Gay veteran’s military dismissal puts spotlight on California congressional race

WASHINGTON - Anthony Woods says he grew up without health insurance, struggled to get an education and fought in Iraq, a war he didn’t believe in.

Then he got kicked out of the military for violating its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy after telling his commanding officer he was gay.

Woods, a 28-year-old graduate of West Point, figures he has the proper anti-establishment credentials to win an open seat in California’s 10th Congressional District. He’s proud of his lack of political experience, saying experienced politicians haven’t done much good in either Sacramento or Washington.

“If we keep sending experienced career politicians to D.C., nothing’s going to change,” Woods said in an interview.

Woods may be a long shot in the race to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. Ellen Tauscher in the East Bay seat, but his presence assures it will be a high-profile affair. It’s already resulting in national attention.

Woods, a Democrat, is less well-known than his challengers, but his team is banking on the candidate’s compelling life story and his status as an outsider to put him over the top in a splintered field.

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