Conscientious Huffman best for Congress
Marin is fortunate to have a strong representative and local leader in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Jared Huffman is up for re- election on the Nov. 3 ballot. He is seeking his fifth term as Marin’s voice in Congress.
He should be re- elected.
The Democrat from San Rafael built a reputation for being a champion of environmental protection and a lawmaker who works as hard on the homefront as he does in Washington.
On important issues such as racial justice, gun control and climate change, Huffman has diligently represented his constituents in the decision-making forums of our nation’s capital.
is opponent, trying for a fourth time to unseat Huffman, is Republican Dale Mensing, whose far-right politics are out of step with Marin voters.
Mensing, a grocery clerk from Redway in Humboldt County, is calling for re- opening churches, schools and businesses that have been closed or limited due to the coronavirus crisis. He’s opposed to gun control and favors having armed guards on school campuses.
According to his website, Mensing sees the push for gun control “as part of overpowering Federal control, anti-gun leaders desire its removal as a stepping stone on the pathway to nullifying the Bill of Rights in its entirety. The forces of evil seek to destroy our precious fundamentals.”
He’s also called the global warming crisis “a hoax,” saying recent changes in our climate are “primarily natural.”
It is clear that Mensing is out of step with Marin voters. They gave Hillary Clinton a 77.2% majority in 2016, compared to 15% for Donald Trump, which was even less than the GOP’s two previous nominees, John McCain and Mitt Romney, received from Marin voters.
To his credit and an example of his local leadership,Huffman has not shied away from taking on local issues that affect federal agencies and policies, ranging from immigration to the management of our federal parks.
During the last session, Huffman was able to win approval of funding for the longdelayed dredging of the Petaluma River and progress toward the long overdue maintenance dredging of the San Rafael Canal.
He has also shepherded legislation to convert the former U.S. Coast Guard housing in Point Reyes Station into affordable housing for local residents.
Marin is just a piece of Huffman’s district, which extends to the Oregon border. He has worked on federal issues in those communities, as well.
Huffman has proven himself to be a hard-working representative. He has been responsive to local requests for his assistance, while also focusing on larger issues such as developing an ambitious clean energy plan, a more environmentally sound plan for the North Coast’s rivers and water supply and calling out the need for tougher gun control to help stop mass shootings.
Huffman has also been working on legislation to improve the sustainable management and clean up of forest lands which could go a long way in lessening the threat and scope of wildland fires.
He has been a staunch and steady critic of Trump and says the Nov. 3 elections are critical and Democratic victories— winning by as large a margin as possible — are critical to make it harder for Trump and Republicans to challenge the veracity of the vote.
Huffman has proven himself as a leader and a conscientious representative of Marin communities. He’s not afraid of the hard work needed to solve problems. He says he strives to “produce outcomes that make a difference” for the communities and people in his district.
In California’s 2nd Congressional District, clearly the best qualified and proven candidate is incumbent Jared Huffman. The IJ wholeheartedly recommends his re- election.