Virus claims seventh victim
Activist for Green Party succumbs to West Nile

By L.C. GREENE
Staff Writer, Daily Bulletin

A Green Party activist and Claremont resident apparently is the seventh Californian to die from the mosquito-borne West Nile virus.

Walter ", 62, died late Thursday at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fontana after being hospitalized for 10 days with symptoms of West Nile, according to a San Bernardino County Coroner's report Friday. Test results at the hospital confirmed he had the virus.

State health officials reported 249 confirmed West Nile infections statewide Friday, up from Tuesday's count of 193. San Bernardino County, the epicenter of the epidemic, recorded 96 cases, followed by Los Angeles County with 81 and Riverside County with 51.

Sheasby ran for political office as a Green Party candidate four times during the 1990s, twice against 28th District GOP Congressman David Dreier.

Sheasby first ran for office in 1992, when the fledgling party first qualified for the state ballot.

"He had the guts to run in an area that was not the most Green-friendly in the state," said Santa Monica City Councilman and Green Party member Michael Feinstein.

Sheasby was a prolific writer, excellent organizer and a driving force in local party affairs, said longtime political colleague Doug Doepke.

"It's a real loss to all of us in the progressive movement," he said.

full story at: http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories0,1413,203~21481~2349032,00.html

Some of Walt's writings at:

http://www.greeninformation.com/SHEASBYINDEX.htm

http://www.green-rainbow.org/pipermail/needtoknow/2003-November/001496.html