The author of the state’s tailpipe emissions statute, which has been held up by federal regulators, and climate protection law, AB 32, is expected to take over the seat of Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). Fran Pavley, who served three terms in the Assembly and was termed out two years ago, beat Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) in the primary. Levine was the most recent chair of the Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committee. If she wins as projected November 4, what role the freshman senator would play in energy is unknown. Also predicted to return to Sacramento next year is former Assemblymember Rod Wright. A majority of the voters in the 25th Senate District are expected to elect Wright to fill the seat of the termed-out Ed Vincent (D-Inglewood). Wright once headed the Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committee when the Legislature considered AB 1890--which deregulated the state’s electricity industry. Some expect Wright to lobby for the chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities, & Commerce Committee, capital insiders say.
