It's not because he's a "Fighting Dem". It's because of his positions on many of the issues that are important to me. I didn't know much about Latas until the past couple of months. It was his diary entries that really piqued my interest and got me to take a look at his website.
Diary entries like these:
My hero is coming home
Update: My hero
Marking time at Walter Reed
The Wine of the Whore of Babylon, Our Middle Eastern Oil Dependance Options
Breeding misery, Breeding hope
Growing up union
New Orleans Animals Starving Again
Jeff Latas doesn't come here and just post about his campaign and solicit donations. His diaries show his human side: a father who looks at his son as a hero, a son of a longtime union member who understands the struggle of the working class, and an animal lover whose acts on his compassion for neglected and unwanted animals.
On the issues, Latas has IMO a strong progessive stance. You can read his
issues page here. His issues page is pretty extensive. Below, I've added some snippets from that page.
Again, I must emphasize that these are just snippets of some issues Latas addresses on his extensive issues page. If you are looking for something that I didn't mention, please go to his site and look for it.
Energy: Let there be no doubt that our consumption of vast quantities of oil has led to war, environmental crisis, and an economy so tied to foreign oil reserves that the standard of living with which we are so comfortable is threatened. We must wean ourselves from Middle Eastern oil and look for technological answers that provide the American people with a higher standard of living. This effort will take considerable investment and commitment; however, by heading in this new direction, we will free ourselves from the burden that has haunted us for the last thirty years. The byproducts of such technological advancement in energy will be cleaner air and healthier lives. Our foreign policy will change to a proactive and progressive global leadership role, rather than a patchwork effort to secure energy from nations hostile to us.
Environment: We have an obligation to the future citizens of this nation and the world to protect our air, water, and land from destruction at our own hands. With global population on the rise and a continued lack of technological achievements that would promote a clean environment, our children will face a global crisis unmatched by any natural disaster recorded.
Border Security & Immigration: Our nation was built on the labor of the immigrants. Closing the borders to all immigrants because we feel threatened by terrorists is reactionary. Blaming immigrants for the increased strain on social services may be partially valid, but it's totally fixable.
Allowing a more open but orderly entrance into this country to pursue jobs unfilled by American citizens will provide prosperity not only to migrants, but also to the nation. To support the infrastructure, taxes on migrant workers to support their needs should be earmarked for facilities that serve the highest population of migrant workers.
Iraq: We should have never invaded Iraq based on the false and misleading evidence that Iraq was an immediate threat to our country. While I was assigned to the Pentagon (1994-1998), before the weapon inspectors were expelled from Iraq, I had extremely high level access to intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. From the knowledge that I had on this issue, I cannot support or pardon our President for invading and occupying a country with our sons' and daughters' lives.
Health Care: I can't imagine having to make medical decisions based on what my insurance would pay, as many families must make. This insurance now costs me $460 per year for my entire family as a military retiree. There's no reason why all Americans shouldn't have access to affordable health care like this. My son gave back to his country by serving in Iraq, and sadly, he is now in relapse with leukemia.
My son is facing a stem cell transplant. You can bet that I fully support stem cell research.
Labor: Workers have every right to organize and this is one reason our country became as strong as it is. Because of our freedoms, the people won a struggle to keep the balance of power from shifting entirely towards corporate interests.
Reproductive Health: In order to keep abortion safe, it must be legal. The day we allow Roe vs. Wade to be overturned is the day that we put the lives and health of our wives and sisters and daughters and nieces in jeopardy once again.
Animal Welfare: As the caretaker of four rescued pit bulls, and the former foster parent of many others, I fully support the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, and would work to secure funding for proper enforcement of its felony-level penalties for animal fighting activities.
I don't live anywhere near Jeff's district in AZ-08. As a matter of fact, I'm over 2,000 miles away. However, after reading his diaries and seeing his stance on many issues, I'm convinced that he's the type of person we need in the House of Representatives. I know Kos has a weekly segment on Air America Radio's Majority Report that features a "Fighting Dem". I've heard some impressive candidates on that series and I hope they decide to feature Jeff Latas. I can't imagine a more progressive Fighing Dem candidate and would love to see him get some more exposure.
AZ-08 is an open seat currently help by Republican Jim Kolbe who is retiring and not running for re-election. Since Kolbe announced his retirement, a number of other Democratic candidates sensing an easier opportunity have entered the race for the party's nomination. Remember that Jeff had committed to running this race before Kolbe announced his retirement.
I've just contributed fifty bucks to Jeff's campaign. Please read his diaries and take a look at his website and decide for yourself. If you're impressed, please consider making a contribution to Jeff Latas for Congress. If you live in the area, I'm sure that he could use volunteers.