Marin Maven » Mark Leno

Dizzying Lt. Governor Race

The Maven — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:49:00 +0000

newsom

Gavin Newsom. When I listen to him I agree with so many of his positions in terms of universal health care, prison reform, early childhood education, and regulation again predatory banking that keeps people in poverty. He glistens with seemingly earnest passion.

He then finds my weak spot as he quotes Bobby Kennedy. There is this “too good to be true” aspect to him that forces me to find someone in my old hometown of San Francisco to talk me down from being totally in-the-tank over him. I am tough on him because his charms sneak past my higher brain functions into the lower brain-stem. If my knees go weak when I see a candidate, I immediately distrust him.

On March 12th, Gavin Newsom announced he was running for Lieutenant Governor. Both our local representatives, Mark Leno and Jared Huffman have endorsed this run. If Gavin wins the seat that was vacated by John Garamendi, this will open up new possibilities for Leno and Huffman. This isn’t entirely new news, since I pointed out rumors of this on Huffman’s birthday post. Just in case you missed it, here is how more and more people think that this will play out. Newsom’s win statewide will open up the San Francisco Mayor seat, which could very well go to Mark Leno. This will release the State Senate seat in District 3, which can go to Assemblyman Jared Huffman who is in his last term.

If you are bothered by this musical chairs, blame term limits which continues to be a terrible idea.

The next logical question is can Newsom win statewide office? Is the office of Lieutenant Governor innocuous enough for folks who disagree with his stance on same sex marriage to vote for him? Will he be able to explain away why he dropped out of the race for Governor to spend more time with his family only to get back into a contested race for Lt. Governor? Will his opponent, Janice Hahn have the advantage being from a more densely populated Southern California? Given there still may be democrats that blame him for losing the 2004 presidential election by his stance on Gay Marriage too soon, has enough time passed where that is not an issue? I don’t know the answers to these questions.

What do know is what Newsom talked about last April at the California Democratic Convention in Sacramento when he was running for Governor. He stated to a group of bloggers that based on his travels around the state, central Californians were open to him despite his stance on gay marriage. Newsom told us that what mattered to the folks in the interior was jobs. That would be true if we lived in a rational world. Instead we live in a post-rational world where people will consciously vote against their own best interests to make sure laws won’t turn their children gay.

His stance on Same Sex Marriage is one I will always admire. Newsom stepped up and declared that justice delayed is justice denied and made a bold move to legalize gay marriage in San Francisco. The next generation will grow up and see their parents and the politicians they supported be weak willed when it came to their fellow citizens’ civil rights. Gavin can at least tell them he was on the right side of this issue.

Personally, I would prefer someone from Northern California in the Governorship and Lt. Governorship, because power is too skewed to Southern California. So I remain cautiously open-minded to Newsom.

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Maven’s Happy Birthday Edition

marinmaven — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:04:47 +0000

happy birthday

Add Glitter to Pictures

Today, is our Assemblyman, Jared Huffman’s birthday. So we made a special Birthday Blingee. We likeys him even though he has not made hedgehogs legal in California yet nor has he allowed me the ability as an adult adoptee to access my original birth certificate (even though I can trace my birthroots to the 1400s.)

Jared Huffman is a prime example of how bad and stupid term limits are. Huffman represents us well in Sacramento and we would love to keep him as our Assemblyman for very long time, but those darned term limits get in the way of districts being able to keep good representatives. Without term limits, representatives have time to tackle problems with long term perspective. With term limits, representatives are often dependent on unelected career staffers and lobbyists. Term limits never made sense. Marin maven has always rejected term limits as a symptom that voters are too lazy to get off their rear ends to vote. Don’t like who is in office? VOTE THEM OUT. We never get anywhere close to even 95% voter turnout. THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

So what will happen in 2012? Huffman will probably be in line to be our State Senator and we will have to share him with San Francisco if Mark Leno steps into another office.

More Marin reports that today is also Marin County’s 160th Birthday. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Huffman’s birthday is the same day as Marin County. This is a sign people.

How are you going to celebrate Assemblyman Huffman’s and Marin County’s birthday? Binge Drinking, perhaps?

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California’s Jim Crow Law Prop 8 upheld, 18K Marriages Stand

marinmaven — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:46:24 +0000

“Today we lost an important battle, but on this disappointing day, it’s worth remembering that the final outcome of this struggle has already been determined. Time is on our side, and Californians will one day soon repeal Proposition 8. Patti and I have been married for 43 years, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the LGBT community and their allies as they work to convince the electorate that all Californians, regardless of sexual orientation, deserve access to marriage and equality. While we will always face roadblocks, our society journeys down a path of increased equality under the law.” – John Garamendi, Lt. Governor

More Marin blogs reaction by Mark Leno.

More later.

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Happy Post-St. Stoopid Day

marinmaven — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:02:54 +0000

Yesterday, my Facebook Buddy, Barack Obama, confirmed me as a cousin yesterday. This meant I was also related to Dick Cheney, was Dick Cheney (!!!), or it was just inexplicably goofy April Fools Joke.

It is true, I have a black thumb, yet I want a victory garden of raised beds and a drip system. Getting wood, drip system materials, and putting together a low maintenance garden is a mystery to me. The fear is that we can invest money in it in this economy when there are black thumbs involved. Can anyone help me? Maven will highlight anyone who can help on this site.

Stop the Spray Marin wants us to tell our State Representatives, Mark Leno and Jared Huffman to let them a spot at the table when Assemblyperson from Sonoma/Napa Noreen Evans gathers together Agricultural representatives, the Farm Bureau, and various environmental groups to construct a “consensus document” to the CDFA and USDA. Stop the Spray Marin and Maven is concerned that there are no public health experts in the process.

Please contact your Assemblymember and State Senator to tell them that STSM is an important stakeholder in guiding the future of the LBAM eradication program and that you want a representative at all future North Bay Stakeholder meetings.

Assemblymember Jared Huffman
916-319-2006

Senator Mark Leno
916-651-4003

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Marin Maven’s Shocking Endorsements!

marinmaven — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:55:46 +0000

Actually, my endorsements are not really shocking at all.

If you have read this blog at all it should be absolutely 1080p clear that I am a staunch supporter of Barack Obama for President. In times of crisis which were delivered to us by the republicans, we need a solid, even-tempered Obama to intelligently and with astute judgment tackle our Nation’s problems.

For State Senate, I want you to vote for my Facebook buddy, Mark Leno. He has reached the 5000 friend limit on Facebook — try doing THAT Sasha Mc Entee! Mark is a progressive and that is enough for me, plus I am congentially unable to vote republican. You would be absolutely crazy to NOT vote for Leno.

For State Assembly, you must vote for my favorite local politician, Jared Huffman. He works hard for us — so I am so “in the tank.” I think I saw a sign for the guy that is running against him, but I forgot the name. Anyone know his name?

I am sorry, but I cannot endorse Measure Q. I am convinced that money is better spent connecting the North Bay to the Richmond BART station. Both counties can chose to build BART trains that come from Southern Marin and Northern Sonoma County to Highway 37. BART actually goes somewhere — Oakland, San Francisco, and Contra Costa County. Marinites would have more flexibility to take jobs where they are. NOT SMART — BART!

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