Marin IJ Election Soapbox for Nov. 8, 2022

Vote Sara Aminzadeh for seat in state Assembly

We have an opportunity to elect an incredibly qualified woman to advocate for us in California’s state Assembly — Sara Aminzadeh.

Aminzadeh is a bold, pragmatic leader with fresh ideas and experience to tackle our toughest problems. As an environmental attorney, she is passionate about protecting the planet from the ravages of climate change. With more than 15 years of experience working at the intersection of law, policy and grassroots organizing for environmental justice, she is currently a member of the California Coastal Commission with a track record of accomplishments in state government, securing millions of dollars for local coastal planning and water infrastructure projects.

In the Assembly, Aminzadeh plans to start a climate caucus and develop policy to decarbonize our economy by 2030. Our rural and agricultural way of life and our amazing open spaces need a champion whose priority is our environment.

To make the best decisions for all, we need diversity in our representatives. Only 30% of California legislators are women, almost none from Northern California. It’s shameful we’ve elected so few women to policymaker positions in Sacramento when California has such a wealth of talented women.

Please join me in voting for Sara Aminzadeh for state Assembly.

— Amy Pearl, Santa Rosa

Vote Damon Connolly for seat in state Assembly

North Bay voters must decide who will become their next state Assembly member. I urge you to vote for an experienced public servant and an authentic local voice. Vote for Damon Connolly.

I trust Connolly to be a leader who will meet with community members — with you and your neighbors — to talk about the issues and ensure that the government remains accessible and accountable to its people.

As an environmentalist, Connolly fought to launch Marin Clean Energy (now known as MCE) and Sonoma Clean Power. He helped set the North Bay on a path to a clean energy future. As we grapple with climate change and wildfire preparedness, I want a leader who knows our community. He has 18 years of public service. He worked at the state Attorney General’s Office and served on San Rafael’s school board, as well as the City Council, before taking his current role on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. This makes Connolly uniquely suited to represent the North Bay.

This is an opportunity to bring an experienced local voice to the state — an opportunity we can’t miss. Don’t just take my word for it, the Marin IJ and the Press Democrat both endorse Damon Connolly for state Assembly. As you wade through the politics, look for a local voice and an experienced public servant. When it comes to the future of the North Bay, vote for a track record you can count on.

— Gustavo Goncalves, San Rafael

Dennis Bentley best for Novato Sanitary District

I would like to suggest voters support candidate Dennis Bentley for the Division 2 seat on the Novato Sanitary District Board of Directors. Experience matters and Bentley has more than 20 years of it in wastewater treatment, including engineering, sales and management. Before that, he was a nuclear engineer for General Electric.

Bentley currently serves on the water and wastewater board for his homeowners’ association in Loreto, Mexico, where he owns a home. He has installed water treatment systems worldwide for charitable organizations in Tanzania and Guatemala.

There is only one engineer remaining on the board. Hopefully, Bill Long, an engineer who is departing, will be replaced by the very experienced Bentley.

The Novato Sanitary District has a S&P triple-A rating and has won many awards for their budget. This needs to continue. A vote for Bentley is a vote for expertise. We need the best for Novato.

— Mari Avedano, Novato

Gary Butler best for Novato Sanitary District

The Novato Sanitary District Board of Directors needs a leader who provides skillful financial and risk management leadership. Gary Butler provides just that. He will watch over Novato taxpayer dollars.

The Sanitary District already has engineers. Having a more diverse board will better serve Novato. Butler is a local businessman; he knows that financial prudence is vital to a strong business. He is active in our community — he’s been a Novato Planning Commissioner, a Downtown Novato Business Association board member and former Novato Sanitary District director. Currently, he serves on the Novato Flood Advisory Board. Butler is a proud Rotarian and member of the Marin Council Boy Scouts executive board.

Butler will provide financial oversight, environmental leadership and work collaboratively with his board colleagues to protect Novato and our environment. I hope you’ll join me in voting for Gary Butler for Division 2 on the Novato Sanitary District Board of Directors.

— Dean J. Moser, Novato

Novato Council needs candidate like Farac

I would like to suggest that voters support candidate Rachel Farac in the race for the District 2 seat on the Novato City Council. I have known Farac for years and have been on a board and project teams with her. I have found Farac to be enthusiastic about everything she does. She is great to work with, she is not self-serving, she thinks outside the box and she listens to others’ ideas. She is a friendly and strong leader. Farac always honors her commitments and is dependable.

She has a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on economic development. Her graduate degree focused on public sector financing and economic development — instrumental in effective government, as well as for examining local governments’ challenges and solutions.

Farac has the education, experience and knowledge to make important decisions for Novato’s future. She has a tremendous amount of local community support, as well as support from elected officials and organizations. She is recognized in the community for working well with people and accomplishing goals.

A vote for Farac is a vote for a thriving Novato. I know she is 100% committed to making Novato great. We need the best for Novato. Find out more at RachelFarac.com

— Mari Avedano, Novato

Vote yes on Sausalito Measure K for cannabis

I am the sponsor of Sausalito’s Measure K, to permit one cannabis store and one delivery business. I am a 40-year Sausalito resident, former city commissioner and a Sausalito Woman’s Club member. I became a believer in cannabis when I saw it help my recently departed husband. It eased his pain and offset his neuralgia.

A dispensary in Sausalito will do what out-of-town delivery — and the current illegal market — cannot: provide our residents medicine locally and safely, with expert guidance. It will only admit adults, only sell tested, safe products and always have professional security. And the businesses that Measure K permits will generate tax revenue for Sausalito, create about 25 new jobs and each be required to pay a minimum of $50,000 per year directly to the city.

Measure K asks a simple question: Should Sausalito have a safe, taxpaying dispensary for adults, or should we have dealers who sell untested products? I hope you will join me in choosing a safe dispensary to serve our town.

— Karen Cleary, Sausalito

Vote for Smith in race for MMWD Division 4 seat

With California in a perpetual state of drought, I believe there is no one more capable to serve as the District 4 representative on the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors than Jed Smith.

I’ve known Smith for several years through mutual friends and as a volunteer in our community. He is a successful entrepreneur and an environmental activist. I am confident he will work with his board colleagues to develop a plan for Marin’s water future, a plan that includes not only conservation efforts but also sourcing water responsibly from beyond Marin.

Please check out his website to get a sense of his goals and see his lengthy list of endorsements (a veritable Marin “who’s who”). Smith’s supporters are thoroughly ticked off by the current state of affairs and energized to do something about it. The first thing you can do is vote for Jed Smith. Then tell all your friends in Mill Valley, Sausalito and Marin City about him.

— Joan Vogel Hottenstein, Mill Valley

State Controller’s Office needs Lanhee Chen

If our state is going to succeed in solving spending challenges, it’s important to have a mix of centrist thinkers from both political parties who can set aside party platform politics and focus on problem-solving. This includes financial transparency, a task well suited for the State Controller’s office.

Performing due diligence on the two candidates reveals that Lanhee Chen is the clear winner. He was once nominated by former President Barack Obama for a position on the Social Security Advisory Board and was subsequently approved by the Senate.

Chen has made it clear that he supports women’s reproductive freedoms and has never been a supporter of former President Donald Trump, neither of which are reasons he is asking for your vote. His campaign message is based on one of the controller’s job responsibilities — to provide transparency on how California spends its vast revenue stream to ensure that spending is yielding intended results.

California is currently the fifth (possibly soon to be the fourth) largest economy in the world and it’s time to deviate from party-line voting and elect Lanhee Chen as the most competent candidate for the office.

— Sam Chase, Sausalito