Brownley faces tough economic choices in second term

TRIUMVIRATE—Julia Brownley, Fran Pavley and Sheila Kuehl have been the Democratic leaders for the Las Virgenes region.

Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) handily won a second term in the 41st State Assembly District, but a touch of flu prevented her from joining her party's victory celebration at the Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

A cup of tea eventually helped Brownley quell her aches and pains, and while the news that she had taken the early lead in the voting was heartening, it took a back seat to the announcement that fellow Democrat Barack Obama had won the presidency in dramatic fashion.

"I am very excited about the early results of my campaign, but certainly extraordinarily excited about the national results," Brownley said late Tuesday before all votes had been counted.

By Wednesday morning, Brownley had claimed 64 percent of the vote, beating Republican opponent Mark Bernsley by a more than twotoone margin.

"The message was the idea of change," Brownley said. "Everybody had too much of the current leadership. We want to get out of the war; we want to take care of ourselves."

"It's an historic evening,"she said.

Agoura Hills' resident Allison Barry cast her ballot at the Morrison Ranch home of Sheri and Steve Karp. The Karps have allowed their home to be used as a community polling site for 18 years.

"I'm pretty fired up about the presidential election," Barry said. "To me that's the most important thing."

Sheri Karp marveled at the large voter turnout and noted that young people took this year's election seriously.

"They are definitely voting," she said.

Brownley was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 following a hard fought primary victory over Barry Groveman of Calabasas, and has worked on a wide range of issues including education, the environment, and a reduction in domestic violence.

Brownley, who was named chair of the Education Committee in July by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass because of her work in passing several education bills, will be honored in December as the 2008 Outstanding Freshman of the Year by the California School Boards Association.

The challenge of the economy, Brownley said, will be a top priority during her second term.

"I think our country is going to experience change and move in a different direction," she said. "I am looking forward to being part of that leadership."