization, Sierra Club, endorsed Kelly Hayes-Raitt for State Assembly to replace Fran Pavley, who is unable to run again due to term limits.

"Kelly is the only authentic environmental leader running in this race," said Emil Lawton, chair emeritus of the political committee of the Los Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. "Her environmental legacy is already impressive. She co-founded Heal the Bay. She successfully fought offshore oil drilling. She served as executive director of the Coalition for Clean Air.

"Sierra Club urges anyone who cares about protecting our magnificent coast, mountains and clean air to vote on June 6th for Kelly Hayes-Raitt."

"Sierra Club is proud to endorse such an effective fighter," said Joy Kobayashi, political chair of Sierra Club's Los Padres Chapter. "We have so many environmental battles in Ventura County that Kelly has already helped us with: protecting the Ormand Beach Wetlands and fighting offshore natural gas facilities. I know Kelly will be a strong, effective leader for conservation and recycling."

"The 41st Assembly District is very important to Sierra Club - and for our environment," said Mary Ann Webster, chair of the Club's Santa Monica Mountains Task Force. "It contains the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 70 miles of spectacular coastline, the valuable (but unprotected) Ormand Beach wetlands, three proposed Liquid Natural Gas plants and more Sierra Club members than any other Assembly District in LA County." The district includes Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Pt. Hueneme and the southern half of Oxnard.

"We interviewed all the viable candidates and found Kelly to be not only the best environmental leader, but the hardest working candidate we've seen in a long time," continued Lawton, who chaired the interview committee. "Kelly is also the only viable candidate to voluntarily limit her campaign spending because she supports Clean Money Campaigns so whole-heartedly. Kelly certainly 'walks the walk.'"

"Clean Money Campaigns and a clean environment are intertwined," said Hayes-Raitt. "We must get polluters' money out of campaigns, and we must make campaigns about voters, not donors, if we are to truly make ourselves energy self-sufficient. I look forward to continuing to work with Sierra Club's volunteers and leaders to leave a more vibrant, pristine environment for us to enjoy for generations."

Sierra Club joins Clean Water Action, Vote the Coast, PawPAC and Action for Animals - as well as environmental leaders Ed Begley, Jr., Alexandra Paul, Wendie Malick and Martin Sheen - in endorsing Hayes-Raitt for Assembly. For more information, visit www.KellyForAssembly.com.