Groveman eyes Pavley’s State Assembly seat

By Michael Picarellapic@theacorn.com

Barry Groveman Fran Pavley, Agoura Hills resident and State Assemblymember form the local 41st District, will be termed out of office next year, but another local politician, Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman, wants to fill Pavley’s shoes and keep the job at home.

Groveman has begun his campaign to run for Pavley’s seat and recently held a fundraiser that attracted over 100 supporters. State and local officials and other community leaders attended the Calabasas event

“I have filed my notice of intention to be a candidate for the 41st Assembly District in June 2006; however, I will not make a formal announcement until early next year after January,” Groveman said. “I have raised significant funds to date, which tells me I have significant support and I feel very encouraged.”

No other candidates have officially entered the Assembly race, but Groveman expects competition from at least three others in the June Democratic primary.

Groveman won a Calabasas City Council seat in 2003 with promises to reduce the nightmarish traffic around schools, promote cooperation among bickering city council members and stanch the city’s bleeding with regard to legal fees, which grew enormously during the fight against Ahmanson Ranch.

Supporters say Groveman’s success on the local level will translate well at the state level.

“I’m considering this because I’m extremely impatient with the lack of ability to see solutions to problems that we seem to talk about year after year after year,” Groveman said.

“For example, traffic congestion is beginning to cripple our region,” said Groveman. “Although as a mayor I’ve been able to work with my colleagues to make tangible improvements within our city, we need to make the same improvements on our local freeways and major roads and highways—these issues must be addressed in Sacramento.

“The same is true with the need to improve our schools,” Groveman said. “These same problems are talked about every year and it’s time we take strong measures in Sacramento to overhaul the funding mechanism so that our school districts can meet the standards we expect.”

Groveman, a longtime lawyer, served as an assistant Los Angeles city attorney and special assistant district attorney for Los Angeles County specializing in environmental crimes.

He said he replaced fines with jail sentences for more than 24 executives who were dumping dangerous chemicals into the environment.

In private practice, Groveman has represented businesses, cities, school districts and water districts.

The mayor currently serves as the chair of the the Inland Empire Perchlorate Task Force.

“I have authored many laws, including the landmark environmental law, Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1986 and most recently I was the author of several water quality bills and other pieces of legislation, which demonstrates an ability to hit the ground running in Sacramento,” Groveman said.