SANTA BARBARA, CA — Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams is pleased to announce today that the Consumer Federation of California (CFC) has endorsed his campaign for the 35th Assembly District.

CFC is the state’s leading consumer advocacy organization dedicated to enacting state and federal laws that place consumers ahead of corporate profit.

“Das Williams has been a supporter of working families throughout his career as a local elected leader and community activist,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of CFC. “As an organization committed to consumer rights, we recognized Das’ strong record of standing up on key issues, as well as his unique ability to bring people together to solve problems. We are confident that as a member of the State Assembly, Das will continue to protect consumers as they spend their hard earned dollars.”

CFC joins the California Democratic Party, AFSCME, SEIU, California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, CDF Firefighters, National Organization for Women, former Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson and numerous others backing Das Williams’ campaign for State Assembly.

“This wave of support is exciting and gives further validation to the fact that our state is ready for the type of leadership that truly prioritizes the concerns of hard working people,” said Das Williams. “CFC has been looking out for consumers for more than 50 years and I am honored to have their support.”

Das Williams is running to succeed termed-out Assemblymember Pedro Nava.

To learn more about Das Williams’ background and campaign, visit www.daswilliams.org.

Accident in Gulf proves that state-of-the art technology not good enough to prevent massive spills.

In the wake of the tragic events in the Gulf of Mexico, Governor Schwarzenegger has withdrawn his support for Texas-based Plains Exploration and Production Company’s (PXP) controversial plan to expand offshore oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast. Had PXP’s proposal been approved, it would have reversed California’s longstanding ban against new offshore oil leasing in state waters and been the first new offshore oil lease since the 1969 blowout fouled the Santa Barbara coastline.

“I welcome the Governor’s change in course and am thrilled that he has decided to take a precautionary approach to any new oil drilling off California. The unfolding tragedy in the Gulf reminds us anew of all the dangers that offshore oil drilling poses for our people, our coastal economy, marine wildlife, and beaches,” said Jordan.

Jordan, the Director of the California Coastal Protection Network and a candidate in the 35th District Assembly race, has opposed the PXP project from the beginning and fought all last year to stop the Governor from approving it in the budget. Just last week, Jordan blasted PXP for fighting against stronger drilling rig protections that might have prevented the devastating oil spill that occurred 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

British Petroleum (BP), the operator responsible for the ongoing oil spill in Louisana, also submitted comments opposing the increased safety measures. Exxon and Chevron did as well.

The Louisiana spill, which is releasing approximately 5,000 barrels a day into the Gulf of Mexico with no end in sight, is being described as one of the nation’s worst environmental disasters in decades.

PXP had recently announced a “new agreement” that it claimed resolved all the concerns that led to the State Lands Commission’s initial rejection of the project in January of 2009.

“PXP has repeatedly tried to woo environmental support with promises to shut down drilling in 14 years, land donations and the like. But the one thing PXP couldn’t overcome was the 100% increase in the likelihood of an oil spill that could devastate our coast. That is not a risk that I and many others were willing to take at any price,” Jordan said.

The PXP deal has been a contentious issue in Jordan’s assembly race. Jordan opposed the deal from the start. Das Williams, her opponent in the Democratic primary, who had earlier pledged to support Jordan, cited her opposition to the PXP Tranquillon Ridge proposal for new oil drilling as the key reason for making an about-face entry into the race.

Despite intense political pressure to support the PXP proposal, Jordan stood her ground. “Support for PXP’s drilling plans has placed vulnerable coastal communities like Carpinteria and Goleta at increased risk for new, expanded drilling. We need a strong united voice against any and all new offshore oil drilling off the California coast,” she said.

“While my opponent supported PXP’s new oil drilling plan, I fought against efforts by PXP to try to force the State Legislature into approving this project. I expressed outrage when an infant health care program was gutted as retribution for the Assembly’s refusal to approve the project. I opposed then-Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee’s efforts to push through approval of the proposal in a dark-of-night gut and amend during the last week of session. And I challenged the Governor’s efforts to force approval by threatening to pull all funding for California state parks. This is not the type of company anyone should be making deals with and I am glad that the Governor has finally seen the light,” said Jordan.

Jordan also noted that PXP was recently found by Los Angeles County officials to have engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to win approval for a vast expansion of its onshore oil drilling operation in Baldwin Hills in close proximity to residential neighborhoods. Culver City, the Natural Resources Defense Council and others filed suit over the expansion and the case is currently pending.

PXP also has had financial relationships in the Gulf of Mexico with both entities that are involved in the oil spill off Louisiana: British Petroleum and Transocean. The extent of those relationships at the current time is unclear.

“California has 40 years of state policy against new offshore oil drilling in state waters. It is a policy that has served our state and our communities well. It is time to reaffirm that policy, send PXP’s oil drilling proposal back to Texas, and move toward a renewable energy future,” she concluded.

Susan Jordan is a candidate for the 35th District Assembly seat and the Founder and Director of the award-winning environmental group, the California Coastal Protection Network. Jordan opposes the PXP proposal to begin new oil drilling. Her opponent in the Democratic primary, Das Williams, supports it.

To learn more about Susan or donate to her campaign, visit her website at www.jordan4assembly.com You can also sign up to volunteer.

Assembly District 35 candidate Susan Jordan has once again received the backing of a major public safety group. The California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) has picked Jordan as the only candidate it is supporting in the 35th District Assembly race because of her consistent and unwavering support of public safety issues.

“Susan Jordan is the one candidate in this race that we believe will work to help us keep neighborhoods safe and who has the experience to make smart, responsible budgeting decisions that will get California back on track.  She has the integrity, independence and guts to stand up to the special interests and is exactly the kind of effective legislator we need in Sacramento,” said Susan Manheimer, President of the California Police Chiefs Association.

The CPCA is a law enforcement advocacy and informational group made up of police chiefs and their seconds in command around the state, as well as former chiefs.

“I am deeply honored to receive the sole endorsement of this group for the 35th Assembly District race,” Jordan said. “The California Police Chiefs Association works hard to make sure the public safety profession maintains the highest standards and they advocate strongly for policies which protect our citizens. I have tremendous admiration for the work our law enforcement officials do. Every day they risk their lives to protect our communities.”

The Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, Oxnard Police Chief John Crombach, the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association, Oxnard Firefighters, and Ventura City Firefighters have also all given Susan Jordan their sole endorsement for the 35th District State Assembly race in 2010.

“Susan is honest, direct and a great communicator. Her record pushing Sacramento to make the tough decisions for the right reasons demonstrates that she is the best candidate, hands down. Now is the time we need representatives like Susan Jordan,” said Matt Findlay, President of the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association.

Chief Crombach, a well-respected member of the local law enforcement community, also expressed his confidence in Jordan’s ability as a statewide leader.

“After getting to know Susan, I am impressed with the breadth and depth of her experience in public policy,” Crombach said. “More importantly, she has a fire in her core and commitment to fight on the issues that are critical to our communities. While others talk about the challenges in the future, Susan sees a host of opportunities.  We need strong leadership in Sacramento and Susan Jordan will provide us with that leadership.”

“Ventura firefighters are proud to support Susan Jordan’s bid for Assembly District 35. Her integrity, hard work and knowledge of the issues facing our state are impressive. Susan understands that public safety is a top priority for our citizens,” said Ben Davis, President of the Ventura City Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 3431, which represents the firefighters and paramedics employed by the City of Ventura.

After a successful career in the private sector, Jordan founded the California Coastal Protection Network (CCPN) in 1999 and serves as its executive director. CCPN is considered one of the top environmental advocacy organizations in California and Jordan has received numerous awards for her precedent-setting work protecting communities around the state. She was also Chair of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.

Environmental leader, former Carpinteria Mayor and three-term City Councilmember Donna Jordan has endorsed Susan Jordan in her race for the 35th District Assembly seat.

Donna Jordan, a long-time resident of Carpinteria, is a former middle school teacher who continues to tutor. Since leaving the City Council, Donna has continued in her role as a community activist and is currently focused on stopping new oil development in Carpinteria.

“I endorsed Susan Jordan because of her energy, intelligence and obvious passion for protecting our beautiful coastline,” Donna Jordan said.

As founder of the California Coastal Protection Network, Susan Jordan has received numerous awards for her statewide environmental work and for successfully taking on Governor Schwarzenegger and the big oil and gas corporations’ efforts to expand offshore oil development and build unsafe gas terminals along our coast. For the last 15 years, Susan has organized local communities at the grassroots level to stop powerful special interests from building illegal, polluting projects that threaten our water, air and coast. Susan is a staunch opponent of new offshore oil drilling and opposes both the controversial PXP plan for new offshore oil drilling and Venoco’s efforts to expand oil drilling off Carpinteria and Goleta.

“Receiving Donna’s endorsement for my campaign was a tremendous honor. She embodies the kind of elected official I intend to be — devoted to the betterment of her constituents and her community,” Jordan said. “When Donna served on the City Council, she was active in the campaign to acquire the Carpinteria Bluffs — a remarkable achievement that distinguished Carpinteria as the little seaside town that could. Against all odds, Carpinteria managed to raise $4 million to acquire that land and it is that community spirit that I find so inspiring. Carpinteria is a special jewel along the California coast that must be protected and, when elected, I intend to do just that,” Jordan said.

Susan Jordan is an award-winning environmental leader, businesswoman, health advocate, mother and former chair of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.