Prospective candidates find common ground in many areas
COLORADO CENTER — Democrats seeking to replace state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D- 41st) when she leaves office at the end of the year tried Sunday to distance themselves from one another during a candidates’ forum sponsored by Americans for Democratic Action.
Although there were some distinguishing characteristics among the candidates — many of which had to do more with the different personalities of each prospective candidate than their individual policy ideas — the two-hour forum played like a politically progressive pep rally, with each speaker generally supporting the same ideals. These included the right for same-sex couples to marry, as well as protecting a woman’s right to chose, environmental conservation and reforming the state’s budget process so only a simple majority is needed for passage.
However, there was some disagreement among candidates over the legalization of marijuana, as well as the death penalty, tax restructuring and traffic solutions, all of which could play a major role in the heavily Democratic district. The district stretches from the San Fernando Valley in the east to the western portion of Ventura County in the north, and extends south through the wealthi-er coastal communities, including Malibu, Pacific Palisades and the district’s largest city, Santa Monica.
The prospective candidates who attended the forum were: Santa Monica- Malibu Unified school board member Julia Brownley; Calabasas mayor and former environmental protections prosecutor Barry Groveman; Kelly Hayes-Raitt, an anti-war activist, consultant and a founder of Heal the Bay; attorney and Cal State Channel Islands professor Jonathan Levey; and Casey O’Brien, co-host/coproducer of “Access Unlimited” on KPFK-FM and an activist for the disabled.
Sunday’s forum kicked off with the prospective candidates gathering to take a group photo. Prospective candidates laughed with one another as they shared stories from the campaign trail. That jovial mood carried throughout the forum as the participants refrained from personal attacks and focused mainly on the issues.
Brownley, who is endorsed by Pavley, State Sen. Sheila Kuehl, and members of the school board and the city council, said she is running for office “to make education a priority in this state again.”
Brownley said she would continue the work of Pavley in the area of environmental protections, and move forward with plans to create universal health care in the state as well as raise the minimum wage to a “livable wage.” She also said she would create a more reliable and far-reaching public transportation system.
Brownley is a supporter of decriminal-izing marijuana, but not other drugs, is opposed to the death penalty and supportive of same-sex marriages or civil unions.
“The thing I want to emphasize is that I want to be your partner in creating social change here in California,” she told the audience.
O’Brien, a nationally known activist for the disabled and the former executive director of the Unique People’s Voting Project, which helped increase voter participation among the disabled, said he will be a voice for the most vulnerable in society and will work to protect social programs from further budget cuts.
“My politics are simple,” said O’Brien, who walks with the help of crutches. “I believe in social justice and plenty for all, and I believe that in the most affluent state in the richest country in the world, we ought to be able to educate our children, take care of our old and disabled. Right now we are failing them.”
O’Brien said he is against bond programs that will leave future generations with massive amounts of debt. He is a supporter of tax reform, including changing how commercial properties are taxed under Prop. 13 and charging an oil severance tax to oil companies, which he believes could add another $5 billion a year to state coffers. He would also like to see sales tax redistributed based on population and use some of that money to solve homelessness.
“It’s not a question of money,” he said. “It’s a question of priorities, and mine are to help expand the middle class and protect the children and the disabled.”
He would also like to see passage of the California Clean Money Initiative to bring about the public financing of campaigns. He is pro-choice, pro gay marriage, anti-death penalty and carries a prescription for medical marijuana.
For Groveman, who said he is a leader with a history of getting results, the chance to serve in Sacramento is a chance to change the direction the state is headed under the leadership of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Groveman would like to raise the minimum wage, heal beaches by cleaning more urban runoff, and make community colleges free to residents.
“I have 26 years of serious experience that I want to bring to this district,” he said. “We need to start solving things. It’s one thing to talk about the problems, but it’s another thing to start seeing results.”
Groveman supports the death penalty in crimes against police officers. He is pro-choice, in favor of same-sex marriages and would like the state to enforce medical marijuana laws instead of deferring to the federal government.
“I think (having police officers spend time on marijuana) is wasting valuable resources that could be used elsewhere,” he said.
Groveman would also like to create a statute to prosecute those who damage natural resources.
“There are a lot of things that we have to do, and we are going to have to be creative,” he said. “Right now I am open to anything. I don’t want to say right now that I’m against new taxes or opposed to this. We need to have an open mind … and think of crafty ways to get things done.”
Hayes-Raitt, endorsed by public employee unions and actor Martin Sheen, is a strong critic of Schwarzenegger as well and said she is running because she is “sick and tired” of seeing bills she supports get vetoed by the governor. “We need to take this state away from Schwarzenegger,” she said.
Hayes-Raitt, who was named Woman of the Year in 2004 by Los Angeles County, is a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose, opposes the death penalty and is in favor of same-sex marriages. “I think we need more love in this world, not less,” she said.
If elected, Hayes-Raitt would like to institute universal health care and overturn worker’s compensation reform, which she said she believes has done nothing to help workers. She also wants to reinstate the vehicle licensing fee to pre-Schwarzenegger levels. She said she would also fight to bring soldiers back from Iraq and protect money budgeted for social services from being used to fund the war.
“I don’t think it’s enough to say, ‘Bring our troops home.’ We have to make sure they have a home to come back to,” she said.
Levey, who is endorsed by former 41st Assembly District representative Mel Levine and State Sen. Jack Scott, opposes the death penalty except for acts of terrorism against the state. He is supportive of same-sex marriages and believes the controversy surrounding it proves “that the separation of church and state is not where we want it to be.”
Levey is against decriminalizing marijuana but would like to see judges have more power in three-strikes cases that involve drug offenses. He would also like to have a hand in reforming the way electoral districts are created so that they are more representative of the voters instead of being drawn to help legislators win reelection.
“It’s astounding that you can have Senate districts that spill into three or four Assembly districts,” he said. “It’s become so bad that nobody knows who their representatives are.”
Beginning today, those interested in running for Pavley’s seat and who have filed declarations of intent with the secretary of state can obtain nomination petitions from county election officials. Prospective candidates have until March 10 to do so.
Those seeking the seat must collect between 40 and 60 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
To be considered as a candidate for the state Assembly, one must: be a U.S. citizen; be a registered voter at the time that nomination papers are issued; be registered in the political party whose nomination the person is seeking for at least three months before declaring a candidacy, and not have been registered with any other political party 12 months prior to that.
A certified list of candidates will be distributed by March 30, according to the secretary of state’s office. The primary election is scheduled for June 6, with a general election slated for Nov. 7.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.