GOP candidate for Assembly wants to defy election odds

Jayne Murphy Shapiro

Jayne Murphy Shapiro, a Republican candidate for the 41st state Assembly District in next month’s election, is anxious to defy the prognosticators.

Conventional wisdom says a Republican doesn’t have much chance in the solidly Democratic district, which runs from Pacific Palisades to Westlake Village and includes local communities of Hidden Hills, Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

Shapiro, a 55-year-old mother of four who lives in Encino, begs to differ.

"We have had a couple of polls done and Fran [Pavley] and I are neck and neck," Shapiro said. "So it is exciting to have a Republican that close."

But not too surprising.

Shapiro has gone out of her way to woo voters in the western part of the district, the home turf of her opponent, Agoura Hills resident Fran Pavley.

In a break from the conservative wing of her party, Shapiro said she’d back Proposition 36, a ballot measure that would divert nonviolent drug users from jail to rehabilitation, and support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Shapiro’s husband died of cancer in 1990 and she said marijuana allowed him to reduce his suffering.

But to the dismay of the environmentally conscious Santa Monica Mountains residents, Shapiro is said to be a mouthpiece for developers and business interests.

Answering those critics, Shapiro disclosed that Pavley, the self-proclaimed environmental candidate, accepted a $500 campaign check from Dan Selleck, a successful Westlake Village developer.

In a letter to Save Open Space, an environmentalist group, Shapiro said, "I find this terribly ironic for Ms. Pavley to accept such a contribution while at the same time Selleck Properties is in the process of developing a new shopping center right in Agoura Hills."

While Democrats make up 49 percent of the district compared to 33 percent for Republicans, Shapiro hopes voters who’ve become disenchanted with Pavley’s history of anti-development will switch sides and voter for Shapiro.

"I take [campaign money] from developers who I feel have been very sensitive to environmental issues and some are Democrats and some are independents," said Shapiro, who plans to spend up to $2 million on the campaign.

"I think some of the environmental groups have not even been given the chance to meet with me and I think that’s sad because if I’m elected, we have to work with each other."

Shapiro promises to take what she calls a "pragmatic" approach to development issues.

"You can develop and grow to meet the needs of the population increase and you can also be very, very sensitive to the environment," Shapiro said.

Denis Weber, a leader of business and development interests on the Agoura Hills City Council, agrees with Shapiro.

"I think there’s a balance," Weber said. "While Fran Pavley [a former Agoura Hills mayor and councilwoman] did some great things for the environment, she may have overstepped a little bit and I think there needs to be a balance in the end."

But Weber, a Shapiro supporter, believes Pavley still holds the cards.

"Fran has a very good chance of winning, in part because of the name recognition that is lacking on Jayne’s part."

Shapiro is fighting to change that. She began by casting herself as a "socially conscious moderate," a candidate who’s willing to accommodate growth interests, but only in a responsible manner.

"Some people call me an oxymoron, but the people out here are independent thinkers," Shapiro said.

"When I approached the Republican Party and told them I was running, they were very, very excited because they saw for first time a type of Republican who can take this district."

Shapiro is asking voters to pick the candidate, not necessarily the party.

Shapiro founded the nonprofit group KIDS SAFE and helped convince the California Assembly to pass the landmark "Megan’s Law" legislation in 1996. Shapiro, a former nurse, promises to remain a strong voice on children’s health and safety issues.

Shapiro released a four-point plan to improve transportation in the 41st District, including help for the 101/405 freeway interchange and tax credits for hybrid vehicles.

But the time for lengthy traffic studies is over, Shapiro said. Traffic gridlock in the San Fernando and Conejo valleys needs to be solved now.

"How many studies can we do? It’s apparent we’re in a crisis … We’ve got to look way ahead and really, really be visionaries in this area because it’s costing millions of people a lot of wasted dollars."

Next week The Acorn takes a look at Fran Pavley, the Democratic candidate for the 41st District.