Brad Schneider of Deerfield will be receiving the endorsement of the Sierra Club in his effort to challenge Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) for the 10^th Congressional seat, according to club member Barbara Klipp.

Klipp, who chairs the Sierra Club’s political committee for its Woods and Wetlands Chapter encompassing most of the District, told Patch Tuesday why the organization is backing Schneider.

Earlier: Teachers Divide on Dold, Schneider

“We listened to Brad’s views on the environment and his agenda is 100 percent aligned with that of the Sierra Club,” Klipp said. “He has shown us how he will lead in Lake County on the environment to create jobs and pursue a clean environment.”

Dold, who made the protection of Lake Michigan the subject of the first legislation he introduced shortly after he became a member of Congress more than 18 months ago, received the support of ConservAmerica Tuesday during a news conference at Highland Park’s Rosewood Beach.

ConservAmerica President Rob Sisson cited Dold’s record on preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWAR) and other issues along with his bipartisan approach to environmental legislation.

“Congressman Dold routinely rises above the partisan divisiveness in Congress to safeguard our environment,” Sisson said. “We need people in Congress who are willing to do that. He is one of the few (Republicans).”

ConservAmerica is a group which backs Republicans who support environmental issues, according to Sission. He praised Republican leadership on the environment from President Theodore Roosevelt through President Richard Nixon’s creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dold has broken with Republican leadership on environmental issues like ANWAR. He worked with Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Springfield), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Western Springs) on legislation to protect Lake Michigan when he first got to Congress.

“We need to stand up to project our air, water and our jewel of the Great Lakes,” Dold said, pointing to Lake Michigan at the news conference. “All I can do is stand on my record on the environment,” he added, referring to the Sierra Club endorsement that went to Schneider.

Schneider was pleased with the endorsement and reinforced his commitment to environmental values.

“I firmly believe that protecting our environment and creating 21^st century jobs go hand-in-hand because innovation in the field of green, renewable energy will be the key to American success in the global marketplace and at home,” Schneider said.

Klipp was not only pleased with Schneider’s positions on the issues, but critical of some of Dold’s votes. She does not believe he has been sufficiently supportive of environmental issues.

“I analyzed 200 environmental votes and he voted for the environment on 15 percent of them. “Of those 15 percent, only four of them were passed,” Klipp said. “We believe this is an environmentally sensitive district.”

Sisson was critical of Klipp’s analysis. Though the Sierra Club does not score members of Congress, groups like the League of Conservation voters do. That group endorsed Schneider.

“They use procedural votes and other techniques to get the outcome they want,” Sisson said, hinting they have a political agenda.