State Sen. Gwen Moore announced recently her candidacy for the 4th Congressional district seat and called for a "people's campaign" of all races, nationalities and ethnic groups to unite behind her campaign to win the seat now held by retiring Congressman Gerald Kleczka.

As family, friends, community leaders, elected officials, clergy, labor leaders and supporters surrounded her during a news conference at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society-Museum, Moore said if elected, she would make jobs, education and affordable quality healthcare her top priorities.

"I've tested the waters, and I am here to tell you that I am prepared to dive into this campaign to represent all of you in the United States House of Representatives," Moore told the gathering.

Moore added that her top priority if elected to Congress would be stemming the exodus of jobs from Milwaukee.

"The fundamental issue facing our community is the hemorrhage of jobs leaving Milwaukee. We need look no further than three blocks down the street at Masterlock, or ten blocks north of us at Tower Automotive.

"We need a Congress that will put the livelihoods of working people here at home above the profits of corporations seeking labor for 50 cents an hour and the license to escape environmental laws on non-American soil. We need fair trade with other nations, not just free trade."

Despite the reported upswing in the economy, Moore told the gathering that there has been no economic recovery for hundreds of thousands of minority citizens in Milwaukee who continue to experience what the University of Wisconsin's Center for Economic Development calls a "stealth depression."

"Milwaukee remains a city where the gap in socio-economic status between White and Black citizens is among the highest in the nation," Moore said.

"We need a congressperson who will put the elimination of that gap on the agenda of the U.S. Congress.

“We need a congressperson who will fight to enforce our federal civil rights laws. And, we need a congressperson who will fight – as I have throughout my career – for the right of women to choose.

Saying America has an administration in Washington that wants to punish schools in the poorest neighborhoods with "a mountain of bureaucracy and endless testing," Moore said she would fight to repeal President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative and reprioritize the billions of dollars currently being used to subsidize the American occupation of Iraq and use the money to teach children.

"We need federal leadership to ensure universal K thru 14 education," Moore said.

The state senator was also critical of the president's foreign policy. She called the unilateral invasion of Iraq wrong and that the subsequent "no-end-in-sight" occupation of the country has destabilized the rest of the Mideast.

"President Bush's preemption doctrine poses a grave and reckless threat to world peace. Just because we think or suspect another country poses a threat in the future does not warrant military invasions in other countries."

Moore also called for new initiatives in healthcare and reducing prescription drug costs. "Getting a job cannot be a ticket to losing health insurance.

During the election announcement, Moore introduced Ellen Bravo, the head of Nine-to-Five, as her campaign treasurer.

Former Alderman and Wisconsin Secretary of State Vel Phillips will serve as the campaign's honorary chair. Benjamin Gann, an experienced political fundraiser, will be her finance director.