Fran Pavley—An Environmental Legend—Wins Democratic Primary for Kuehl Senate Seat

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Beats Assemblymember Lloyd Levine by Two-to-One

By Frank D. Russo

Fran Pavley, (pictured at right) served three terms in the California State Assembly before having to leave because of term limits, has decisively won the Democratic primary and will be returning to the State Senate to succeed Sheila Kuehl in representing the parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, including the San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and the Westside of Los Angeles.

Those are big shoes to fill, but Pavley is considered a legend in her own time by environmental groups as the author of the “Pavley Bill,” AB 1493 on tail pipe emissions of greenhouse gases that recently was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and has been fought by the Bush administration. She also was the author of AB 32, the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, along with then Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez. AB 32 was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger and has been widely touted nationally as a model for other states as well as internationally. Her leadership on the most important environmental issue facing the world in the 21st Century has been recognized by many entities, including being selected as one of Scientific American's Top Technology Leaders in Transportation, and receiving the 2006 California League of Conservation Voters "Global Warming Leadership Award" along with former Vice President Al Gore.

Pavley won with 66.4% of the vote to current Assemblymember Lloyd Levine’s 33.6% to win the Democratic nomination. She carried both the Los Angeles County part of the district as well as the smaller portion in Ventura County.

She was endorsed by Senator Sheila Kuehl for the seat that Kuehl has had to leave due to term limits.

Pavley was also endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters, despite Levine having a perfect 100% rating on the organization’s environmental scorecard for his votes on legislation in 2006 and 2007.

Her AB 1493 requires the Air Resources Board to adopt regulations that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light duty trucks by 30% by the year 2016. It was the first bill of its kind in the country and was featured on a special segment on the PBS, which you can watch.