Levine best choice for Assembly

What do selfies, super models and Robin Williams have to do with voters in Petaluma? A lot more than most people think.

Marc Levine, the Democrat from San Rafael who has represented Petaluma in the Assembly since 2012, has within the past year authored legislation to allow selfies at polling places, increase workplace standards for models and rename the Waldo Tunnel for Robin Williams.

These were high-profile bills that garnered Levine media attention from across the state. But the Assemblyman has also spearheaded some two dozen bills in the past year which have flown under the radar though were nonetheless important pieces of legislation.

Levine has authored legislation allowing craft beer makers and wine makers to offer tastings at farmers markets, potentially aiding two growing Petaluma industries. He has sponsored a bill that would ban the sale of a certain style of assault weapon in California, at a time when standing up to the gun lobby has become more challenging.

The new Highway 101 bridge over the Petaluma River might not be opening this spring had it not been for Levine’s deal-making acumen. When wildlife lovers sued Caltrans over a colony of cliff swallows nesting in the bridge construction zone, it was Levine that brought the parties together and helped reach a settlement that protected the birds while keeping the project on track.

In the June 7 primary, voters should support Levine and send him back to the Assembly to do more for Petaluma. There is certainly more work that he could do if given another two-year term.

We would like to see less of the high-profile lawmaking and more of the mundane legislation that could have a real and direct impact on the 10th District, which includes all of Marin and much of Sonoma County.

Levine has a unique plan to improve statewide infrastructure by encouraging more investment by public pension funds. But Petaluma voters would like to see how that translates into completing one of the biggest local transportation projects, the widening of Highway 101 from Petaluma to Novato. Certainly Levine can do more to address the funding gap in that project.

Levine should also engage more in the local battle over Indian gaming expansion. Petaluma residents do not want a Las Vegas-style casino to be built on tribe-owned land south of town, and Levine should play a role in ensuring one is never built.

The Assembly district is one of the most liberal in the state, and Levine is one of the Assembly’s most liberal members, although he still needs to work across the aisle in a state as diverse as California.

The top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election.

The Republican in the primary race, Gregory Allen, is not a good fit for the district. A cyber security recruiter from Novato, his focus is on defending Prop. 13 property tax protections.

A second Democrat in the race, former Santa Rosa City Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi, a strident climate change activist, doesn’t have the political experience to make her a viable alternative to Levine.

Levine has proven he can get things done in Sacramento, but he has more work to do.

In the June 7 primary, we recommend that voters support Levine for Assembly so that he can continue that work.