By Judy Lin
Associated Press
Monday, September 15, 2008

Peter Camejo, 68, a Green Party leader who was a third-party candidate in three California gubernatorial elections before becoming Ralph Nader's running mate in the 2004 presidential race, died Sept. 13 of lymphoma at his home in Folsom, Calif.

Mr. Camejo ran for the state's top office in 2002, 2003 and 2006, supporting abortion rights, universal health care and a moratorium on the death penalty. Before joining the Green Party, he also ran for president as the Socialist Workers Party nominee in 1976.

In 2004, Mr. Camejo was independent candidate Nader's vice-presidential pick.

"Peter was a friend, colleague and politically courageous champion of the downtrodden and mistreated of the entire Western Hemisphere," Nader wrote in a statement. "Everyone who met Peter, talked to Peter, worked with Peter or argued with Peter will miss the passing of a great American."

Mr. Camejo, a first-generation Venezuelan American, also was active against the Vietnam War and a vocal advocate for migrant workers' rights. He marched in Selma, Ala., with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1967, his activism also got him expelled from the University of California at Berkeley for using a school microphone during a demonstration. A year later, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan put him on his list of the 10 most dangerous people in California, because he was "present at all anti-war demonstrations."

Last month, Mr. Camejo attended the Peace and Freedom Party Convention in Sacramento to endorse Nader's current bid for the presidency with running mate Matt Gonzalez.

"Ralph Nader is more than a candidate, he's an issue," Mr. Camejo said in his Aug. 2 speech, adding that Nader brought true reform, offering an independent choice to the "ruling party."

Nader said Mr. Camejo passed away a few days after completing his autobiography, which has a working title of "Northstar."

According to a statement by Mr. Camejo's family on a blog that had been updating his condition, Camejo voluntarily returned home Friday after treatment at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for a recurrence of lymphoma.

Survivors include his wife, Morella Camejo of Folsom; two children, Alexandra Camejo and Victor Camejo; three brothers; and three grandchildren.