Meet the Candidates - Yearly Kos - 2006   Jerry McNerney (CA-11) As an engineer and energy specialist, Jerry brings a unique and critical perspective to the Congress. Jerry’s signature issue will be clean energy, and he is determined to help guide and direct our nation to a sustainable energy policy that will provide the basis for a healthy, prosperous, and secure economy for future generations. To visit Jerry’s website, please go to www.jerrymcnerney.org John Laesch (IL-14) John Laesch was born into a missionary family in West Africa. In 1986, the Laesch family returned to the United States and settled on a small farm in Newark, Illinois. John joined the United States Navy and served our country as an intelligence analyst. Laesch was stationed in the Middle East for most of his military career where he was responsible for monitoring terrorist activity and analyzing foreign political and military structures. After his service, Laesch graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in History, and minors in Political Science and Communications. At the onset of the Iraq War, John got involved in politics; taking on higher leadership roles in each campaign. After his younger brother, Sgt. Pete Laesch, received orders for Iraq, John challenged the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert and became the first “Fighting Dem” to get on the ballot for the 2006 election. To visit John’s website, please go to www.john06.com.     Charles Brown (CA-04) Charlie Brown, Lt. Colonel USAF Ret., is running for Congress in California’s Fourth District. Born and raised in rural Iowa, strong mid-western values like integrity, duty, honor, and responsibility have been the guiding principles of Charlie’s life. He received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and his distinguished 26 year military career includes service as a helicopter rescue and reconnaissance pilot, and extensive experience with intelligence collection assets. Having served two rotations in Saudi Arabia as a coordinator of surveillance missions over Iraq’s “No Fly Zones” in the mid 1990’s, Charlie spoke out early and often against the faulty information used to justify the Iraq war, where his son has served three tours as a C-130 pilot. Since retiring from the Air Force, Brown has earned his teaching credential and worked for the local police department. He is challenging GOP Conference Secretary John Doolittle, who has the unique distinction of being the only lawmaker embroiled in both the Jack Abramoff and “Duke” Cunningham influence peddling scandals. Charlie brings essential experience with keeping our country safe that is sorely missing from the current Republican Congress. His other priorities include eliminating corruption, putting our fiscal house in order, and most importantly, putting “we the people” back in control of our government. We encourage you to visit his website at www.brown4congress.org Eric Massa (NY-27) Eric Massa was born into a U.S. Navy family. Navy assignments situated the Massa family at both domestic and international locations. International assignments for the Massa family helped to produce Eric Massa´s fluency in several languages. Eric Massa graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981. Throughout his career he served on nine ships, leading over 5000 personnel, often in hostile conditions including operations in Beirut and Desert Storm. Massa´s capstone Navy assignment was as Special Assistant for Congressional Liaison to then Supreme Allied Commander (Europe) four-star General Wesley Clark. Massa and Clark worked closely together during General Clark’s top-level assignments in Washington, Panama and Belgium. Massa returned home from Europe to successfully beat a terminal diagnosis of cancer. Following his retirement from the Navy, Eric Massa and his family decided to settle in Corning, New York, where they reside today. Eric is now a full time candidate to Congress, seeking the seat for the 29th District of New York. To visit Massa online, please go to www.massaforcongress.com.