With Lynn Woolsey retiring at the end of this term, voters in one of the most progressive districts in the nation now must choose who will represent them after 2012.
Woolsey has been a reliable progressive vote, and has become a hero to many for her visible and courageous public opposition to the Iraq and Afghan wars and advocacy for single payer health reform.
That said, she hasn't been very successful in shepherding legislation of consequence through Congress. CA-6 is at the very cutting edge of public policy in several areas (including land use planning and climate protection). I believe voters here need a representative who not only stands for the right thing, but can translate ideas into implemented policies. Of the prospective candidates now clearly vying for the seat, Assemblymember Jared Huffman is far and away the best by this standard.
More after the hop.
Jared Huffman was a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council before running for office. Since reaching the California Assembly, he has received a 100% rating every year from the California League of Conservation Voters. And despite the insanity of the California Legislature, where in recent years not only has the GOP caucus become one of the most rabid in the country, but the politics of the Governor-hated-by-his-own-party have made the process bizarre and quixotic at best, Assemblymember Huffman has succeeded in getting more than 50 bills enacted into law. The list of recognitions he has received for this remarkable work is long--you can find it at www.jaredhuffman.com.
Right now, as Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, he's leading the charge to prevent closure of California State Parks (70 are threatened).
The bottom line is that anyone elected out of this district is going to be a solid progressive vote. To my mind, that just isn't enough. I need more than someone who says the words I want to hear: I need a representative with the proven political skills to make those words mean something in the real world.
Here on DKos, we struggle all the time with our failure to get progressive policies into law. to my mind, that means proven strategic skills are every bit as important as progressive values. Otherwise, the great ideas just remain talk.
Jared Huffman brings both, in a proven sense. I believe he should be our next Congressperson.