As Californians are learning, the effects of climate change become more destructive every year. Our government, awash in big fossil-fuel money does not appear willing to hold the fossil-fuel and utility companies accountable. Ann Ravel could be the anti-corruption champion voters need for these times.
Candidate for California’s 15th Senate District (SD15), Ann Ravel has dedicated her life to public service. During her 11 years as Santa Clara County Counsel, she took on some of their biggest cases. Ravel helped start what was a 19-year battle against lead paint companies that was only finally settled last summer. She also challenged California’s anti-LGBT Prop 8 that was eventually overturned.
After becoming a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the US Department of Justice she worked to hold accountable British Petroleum for their disastrous Gulf of Mexico spill. She also challenged law-breaking pharmaceutical companies that were taking advantage of those most vulnerable.
Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to chair California’s version of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). While at the FPPC she exposed Koch Industries as the source of $10 million in dark money that flooded into the state to support the deceptive Prop 32 that aimed to silence the voice of workers. They were forced to pay $1 million in fines.
President Barack Obama nominated her to the FEC. The US Senate voted unanimously to confirm her. At the FEC she was outspoken and unafraid, she worked with the equally fierce, Ellen Weintraub to push her colleagues into action. Ravel eventually resigned in frustration. But now the voters in Senate District 15 have a chance to send her to Sacramento in what would be her first elected position.
Understanding the corrosive effects of money in politics, she was the first SD15 candidate to sign the No Fossil-Fuel Money pledge.
I pledge not to take contributions over $200 from oil, gas, and coal industry executives, lobbyists, and PACs and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits.
I asked her why she feels it is important to sign the pledge.
We know California has a history of spending by the oil industry to influence politics. In 2010 the Koch Brothers gave $1 million and two Texas Oil Companies also supported California Proposition 23, which would have derailed the State’s global warming law.
Oil companies put $19.2 million into campaigns in the 2017/18 elections to influence the decisions made on environmental legislation. In 2014, those who opposed a moratorium on fracking in California or abstained from voting on it, received 14 times as much in campaign contributions from the industry than other legislators. We know that we are in an environmental crisis and must do everything we can in this state to reach our emissions goals.
~ Ann Ravel
Now oil companies are spending big to support one of Ravel’s opponents, Nora Campos. An Independent-Expenditure PAC (commonly referred to as super PACs) has already spent $646,000 to support Campos during this campaign. The I-E PAC is funded by the likes of Chevron, Valero and Phillips 66. Campos has even accepted the maximum donation directly from Chevron to her campaign, $4700. During Campos’ pervious run for SD15 the same PAC spent $371,000 to support her. Looking back through Campos’ records show she has accepted at least $23,400 directly from oil and utility companies.
You may ask why these companies are willing to spend over a million dollars to help elect Nora Campos. Well I can give you one example. Back in 2015, while Campos was an Assembly member, California sought to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through SB32. Thanks in part to Campos’ voting present the bill was stalled in committee. This allowed fossil-fuel interests to water down the language of the bill, greatly reducing its effectiveness.
It doesn’t appear to be a coincidence that during her 2014 campaign companies like Chevron, PG&E, Sempra (San Diego Gas & Electric), and others gave $16,600 directly to her campaign.
The voters of SD15 have a clear choice between these two candidates. Somebody who will champion the causes of the fossil fuel industries, or a champion of causes important to the citizens of SD15.
All data was compiled from campaign disclosures publicly available at SoS.CA.gov.