Former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey Endorses Debbie Cook

Former Republican Congressman Paul "Pete" McCloskey endorsed Mayor Debbie Cook for Congress this week in her race against Dana Rohrabacher.

"What is desperately needed in the next Congress are individuals of great integrity with fresh thoughts from outside the Beltway, and who also possess a willingness to set aside partisanship and rigid ideology," said McCloskey. "I am confident that she will help bring courtesy and thoughtful compromise back to Washington, and maybe even help restore some of the faith in our system of government that all of us have lost at least a little bit of over the last few years. Dana Rohrabacher is part of the problem."

McCloskey played a key role in former Republican Congressman Richard Pombo's 2006 loss to Jerry McNerney. McCloskey ran a primary race against Pombo, who like Dana Rohrabacher was close friends with Jack Abramoff. McCloskey's campaign slogan was "Restore Ethics to Congress." After losing to Pombo, McCloskey endorsed McNerney.

McCloskey, who became a Democrat in 2007, is a decorated Korean War veteran, winning the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. He co-authored the 1973 Endangered Species Act and he was a co-chairman of the first Earth Day in 1970.