Connolly tops list in Assembly primary race

With veteran Assemblyman Marc Levine choosing to run for state insurance commissioner, Marin voters are faced with the decision of picking a new representative in the state Legislature.

Based on local political experience and track record, Marin Supervisor Damon Connolly tops the impressive field of qualified candidates.

Connolly, a Democrat, would bring to the job valuable experience and knowledge from having served as a school trustee, a San Rafael City Council member, a county supervisor and as a member of regional transportation and energy boards.

The June 7 election will decide the two candidates who will face off on November's ballot.

Besides Connolly, the field of possible choices include fellow Democrats, Sausalito Marin City School District Trustee Ida Times-Green, former state legislative aide Steve Schwartz of Sebastopol and Sara Aminzadeh of Kentfield, a member of the California Coastal Commission.

Aminzadeh, to her credit, has been endorsed by 26 current and former members of the state Assembly, among them past Marin legislators, former Assemblyman Joe Nation and Mark Leno, a former state senator.

Her connection to her party's power structure in Sacramento may be strong, but Connolly has shown he has the strongest ties to local lawmakers and community leaders.

Times-Green, a county social service worker who grew up in Marin City's public housing, is running to be “a voice for change,” including addressing what she calls California's “crisis on inequity.”

Among her backers is former Marin Supervisor Susan Adams.

Schwartz is an organic farmer, founder of the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative and a member of the Marin Food Policy Council. He also served as a trustee of the Gravenstein Union School District. He's been endorsed by former Marin Assemblywoman Vivien Bronshvag. Being the only Sonoma County resident in the race could boost his bid.

There's no Republican candidate in this race.

Connolly's breadth of experience on key issues such as energy, transportation, education, economic and social challenges,land-use planning and housing, and having worked with leaders in the district's two counties, gives him an advantage in addressing them in Sacramento. He has served six terms in elected office. He knows his responsibility to his constituents.

“I'm running to be a local voice in Sacramento for our communities,” Connolly told the IJ editorial board, stressing that he offers “a proven track record” to Marin and Sonoma county residents.

Connolly's endorsements reflect that strength, including support from Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke, three of his four colleagues of the Marin Board of Supervisors — Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Dennis Rodoni and Judy Arnold — San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin and former state Sen. John Burton, who represented Marin in Washington and in Sacramento.

Connolly is running in a field of strong, articulate candidates.

Aminzadeh is polished and brings a different voice and perspective. Times-Green is articulate and offers leadership that would include seeing issues through a different lens — that of needing to right racial and economic inequities facing our state and nation.

“As a resilient Black woman, I have lived experience,” she said.

Her candidacy has made sure those issues are being addressed in this election.

Having served as a legislative staffer, Schwartz knows his way around the halls of Sacramento and his opponents don't have his depth of knowledge of Sonoma County and North Bay agriculture.

But when it comes to breadth of experience, Connolly has an impressive edge.

We expect our community's representative in Sacramento will be a leader locally as well as in the statehouse. We don't need glossy mailers, but initiative to keep constituents informed about how we are being represented in legislative debates and votes.

The IJ editorial board's recommendations are offered as food for thought as voters make up their own minds. In the race for the open seat in Assembly District 10, the IJ recommends Damon Connolly based on his years and breadth of experience.