Steve Beren

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Steve Beren (b. September 9, 1951, New York, New York) is a speaker, writer, and political activist from Seattle, Washington. In the 2006 elections, Beren was the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District. Beren received 17% of the vote against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, who received 78%.

The main issues Beren's campaign focused on were victory in the war against terrorism, tough border security, limited government, and energy independence.

Beren has come under sharp criticism from Hussein Ibish, Vice-Chair of the Progressive Muslim Union of North America. Also, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen has questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who has never received less than 72% of the vote in a general election.

[edit] Personal information

Beren states that he was raised in a nominal Jewish home and later became an atheist. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the Socialist Workers Party and a defender of Fidel Castro. By 1990 he quit the SWP due to exhaustion with it. After that he joined the Democratic Party. In 1995 he converted from atheism to Christianity. He remained with the Democratic Party until 2004. The September 11, 2001 attacks led to his turn toward to the Political Right and at 52 he became a Republican.[1]

Further Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company. He and his wife are members of Christian Faith Center.