FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/March 11, 1998 CONTACT: Michael Stewart [202/651-7048]; Sara Foer [202/651-7023]; http://www.nursingworld.org Nurse Lois Capps Wins Special Congressional ElectionWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lois Capps, MA, RN, a retired school nurse and a member of the American Nurses Association\California (ANA\C), won the Congressional run-off election yesterday to fill the seat vacated by the sudden death of her husband, freshman Representative Walter Capps (D-CA-22) last year. She will serve the remaining ten months of his term in the U.S. House of Representatives. With 87 percent of the precincts reporting Capps was declared the winner late last night with 55 percent of the vote compared to Republican Tom Bordonaro's 43 percent. Capps becomes the third nurse to have a seat in the 105th Congress, joining Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). The election was closely watched in national political circles because advocacy organizations -- among them groups concerned with health care and term limits -- provided more than $1.7 million dollars to both campaigns combined. Capps and Bordonaro are expected to face one another again in the November election. Like her husband, Capps has received a great deal of support from the nursing community, including an endorsement by ANA\C and the American Nurses Association Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC). Prior to her winning a special election on January 13, nurses in California's 22nd District formed a campaign called Nurses for Capps. Nurses worked in the Capps' campaign headquarters daily. The involvement of nurses in campaigns will be highlighted on October 14, 1998 -- "National Nurses' Night." The evening will be promoted by ANA to encourage nurses throughout the country to volunteer their time on the campaign of a candidate of their choice. The nurses' grassroots efforts will illustrate their commitment to electing advocates of quality health care to local, state and federal offices. "Lois Capps' election marks the beginning of nurse political activism early on in this congressional election year," says ANA President Beverly L. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. "ANA looks forward to working with her to advance the cause of safe, quality patient care in today's rapidly changing health care environment.
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