Lydia Lewis

Retired systems analyst with the Department of the Army, union member, mother and grandmother, Lydia Lewis is campaigning on a variety of issues including immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, public financing of election campaigns, and universal single payer healthcare.

If elected, the long-time activist also plans to enact serious measures to combat global warming; promote development of clean, secure alternative energy; and promote mass transit and pedestrian, bicycle and rail transportation sources.

Lydia notes, "The most important issue government must tackle is special interest campaign financing and the reform of the electoral system.  The present system of campaign donations leads to the purchase of access for wealthy individuals and corporations and neglect of the needs of the ordinary citizen.  Without an independent legislature, one funded by the public rather than special interests, the legislature WILL NOT reform the tax code, but will continue to grant more and more tax benefits to corporations and extremely wealthy individuals.  This pushes more and more of the tax burden onto poor, middle class, and upper middle class taxpayers, while at the same time the government is drowning like New Orleans in a sea of red ink."