Pavley, Brownley easy winners

Fran Pavley celebrated a landslide victory Tuesday after capturing 68 percent of the votes cast for California Senate's 23rd district.

"I'm very grateful by the wide support not only among Democrats, but a lot of my Republican friends," Pavley said.

Pavley ran against Republican candidate Rick Montaine of Winnetka, and Colin Goldman, the Libertarian candidate from Sherman Oaks. She will replace Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) in the California Senate, who was termed out after eight years.

The 23rd Senatorial District stretches from West Hollywood to Oxnard and includes the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village.

On election night, Pavley joined fellow politicians, friends and family at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. With such an enormous voter turnout, Pavley had to wait until 5 a.m. Wednesday to confirm her win.

Pavley, who was a three-term Assembly member, said tackling California's $5-billion budget deficit will be her top priority as senator. California is one of three states that require a two-third vote to pass a state budget, a law Pavley and other politicians would like changed.

Renewable clean energy, water availability, and investments in transportation, education and healthcare are also Pavley goals.

"The Obama administration has made energy independence and clean technology a top priority," Pavley said.

Pavley was elected as Agoura Hills' first mayor in 1982, and served six years on the state assembly. She won international acclaim with her Global Warming Solutions Act, an auto emissions bill that made California the first state to mandate a reduction in greenhouse gases. She also passed legislation that required the state's Air Resources Board to adopt regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light duty trucks by 30 percent by 2016.

Pavley was heavily favored to win the Democraticleaning district. Overcoming her party's penchant for taxing and spending, however, will be a much tougher assignment than her election night victory.

Richard Hart, an Agoura Hills resident, said he didn't vote for Pavley or any Democratic candidate because of his belief that "politicians trip all over themselves trying to invent new ways to spend more of our money."

"I can only hope our politicians take a hard look at our votes tonight and figure out a way to make a name for themselves, not by spending more money, but by being more fiscally responsible," Hart said. "I simply don't believe a government can tax its people into prosperity."