Assemblymember Mark Stone Announces Reelection

Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-MontereyBay), Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, announced he is running for reelection to the California State Assembly to continue his work supporting California’s most vulnerable residents and protecting the state’s fragile environment.
“For the past three years, I have fought to improve our quality of life in California. In my next term, I will continue to advocate for the rights and needs of the people of the 29th Assembly District and our state,” said Assemblymember Stone. “We live in one of the most fantastic places on earth. But even as the economy has recovered, too many families struggle to move forward. I remain steadfast in my commitment to creating and promoting policies that will improve the lives of all Californians.”
“I’m also deeply committed to protecting our environment, from our delicate coastal ecosystems to our threatened wildlife to our limited water supply,” Stone continued. “I’m eager to continue to serve Californians in the State Assembly next year.”
Assemblymember Stone also ended speculation about a potential run for Congress and announced his endorsement of Jimmy Panetta for U.S. Congress representing the Monterey Bay Area.
“Jimmy Panetta will be an effective Member of Congress,” said Assemblymember Stone. “I’m proud to endorse Jimmy because we agree on core issues such as the need for greater investment in mental health support, ocean protection and immigration reform.”
Assemblyman Stone’s record of leadership fighting for California’s most vulnerable:
–       Led the movement to create the new state Earned Income Tax Credit to help lift California’s poorest working families out of poverty.
–       Authored the most comprehensive reforms to the foster care placement system in decades, ensuring that youth in foster care grow up in supportive and loving families and phasing out group homes as they currently exist.
–       Wrote a variety of laws to help people released from prison successfully reintegrate into their communities, to acquire necessary mental health and addiction counseling services, and to avoid recidivating.
–       Jointly authored the End of Life Options Act of 2015 for people facing terminal diagnosis to decide how to manage their end-of-life process.
–       Wrote the Healthy Babies Act of 2015 to provide critical support to impoverished pregnant women.
–       Advocated for increased funding to the state court system to improve access to justice.
Assemblyman Stone’s record of leadership as a champion for California’s environment:
–       Successfully advocated for SB 350, a landmark climate-change law that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter.
–       Supported a $1 billion drought package and nearly $2 billion water bond to provide clean drinking water to Californians, increase water recycling, drill new wells, and improve groundwater sustainability.
–       Backed the successful effort to create California’s first groundwater management policy.
–       Supported California’s 2014 plastic bag law, which created a necessary baseline policy for state communities without single-use plastic bag bans in place.
About Assemblymember Stone:
Mark Stone was elected in 2012 and reelected in 2014 to represent California’s 29th Assembly District, which includes portions of Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa ClaraCounties. Stone is a leader in the State Assembly on numerous issues, especially environmental protection, child welfare and public safety. Stone serves as Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Select Committee on Coastal Protection, and he is a member of committees including Human Services, Natural Resources and Banking & Finance. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Environmental Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Stoneserved as a two-term Santa Cruz County Supervisor, a trustee with the ScottsValleyUnifiedSchool District and Vice Chair of the California Coastal Commission. Learn more at www.friendsofmarkstone.org.