Democrats face off in Petaluma Assembly district

Incumbent Marc Levine faces progressive challenger Dan Monte. Both candidates are from Marin County.|

For the second straight election, California’s top-two primary has produced two Democrats on the November ballot seeking the State Assembly seat that includes Petaluma.

Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, is running for his fourth two-year term in the Assembly. He faces progressive challenger Dan Monte, a retired contractor from San Rafael. The well-funded Levine beat Monte in the June primary, winning 80 percent of the vote.

Assembly District 10, which includes Marin County and southern Sonoma County, is one of the most liberal districts in the state. Monte, whose key issues are universal healthcare and environmental protection, is running a grassroots campaign and has picked up endorsements from progressives including former Rep. Lynn Woolsey and Petaluma City Councilwoman Teresa Barrett.

“I am to the left of Levine,” said Monte, 69, a father of two. “I am a progressive Democrat, no doubt about it.”

Levine, who is one of the more progressive Democrats in Sacramento, has championed environmental legislation, including on the state’s cap-and-trade carbon emissions program, and he has taken on the National Rifle Association by closing loopholes on assault weapons purchases.

“Everyday I work hard for all my constituents,” said Levine, 44, who has two kids and previously served on the San Rafael City Council. “Climate change is the issue of our time. We need to preserve the earth for future generations.”

Levine, who has authored 62 bills signed into law, said he supports universal health care. He organized an Assembly committee on natural disaster response after the October North Bay wildfires, and has authored bills that combat underinsurance issues revealed by 2017 North Bay wildfires.

“After facing the most destructive wildfires in state history, Californians should not have to begin the recovery process underinsured,” Levine said. “California has prioritized protecting consumers and helping prevent underinsurance.”

Besides healthcare and climate change, Monte said his other key issues include building more affordable housing and creating tuition-free education. He is against the effort to repeal the state gas tax increase. He acknowledges that the state’s high speed rail project is over budget and behind schedule, but he still believes it is an important infrastructure project that should be supported.

“Global warming is a huge issue,” Monte said. “Our state is burning up. We need to address that.”

Levine said he wants to invest in education. He touted money that Caltrans has appropriated from the gas tax increase to widen Highway 101 in Petaluma, but warned that it could go away if the effort to repeal the tax is successful. He said he supports the high speed rail project, but he wants to see more oversight and risk management to help contain costs.

(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)

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