Published 10/18 Marin IJ
Connolly’s experience makes him good choice
As director of the Citizen Marin activist website, I am writing to endorse Supervisor Damon Connolly for state Assembly.
His roots are deep here, having spent 18 years as a public servant with strong support. His time as a supervising deputy attorney general was also notable: He investigated and helped reel in predatory energy giants, including Enron.
Setting his earlier work aside, it’s been a torturous couple of years for local governments, with a tremendous amount of extra work related to the unexpectedly huge state housing mandates and laws that are yanking the rug out from all long term community planning.
In the many hours I’ve spent watching Joint Planning and Board of Supervisors meetings, mostly relating to the Housing Element, I’ve seen him consistently asking the right, probative questions about how the board could continue to do what’s best for Marin. He’s kept his housing focus on low-income projects and expressed concerns about mandated market-rate development. He’s made his opinions on state overreach known, and is not a fan of Senate Bill 9.
I save my most significant respect for his diligent efforts on fire safety. As climate change was visibly increasing our risks of wildfire, Connolly championed Measure C, which passed by huge margins and was instrumental in the creation of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), an incredible organizational step forward for our collective fire safety.
The integrative vision of the MWPA goes beyond coordinating countywide fire services. Vegetation management and planning are matched with community outreach and involvement. The MWPA empowers residents with fire safety education and preparedness. Marin is safer for it.
I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Connolly about these and other issues of concern. I am convinced he would continue to serve our area at the state level as well as he has done locally.
— Amy Kalish, Mill Valley