30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 10-16, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com itself is needed. Since he was appointed in 2023, Remynse has mostly gone along to get along—which is not helping CUSD shed its past and move forward. (To his credit, when he became chair he invited more public comment, but that alone will not rebuild community trust.) An important note that Rosen has been charged with election fraud felonies for filing paperwork to run in Area 5 when she allegedly lives in Area 4. She denies the troubling charges, and the verdict is still out in her case. If convicted, she will still remain on the ballot but can only take office if she persuades the court she has moved into Area 5. In Area 1, former CUSD board member Rita Patel is seeking another go and she deserves it. She was a steady leader last time she served—before the latest drama—and her experience would be a benefit. She’s bright and committed, and we can’t tell what her opponent, Molly Bozzo, is really running on. For an at-large position, we recommend Monica Tavakoli over Jake Odello. While both care deeply, Tavakoli seems to have a much clearer grasp of the issues and recognizes the urgent need to rebuild trust. In Area 3, there are two qualified candidates, Matt Glazer and Jeannette Witten. Glazer sought appointment to a vacancy in 2023 and is an involved parent, regularly participating constructively in board meetings. He would bring a conciliatory approach to leadership, but we think what CUSD needs at this time is a leader who is willing to take some arrows. Witten, an attorney by trade, is articulate and clear in her vision. She’s willing to take bold stances even if they are controversial (like saying yes, we should retire the Padres mascot, with its sexist, racist legacy). That is not to say she’s not open to listening—her platform also calls for active listening and making board meetings productive again. Most importantly, she recognizes the scope of the responsibility she is seeking: “The buck stops here for the board that’s steering the ship,” she says, and we agree. State of California Robert Rivas for Assembly District 29 Robert Rivas is young and babyfaced. He’s also shown in his first year as Speaker of the Assembly that he is a very skilled, resourceful and unsentimental dealmaker. The legislative year started with a $58 billion deficit and the need to approve cuts. The budget deal was crafty. And the legislative agenda was dominated by liberal Democrats who had to figure out how to scuttle past criminal justice reforms to confront a very real problem of retail theft. Rivas brought legislative leaders to Salinas to announce how, with a package of 10 bills, they had threaded the needle to gain support of retailers, law enforcement agencies and social justice advocates. And unlike previous speakers, Rivas has continued to author legislation. This past session, in addition to the retail theft bill he authored, he reaffirmed his long-term commitment to farmworker housing and protections for foster youth. Dawn Addis for Assembly District 30 A first-term Assemblymember, Dawn Addis did not tread with the uncertainty typical of a freshman legislator. She created a first-ever Central Coast Caucus and became its chair, and also chairs an Assembly committee on wind power. With poise and determination she boldly told a gathering hosted by the Carmel Residents Association last fall that the tony town by the sea, just like Marina and Seaside, will have to meet its state mandates to increase housing, specifically low-income housing. Perhaps the crowning achievement of her first term in Sacramento is getting the governor to sign AB 3233, a bill that “would authorize a local entity, as defined, by ordinance, to limit or prohibit oil and gas operations or development in its jurisdiction.” Inspired by legal challenges that knocked down Monterey County’s Measure Z, that legislation will pave the way for the will of voters on oil and gas practices to become the law of the community. Addis’ opponent, Dalila Epperson, is running on a platform of parents’ rights on school boards, personal liberties and opposition to offshore wind. John Laird for State Senate District 17 When this newspaper put John Laird on the front page of the paper in 2021 with the headline “The Fix-it Man,” it was in reference to his work reforming California’s beleaguered Employment Development Department after colossal failures during Covid. Since that time, Laird has lent his expertise to solving complicated local policies. One example is working out an extension of the operating life of Diablo Canyon power plant to stave off brownouts until increased renewable energy is widespread. He helped quickly generate state funding to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital, got money for long-overdue levee upgrade in Pajaro and just this past month stepped into the breach to negotiate the successful passage of MST’s bus rapid transit project, SURF!, that was otherwise destined for defeat at the Coastal Commission. We do not agree with Laird on everything, but he’s skilled at getting things done. We opposed his support for legislation that would make the emergency measures for remote meetings from Covid permanent, radically diminishing in-person meetings, for example. But overall Laird is a doer who deserves reelection. His challenger, Tony Virrueta, is a proud veteran and is running on that credential alone. United States of America Zoe Lofgren for Congress, District 18 Democrat Zoe Lofgren is a longtime U.S. representative, having served since 1995. But it’s only since 2020 when redistricting resulted in changes to the district map that she has represented part of Monterey County. She has wasted no time in leveraging her experience in Washington to get things done for our region. In the past two years, she helped secure $280 million in federal funds for local projects, including $81 million for roads in Salinas, Soledad, King City, Greenfield and Gonzales; $7 million for health care; and $5 million for food safety programs. In the aftermath of flooding in Pajaro, she successfully advocated to FEMA to extend deadlines for relief. Beyond specific line items, Lofgren also deserves praise for her steady role in defending democracy. She served on the special committee that investigated Jan. 6 and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election result. She carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution with her everywhere. And she was willing to take a potentially unpopular stance and urge President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 race, a sign of her ability to see the bigger picture. Jimmy Panetta for Congress, District 19 Jimmy Panetta has qualities that we like—he’s approachable, he listens well, he’s all in for his hometown district, he has a good sense of humor. When he first ran in 2016, it was largely on a platform to deliver constituent services, and that promise continues, along with legislation targeted to help the district (such as the Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act). But Panetta’s preference to take the politically safe route, rather than the courageous route, is frustrating—we wish he would take more of a stand as a leader. That was on display after President Biden’s horrible debate showing, when Panetta refused to join the chorus of Democrats (Lofgren included) calling on him to step out of the race. Unlike his predecessor Sam Farr, Panetta has been weak on decriminalization and national legalization of cannabis, an THE ENDORSEMENT Edition 2024 Robert Rivas for Assembly District 29
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