Changes

==Personal information==

==Personal information==

Born in [[New York City]], Beren states that he was raised in a non-religious, secular [[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.  After that he became a supporter of the Democratic Party.  In 1995 he converted from [[atheism]] to [[Christianity]].  He became a Republican at age 52, during the 2004 Bush-Kerry campaign. The [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] was influential in his turn toward the [[Republican Party]]. <ref name=rams09>Bruce Ramsey. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left], ''The Seattle Times'',August 9, 2006.</ref>  

Born in [[New York City]], Beren states that he was raised in a non-religious, secular [[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.  After that he became a supporter of the Democratic Party.  In 1995 he converted from [[atheism]] to [[Christianity]].  He became a Republican at age 52, during the 2004 Bush-Kerry campaign. The [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] was influential in his turn toward the [[Republican Party]]. <ref name=rams09>Bruce Ramsey. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left], ''The Seattle Times'',August 9, 2006.</ref>  

Steve Beren became a [[Christian]] in 1995.  He and his [[wife]] live in the Seattle area where they are members of [[Christian Faith Center]].<ref>[http://www.steveberen.com/biography.html Steven Beren biography]</ref>  Furthermore, Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company.<ref>Scott St. Clair. [http://crosscut.com/2008/04/28/2008-election/13760/ GOP journal: Report from a county convention], ''Crosscut.com'', April 28, 2008.</ref>

Steve Beren became a [[Christian]] in 1995.  He and his [[wife]] live in the Seattle area where they are members of [[Christian Faith Center]].<ref>[http://www.steveberen.com/biography.html Steven Beren biography]</ref>  Furthermore, Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company.<ref>Scott St. Clair. [http://crosscut.com/2008/04/28/2008-election/13760/ GOP journal: Report from a county convention], ''Crosscut.com'', April 28, 2008.</ref>

==Former leftist==

==Former leftist==

Beren was described by Seattle's "two dailies" newspapers as a former [[Democrat]] and [[liberal]].<ref name=rams09/> But from 1968 to 1990, Beren was an activist in the [[Socialist Workers]], the party inspired by [[Leon Trotsky]]. Steve Beren was a [[socialist]] and [[Vietnam War]] protester in the 1960s and '70s. Later, after settling in Seattle and marrying, he became a Democrat, voting twice for [[Bill Clinton]] and once for [[Al Gore]]. But after the [[9/11|Sept. 11, 2001]], [[terrorist]] attacks, he said, he "came to see that the Republican Party was far superior on foreign policy."<ref>Emily Heffter. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008112747_mcdermott14m.html McDermott faces 5 challengers but no real re-election challenge], ''The Seattle Times'', August 14, 2008.</ref> Since then he has become an evangelical Christian, a patriot, and a [[conservative]] Republican.

Beren was described by Seattle's "two dailies" newspapers as a former [[Democrat]] and [[liberal]].<ref name=rams09/> But from 1968 to 1990, Beren was an activist in the Socialist Workers, the party inspired by [[Leon Trotsky]]. Steve Beren was a [[socialist]] and [[Vietnam War]] protester in the 1960s and '70s. Later, after settling in Seattle and marrying, he became a Democrat, voting twice for [[Bill Clinton]] and once for [[Al Gore]]. But after the [[9/11|Sept. 11, 2001]], [[terrorist]] attacks, he said, he "came to see that the Republican Party was far superior on foreign policy."<ref>Emily Heffter. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008112747_mcdermott14m.html McDermott faces 5 challengers but no real re-election challenge], ''The Seattle Times'', August 14, 2008.</ref> Since then he has become an evangelical Christian, a patriot, and a [[conservative]] Republican.

==Campaign for Congress==

==Campaign for Congress==