The Malibu Times 41st Assembly seat endorsement
Barry Groveman for the 41st Assembly District seat
I think it’s time for a change in our representation in Sacramento, which is why I’m recommending Barry Groveman to you.
On June 6, many of you will go to the polls and vote in the primary to pick a candidate to run on the Democratic ticket in November against the Republicans. The reality is that the 41st Assembly is heavily Democratic, and whoever wins the Democratic primary this month will be elected to the Assembly in November, so the real battle for the seat in this district is in the Democratic primary. This is not accidental. When the district lines were last redrawn, all the incumbent officeholders, whether Democratic or Republican, whom seldom agree on anything, managed to get together and agree on one thing: they all wanted to remain in office. So they all worked out a deal in which all the incumbents were protected. This means, as a practical matter, we get to choose who represents us in the Assembly once every six years when the old incumbent is termed out and a new bunch of people run in the primary for the seat. The upcoming election for this particular Assembly district is one of those once-in-every-six-year opportunities, so I’ve considered it very carefully before recommending Groveman to you.
In the past, in Malibu’s many battles with the various parts of the state bureaucracy, we have virtually been crushed. The California Coastal Commission rammed through the Legislature a law that virtually gave it operational control of land use in the City of Malibu. That wouldn’t have happened if we had representatives who went to bat for us in Sacramento. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is virtually a law unto itself here in Malibu, funded through bonds we voted for, and now practically having its own gun-carrying police force. Pacific Coast Highway, our lifeline to the world, remains a disaster. It closes down for disasters, both major and minor, movie shoots and contractors’ equipment, and whenever we try to find out who is responsible and how to fix it, we’re met with explanations that suggest our local government structure, with overlapping jurisdictions, was practically designed by Kafka.
It’s pretty clear what we need in our Sacramento representative.
First, we need someone who knows how politics in Sacramento runs and has spent time in public service. I’m in Sacramento every week and I can assure you the game moves so fast, and is so complicated, there isn’t time to begin with the ABCs no matter how bright the individual might be. Our governor, Arnold, came into office on a mandate, and despite all the good advice and seasoned people around him, he still made a bunch of bush league mistakes. Now, two years later, he’s begun to understand the game and how it’s played, and he’s improving. Term limits have accelerated the process so that many of the effective players typically come from elective offices like city councils and boards of supervisors, or are former legislative staffers. Groveman has had that experience as a city council member, a mayor and an attorney dealing in Sacramento matters regularly. He was involved in the drafting and passage of Prop 65, and he has a long background in environmental law enforcement. He knows the game.
But even more important is personality. The most effective legislators I see are very focused, very tough people. When they’re dealing with something that’s very important to them personally, or something that’s very important to their constituents, they are willing to do battle. That means they’re willing to risk offending someone or burning some bridges. It’s a very precarious line they walk. If they’re too heavy handed, they offend their colleagues and risk overplaying their hand. If they’re too soft, they get nothing and are considered weak. The Legislature is filled with ineffectual legislators, and also some very good ones. I believe Groveman has that kind of tough personality that will make him very effective. I think Malibu needs someone who isn’t afraid of making a few waves.
As I look at the field of candidates I see some very bright, very committed and very ambitious people, but none of them have Groveman’s experience, personal drive and proven problem solving ability. And in that regard, he stands above the field, which is why I’m recommending him.
Lastly, on a personal note, I’m disturbed that both of our current incumbents are attempting to name their own successors. We should resist letting the current incumbents dictate our choices. With almost all the legislative districts now safe as a practical matter for either one party or the other, we have little enough chance to decide whom we want in office. You end up with the same group of people controlling the district for years on end and with the power of incumbency to raise money, direct the party machinery for or against someone and lend their name recognition to help a candidate, it becomes very difficult for the unannointed to win.