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A Progressive Candidate to Continue the Tradition of John Laird in Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County California Assembly District 27
By Emily Reilly
Democratic Candidate
27th Assembly District
I am a candidate in the 27th Assembly District, and the only currently elected local official in the race, having served two terms as Mayor of the city of Santa Cruz, where I now sit on the city council. During my time as Mayor and on the Santa Cruz City Council I have built a strong record of bringing people together to address critical issues, such as environmental protection, transportation and affordable housing. As an Assemblywoman, I intend to bring that same emphasis on progressive issues to Sacramento – including making universal healthcare a reality.
The truth is that our state’s structural budget deficit is the single largest problem facing the state, because it affects every goal we are trying to accomplish. I am the only candidate who has balanced a municipal budget while also balancing competing priorities. The sensible approach I took with our city budget, judiciously cutting spending when necessary and raising critical revenues, is the kind of approach I intend to bring to my work in Sacramento. As a state, we cannot continue to embrace the Governor's policy of slashing the budget year after year without any attempt to enhance revenues, especially if we are to solve some of our most pressing problems.
Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have been on the forefront of environmental activism for years, and we must continue to lead in the fight to protect our precious coast. State legislation is pending that could undermine coastal protection. SB 1295 poses a dire threat to the California Coastal Commission, which has proven to be one of the most consistent, and in fact only, official protectors of the California coast. If SB 1295 passes and is signed into law, our coastal environment could face sweeping and wide-ranging damage. I strongly oppose this bill, and in the Assembly I will work to protect our fragile environment and battle against the constant, unrelenting pressure to erode our environmental protections.
This includes the fight against global warming. As mayor of Santa Cruz, I am proud to have led the City Council in its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Last year, I also joined with the County Board of Supervisors and the Chancellor at the University of California, Santa Cruz to sign the Climate Action Compact – a groundbreaking document that will reduce our city’s carbon footprint and bring green businesses to our community. California can be a leader in developing policies that will save our planet, and I will bring my local experience to Sacramento to lead that effort.
We need a balanced and innovative approach to transportation. We now know we can’t widen our way out of congestion. Our priority must be to increase funding for public transit and reduce sprawl by building housing near job centers. I support policies that protect the environment, create walkable communities that are bicycle-friendly, and promote density in housing along public transit corridors. Smart growth also means revitalizing neglected neighborhoods by combining affordable housing with new economic development and solid transportation solutions, so people can work where they live.
I support State Senator Sheila Kuehl’s single payer health care bill, SB 840. Californians deserve high quality care and reliable coverage that is both affordable and efficient. It is time to get the insurance companies out of health care and replace them with a system driven by fairness, not profits. Far too many families and individuals in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties go without health insurance because they can’t afford it or are underinsured. The number of Californians without coverage rose to a record 6.8 million people last year – that is equal to nearly one out of every five people living in the state. The current system is broken.
My campaign is based on reaching out to voters, and our grassroots efforts are strong and growing. In my campaigns for the Santa Cruz City Council, later serving as Mayor, I walked door to door, talking to voters about my values and my vision of public service. During my first election in 2000, I was privileged to receive more votes than any candidate in the city's history. When I ran again four years later, I received more votes still. In my current race, I have raised $129,000 from over 400 individual campaign contributors since declaring my run, more than any other candidate in the race, including over $15,000 raised online from Act Blue.
I am privileged to have received a number of high-profile endorsements, including those of California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Board of Equalization Chair Betty Yee, the California League of Conservation Voters and the Women’s Political Committee. I have also been endorsed by a wide range of community leaders including past and present Mayors of Capitola, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Santa Cruz and members of the Capitola, Gonzales, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Soledad City Councils.
In the Assembly, I look forward to continuing the progressive tradition of John Laird and Fred Keeley. When I first ran for office, I was told by a voter that it was my job to take his voice to government, not the other way around. I have never forgotten that. I know it is my job to carry your voice to Sacramento, and I intend to make sure your voice is heard. Find out how to join my campaign at www.emilyreilly.com.
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