Peter Miguel Camejo has dies. Camejo, former Green Party of California candidate for Governor, former Vice Presidential running mate to Ralph Nader in 2004, and former Presidential nominee of the Socialist Worker’s Party, dies today at his home in Folsom, CA. He suffered from lymphoma and had been undergoing treatments at UC-Davis Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, two children and three brothers. Camejo came from Venezuela’s upper class and he was born in New York City, and therefore eligible to run for President. An update site has been maintained by supporters here.
Peter Camejo dead at 69
By Gregg Jocoy on September 13, 2008 5:56 PM
Gregg Jocoy
I'm gonna be 51 in August. Married for 28 years. Two wonderful daughters, two wonderful grand daughters. Microbusiness owner, committed Green, and eternal optimist.
This is from the Nader campaign:
Peter Miguel Camejo, a civil rights leader, socially responsible investment pioneer, and magnanimo caballero for third party politics in the US, peacefully passed away early Saturday morning at his home in Folsom, CA with his wife Morella at his side — only days after completing his autobiography.
The 68-year-old justice fighter had been battling a reoccurrence of lymphoma cancer, and his condition had rapidly deteriorated over the past few days.
Peter was a student leader, civil rights advocate, leader in the socially responsible investment industry with his own investment firm, Progressive Asset Management, Inc., and author of books on investment and history including Racism, Revolution, Reaction, 1861-1877, The Rise and Fall of Radical Reconstruction, California Under Corporate Rule, and his recent book, The SRI Advantage: Why Socially Responsible Investing Has Outperformed Financially.
Peter used his eloquence, sharp wit, and barnstorming bravado to blaze a trail for 21st century third party politics in the US. He was a third party candidate for state and national office, making three gubernatorial runs in California as a Green, including one in the 2002 election when he earned 5.3 percent of the vote. In the 2003 recall election, he debated Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis, and in the 2004 Presidential election, he was my running mate on our Independent Ticket.
Among the many causes Peter forcefully championed were a living wage, healthcare for all, and making the US the world leader in renewable energy. He was also a passionate advocate for electoral reform, pressing for proportional representation and instant run-off voting (allows voters to rank their top choices) in an effort to overturn the “200-year-old dysfunctional money-dominated winner take-all system that disrespects the will of the people.”
Peter was a friend, colleague and politically courageous champion of the downtrodden and mistreated of the entire Western Hemisphere. Everyone who met Peter, talked with Peter, worked with Peter, or argued with Peter, will miss the passing of a great American.
Peter Camejo is survived by his wife Morella, his father Daniel, his daughter Alexandra, his son Victor, three brothers Antonio, Daniel, and Danny, and three grandchildren Andrew, Daniel, and Oliver.
When his autobiography (with the working title Northstar) is published, we will all be able to get a vivid sense of the great measure of Peter Camejo as a sentinel force for civil rights and civil liberties, and expander of democracy. His lifework will inspire the political and economic future for a long time.
Peter Camejo — the only third party candidate to have represented another country (Venezuela) in the Olympics.
I agree: R.I.P.
Good man. RIP.
I did vote for Nader/Camejo and even introduced Camejo at an event at the University of Michigan. The man had integrity and stones. He was also a great investor, btw.
Yeah, Camejo seemed like a pretty decent guy. Too bad.
Upsetting. I didn’t vote for Nader/Camejo, but I thought Camejo and McClintock were consistently the only interesting facets of the ridiculous recall debacle in the Cali a few years back. RIP