XPosted on MyDesert.com and on Calitics.com
The Greg Pettis for 80th Assembly District campaignannounced earlier that Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, the highest-ranking Democratic elected official in California, endorsed the Progressive Pettis for the 80th AD to replace the termed-out Bonnie Garcia (R).
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The Pettis for 80th Assembly District campaign Press Release is as follows:
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, the highest-ranking Democratic official in state government, has endorsed Greg Pettis in the open 80th Assembly District race.
"While Democrats in the 80th AD are fortunate to have a wealth of choices this year, I’m getting behind Greg Pettis because he has a long record of results that matter to families throughout the Coachella and Imperial Valleys, and the experience to deliver on the promise of creating a healthier California," Garamendi said.
"We need to put this seat in the hands of someone who will be ready from the first day in office to make our health care system more affordable and accessible, to improve our economy by reducing the achievement gap in our schools and keeping college affordable for more students and to take the lead in combating global climate change," Garamendi added.
Garamendi specifically lauded Pettis for his work expanding CSUSB campus in Palm Desert to accommodate more students, negotiating the Multi-Species Habitat Act to manage growth and conserve water and for creating over 1,000 new jobs in Cathedral City through the downtown revitalization project.
Pettis welcomed Garamendi’s endorsement and said he looked forward to working with him on a host of issues including creating a universal health care system, growing CSU’s branch campus in the Imperial Valley and increasing the use of renewable fuels to reduce carbon emissions.
Garamendi joins a long list of elected officials supporting Pettis including State Controller John Chiang; former State Controller Steve Westly; State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu; incoming State Senate pro-tem Darrell Steinberg; State Senators Carol Migden, Christine Kehoe and Sheila Kuehl; and State Assemblymembers Mike Eng, John Laird, Lloyd Levine, Mark Leno and Ted Lieu.
Garamendi thus follows suit with every local Democratic Club which has chosen to endorse, including
Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club
Desert Stonewall Democratic Club
Inland Stonewall Democratic Club
Palm Springs Democratic Club
Pass Democratic Club
San Diego Democratic Club
San Diego Democratic Women's Club
Other local Democratic leaders in the West Valley, East Valley, and Imperial Valley endorsing Pettis include:
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet
Palm Springs Mayor Pro-Tem Ginny Foat
Palm Springs City Councilmember Rick Hutcheson
Former-Candidate for Palm Springs City Council Bob Mahlowitz
Former-Candidate for Palm Springs City Council John Williams
Palm Springs Unified School District Trustee Meredy Schoenberger
Candidate for Palm Springs Unified School District Trustee Greg Rodriguez
Former-Brawley Mayor Orbie Hanks
Cathedral City Councilmember and Candidate for Mayor of Cathedral City Paul Marchand
Former-Cathedral City Councilmember Sarah Digradi
Cathedral City Clerk Pat Hammers
Desert Hot Springs City Councilmember Karl Baker
President Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club Will Pieper
Vice-President Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club Chuck McDaniel
Former-Coachella Mayor Juan DeLara
Coachella City Councilmember and former Candidate for 80th AD Gilbert Ramirez Jr.
El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders
El Centro Unified School District Trustee Diane Newton
Former-Rancho Mirage Councilmember Jeanne Parrish
Morongo Band of Mission Indians Vice-Chair and Former-Candidate for 80th AD Mary Ann Andreas
Pechange Band of Lisueno Mission Indians Vice-Chairman Andrew Maisel
President Pass Democratic Club Jacqueline Atwood
Vice-President Pass Democratic Club Betty McMillion
President Sun City Democratic Club Arnie Kaminsky
Vice-President Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Roger Tansey
Treasurer Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Bob Silverman
Secretary Desert Stonewall Democratic Club James Reynolds
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Donald W. Grimm, Ph.D.
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Bob Mahlowitz
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Richard Oberhaus
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Robert Lee Thomas
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democratic Club Lynn Worley
Co-Chair Palm Springs Democratic Club Sandy Eldridge
Co-Chair Palm Springs Democratic Club David Pye
Secretary Palm Springs Democratic Club Peter East
Co-founder Palm Springs Democratic Club Lisa Arbalaez
The Desert Sun in its editorial endorsement of Pettis for the Democratic nomination for the CA 80th AD specifically spoke of Pettis' ability to 'hit the ground running' if elected as well as his extensive local administrative and legislative experience. The endorsement inferred that his Democratic opponents lacked similar administrative skills and experience, troubling to the voters of the West Valley, East Valley, and Imperial Valley