COUNTYWIDE : Candidate Criticizes U.S. Mideast Actions

In the first public statement in Ventura County against U.S. actions in the Middle East since the crisis erupted three weeks ago, Mindy Lorenz, a congressional write-in candidate for the Green Party, called for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the Persian Gulf.

In a news conference at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, Lorenz said the Mideast situation is a smoke screen to push important issues out of the media’s eye “at least until after the November elections.”

Lorenz criticized her rivals in the upcoming 19th Congressional District race, Rep. Bob Lagomarsino (R-Ventura) and Democratic challenger Anita Perez Ferguson, for their support of President Bush’s handling of the Persian Gulf crisis.

“Mr. Lagomarsino’s position . . . is predictable and seems based on prolonging the Cold War fear that we’ve been living under the past 40 years. Ms. Ferguson’s support for Mr. Bush’s military action is indicative of her intention to seek the politically safe middle ground,” Lorenz read from a prepared statement.

Lorenz said she picked the cemetery for her sparsely attended news conference to underscore that U.S. policy has placed thousands of American lives in danger.

Perez Ferguson said Lorenz’s proposal to withdraw troops was “inconsistent. It would confuse our allies and encourage our potential enemies.”

John Doherty, a spokesman for Lagomarsino, agreed with Perez Ferguson. Lagomarsino “certainly supports what President Bush has done so far and I think the voters do too,” Doherty said.