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McClintock Opponent Opens With 'Whistle-Stop' Tour Friday

SACRAMENTO - A 40-year-old private ranch manager from Nevada City, running as an independent party candidate in the 4th Congressional District, will kick-off his campaign here with an old-fashioned "Whistle Stop Tour" Friday starting in Sacramento and ending in Portola, deep in northeastern California.

Ben Emery will hold a news conference FRIDAY, at 9:30 a.m. at the entrance to the Sacramento Train Depot (corner, 4th & I St.) just before leaving on the train tour into the heart of the 4th District.

Emery, who lives and works in the district, accused his opponents of being carpetbaggers, noting incumbent GOP Rep. Tom McClintock is a career politician from Southern California and the Democrat, Clint Curtis, hails from Florida.

"We've been listening to Republicans and Democrats talk about changing the system in Washington. But all we get is more of the same. I'm independent of the large special interests who control these politicians, and have mucked up our political system," said Emery.

"The biggest threat to our country at this moment in history is the money and influence of lobbyists in Washington DC. Our government is broken because it was supposed to be citizen- legislators that made sure the people's business was taken care of. But today we have career politicians that make sure their large donors are taken care of instead of the people," he added.

He reserved strong words not just for McClintock, but for Pres. Obama, noting: "I'm tired of the Obama administration having the ability of being able to access my library, medical and banking records. I'm tired of having the federal government monitoring my Internet use and phone calls."

Emery boards the train at 10:15 a.m. in Sacramento and arrives in Portola at 5 p.m. He'll spend the weekend mingling with citizens at "Railroad Days" in Portola.