|
|
Senator Pavley Celebrates Election Victory in Topanga!
PHOTOS BY ANNEMARIE DONKIN © Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) joined with Bill Buerge of the Mountain Mermaid and Gail McDonald-Tune with her dog, Odessa, to celebrate her re-election. Former State Senator Sheila Kuel at the Mountain Mermaid celebration for Sen. Fran Pavley. Kuel made is known officially that she plans to run for the office of Third District County Supervisor for Los Angeles in 2014.
The storm clouds cleared just as more than 200 people gathered on a glorious Saturday afternoon at the Mountain Mermaid in Topanga to celebrate the re-election of State Senator Fran Pavley. 
As the mimosas flowed, the Topanga Symphony Quartet played lovely classical music (with Margreet Ray on oboe, Jeanne Mitchell on violin, Katherine Shaw on viola and Gavin Koon on cello) while the guests enjoyed a sumptuous brunch catered by Bon Mélange.
In fact, everyone in the room seemed to heave a sigh of relief after Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) won a decisive victory over her Republican rival, Todd Zink.
Pavley invited her longtime friends from the Santa Monica Mountains’ communities and many new constituents from Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley who supported her election in the newly formed 27th State Senate district
Following the brunch, Pavley took a few moments to thank all of her supporters in the room.
“Without you it would have been impossible,” she said. “When the district changed, many of you supported me even if you were no longer in my district.”
Pavley explained some of the challenges she faced during the election in a newly formed district where about 60 percent of the residents don’t know her.
“Just think about the geography and politics of switching from Santa Monica and West Hollywood to Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks that will be in this new district,” she said.
The new 27th Senate District includes all or part of the communities of Agoura Hills, Bell Canyon, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Moorpark, Oak Park, Reseda, Porter Ranch, Santa Clarita, Santa Rosa Valley, Stevenson Ranch, Simi Valley, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Topanga, West Hills, Westlake Village, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills.
There are approximately 931,000 people in the new senate district and Pavley pointed out that the district is larger than seven states.
She thanked those who worked as precinct walkers, who sent letters, put up lawn signs and made phone calls. 
Pavley singled out Dorothy Reik, President of the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, as one whose efforts really made a difference.
“Andy and I visited Dorothy’s phone bank in Woodland Hills one night because she promised cheesecake,” she laughed.
Reik countered with some reasons why she worked hard on Pavley’s behalf.
“I have been a supporter ever since that first meeting at Trippet Ranch when she told a few of us that she would be running in the primary in 2000; it’s great to have Fran represent us for another four years; Topanga is very lucky to have her,” Reik said. “The Santa Monica Mountains can breathe a sigh of relief and the anti-fracking movement can count on having an ally in Sacramento.”
Indeed, many who have worked with Pavley for years were once again thrilled to attend her victory celebration.
“‘Wow’ is kind of the operative word here,” said Susan Nissman, Senior Deputy to Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
“Who would have thought 12 years after seeing Fran first elected, with all her amazing accomplishments, we’d all need to rally like never before to see her re-elected—what a united effort, hard fought at every level, she was nonstop, her message got out and now over 400,000 new constituents will see why she's been little ol’ Topanga’s choice since 2000.”
Though he was unable to attend, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky provided a statement about working with Pavley.
“I was delighted and relieved that Fran Pavley won re-election to the State Senate,” Yaroslavsky wrote. “Fran has been my indispensable partner in protecting the Santa Monica Mountains and growing the acreage dedicated to open space for all time. She is a national environmental leader and one of the legislature's most important voices for education and good government...Fran Pavley is a true California treasure and the voters have made an excellent choice in returning her to the Senate.”
After Pavley spoke, former State Senator Sheila Kuehl let everyone in the room know that she will definitely run for Third District Supervisor in 2014 when Yaroslavsky is termed out.
STATE SEN. FRAN PAVLEY
Prior to her election to the CA Senate, Pavley served three terms in the State Assembly. As senator, she serves on the Energy, Appropriations, Transportation and Housing and Environmental Quality Policy Committees. In 2011, President Obama announced that the new national automobile emissions standards would be modeled after the “Pavley” law (AB32) in California. Some of Pavley’s accomplishments include working to marshal enough money to add 11,000 acres to the Santa Monica Mountains as well as Ahmanson Ranch and King Gillette Ranch. Overall, Pavley promised to continue working on what she calls her most passionate issues, the four ‘E’s—education, environment, energy and the economy.
LOYAL CONSTITUENTS AND SUPPORTERS
Toby Keeler, of the Old Topanga Homeowners Association remarked that he couldn’t imagine a better representative of the Santa Monica Mountains communities. “It has come full circle. The Mermaid is where Fran was first introduced to Topanga in 2000 when she ran for Assembly,” he said.
Seen at the scene were Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, Malibu Mayor Lou LaMonte; Malibu Councilmember Laura Rosenthal and Russell Greene, Chair of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America. “We are more inspired by her work as an environmentalist,” Greene said. “She is in government for all the right reasons and it’s why I am in the Progressive Democratic Party.”
