Dick Monteith (R)	43%
Dennis Cardoza (D)	52%

View Dick Monteith's Dirty Dozen profile.

The Race
This was one of the most competitive congressional races in California. Incumbent Gary Condit, entangled in the Chandra Levy investigation, lost in the Democratic primary to his former aide, Dennis Cardoza. In the general election Cardoza faced Dick Monteith, who amassed an abysmal environmental record in the California State Senate. Due to redistricting, the 18th Congressional District leaned heavily Democratic, and Cardoza maintained a lead throughout the campaign. 

The Environment
As a California State Senator, Dick Monteith voted against commonsense measures to protect the state³ air, water, and open spaces over 90 percent of the time according to the California League of Conservation Voters. Cardoza, on the other hand, has been lauded for his historic auto emissions bill vote while in the California legislature. By placing Monteith on the Dirty Dozen list, LCV was able to highlight his opposition to clean air and water protections.

LCV Activities
LCV named Dick Monteith to the Dirty Dozen on October 9, 2002 and engaged in an aggressive earned media outreach campaign. LCV's message focused on Monteith's past record of repeatedly voting against the right of the families of the Central Valley to a clean and healthy environment and on his record of opposing commonsense protections to clean air and safe drinking water.