Connolly is the right choice for March primary
Marin's representative in the state Assembly, Damon Connolly, is seeking reelection on the March 5 ballot.
He should be retained.
The San Rafael Democrat brings a breadth of experience that should make him a strong voice in Sacramento.
He understands the variables and responsibilities of government at the local level. He's served on the Miller Creek School District board, the San Rafael City Council and the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
Connolly, an attorney, also worked as a state Attorney General prosecutor.
In 2022, Connolly narrowly won the job in a run-off with a strong Democratic Party rival, Sara Aminzadeh.
In his first year in office, Connolly has worked on issues such as opening the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge's little-used bike lane and restoring it as a traffic lane during the busy weekday morning westbound commute hours. He says he also worked on climate change legislation, defending women's rights and reforms aimed at reducing gun violence.
On the March 5 ballot, Connolly has drawn two Republicans, one of which will win a chance to take his or her campaign to the November ballot.
Connolly's two challengers — Novato businessman Andrew Podshadley and correctional counselor Eryn Cervantes — come into the contest having a lot to learn.
Podshadley is making his second run for public office, having narrowly lost a bid for a seat on the Novato City Council in 2022.
He owns a Novato winery, Trek, and has been involved in the leadership of the Novato Downtown Business Association.
He's running to bring “practical solutions” and political cooperation back to Sacramento. The California economy needs the state to be “a best place to start a business,” he says, supporting breaks in taxes and fees to promote new businesses.
Cervantes is a political newcomer and more conservative than her GOP rival. For 25 years, she has worked as a correctional officer, including as a captain on San Quentin State Prison's death row. She is now a correctional counselor at the prison and also lives in its staff housing.
She says voters are worried about their safety from crime, not about “how hot it's going to be next summer,” taking a shot at Connolly who says he's championed legislation on climate change.
She also echoes right-wing rhetoric, raising doubts about the accuracy of our elections, including President Joe Biden's 2020 win over then-incumbent Donald Trump.
One issue on which the candidates agree is that the upper-deck bike lane on the Richmond Bridge should be reopened to traffic. After a trial period, the $20 million lane has failed to get enough use to justify long delays for westbound motorists during the morning commute.
Connolly has worked to use the movable barrier to re-open the lane during the peak commute hours.
Cervantes also supports moving the barrier.
Podshadsley, however, says moving the barrier twice every weekday would be a “huge” expense for few bike riders. He supports restoring the traffic lane and providing a shuttle that would take bike riders across the bridge.
Connolly says he's also working on the widening of Highway 37 and supports the long-term solution of building a raised four-lane causeway. In the meantime, he says other improvements can be made to address flooding and traffic congestion.
Podshadley supports adding a lane in each direction and raising it in stages. He opposes making it a toll road, predicting that it will worsen congestion.
On housing, the candidates don't disagree in their criticism of the state's housing mandates.
Connolly says the states' quotas are too high and need to be reformed. Both Podshadley and Cervantes say the state needs to worry first about having enough water and roads to accommodate growth before mandating more construction.
There are many political differences between the three candidates, but the bottom line is that Connolly brings the most political experience, including already serving in the Assembly.
He's been an effective representative and the IJ recommends support of his reelection bid in the March 5 primary.