If successful in the nomination process and election, Alzona could become the first Filipino American ever elected to the US Congress. He said that besides serving the needs of his constituents in the district, he will also champion the causes and address the concerns of the national Filipino American community at large.

Former Republican Congresswoman Connie Morella lost this seat to a Democrat politician in 2002 after Maryland’s Democrat Party legislative majority changed the district’s boundries to include more heavily minority precincts.

After that redistricting, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the following minority groups increased to the following numbers (respectively), as a percentage of the general population: Asian 13%, Black 17%, Hispanic 14%. The non-Hispanic White majority declined to 55%. Alzona hopes that the district’s changing demographics would work to the advantage of his minority status candidacy as he seeks to also retake the seat for the his Party.

As volunteer mainstream civic activist and minority community leader, Maryland Legislative District 16 Central Committee Member Alzona was also the only elected Asian Pacific American official, serving on both the local county (19 members) and Maryland state (239 members) Republican central committees, during his 1998-2002 term in office. He is also known at both the local and national levels as an ardent advocate for civil liberties, self-defense, civil and constitutional rights If he wins the September 12th Maryland Primary Elections, he will face the probable Democrat nominee, incumbent Representative Chris Van Hollen, in the November 7, 2006 general elections. The most accurate information regarding Alzona is currently published at: www.alzona.com ttp://www.alzona.com/

Mr. Alzona may be contacted via phone call to 202-288-8011, e-mail to:

AugustusAlzona@gmail.com ym/Compose To=AugustusAlzona@gmail.com and/or correspondence to the Gus Alzona Victory Fund, P.O. Box 341974, Bethesda, Maryland 20827-1974.

@BULLET = Another MD bet

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY – Another Filipino American, Jocelyne G. Stichberry, has announced her candidacy as delegate to the Maryland assembly representing the 26th district, the same post that Kris Valderrama, daughter of former MD Delegatre David Valderrama, is seeking. Kris has the endorsement of top PG and Maryland Democratic officials.

Stichberry claims she has the support of the Novo Ecijano association of which she is the president and the Philippine Festival Committee.

Her four-point program involves education, healthcare,  environment and senior citizens. She immigrated to the US in 1983 and is married to Avery Stichberry with whom she has four children and 7 grandchildren.

As a master in English graduate, she teaches English at the PG community college and other language schools in the metro area.