The Jane Fonda Climate PAC, led by actor and activist Jane Fonda, announced Wednesday it will endorse Judie Mancuso for Laguna Beach City Council.
“Judie Mancuso has a proven record of fighting for our environment and working to protect our precious natural resources,” Fonda said in a statement. “I’ve stood beside her to protect California’s coastline from the impacts of devastating oil spills. We need people like Judie at the local level who will protect our beautiful wild places and who aren’t afraid to hold corporate polluters accountable. I’m proud to endorse Judie, and I hope the Laguna Beach community will join me in supporting her candidacy for Laguna Beach City Council.”
Mancuso, a longtime environmentalist and acting chair of the Laguna Beach Environmental Sustainability Committee, is running for city council for the third time. A 30-year Laguna Beach resident, Mancuso is running on a platform focused on public health and safety, environmental stewardship, climate resiliency and sustainability, community-led government, small business advocacy and animal rights.
“I am honored to have earned the trust and endorsement of a climate champion like Jane Fonda,” Mancuso said. “Her trailblazing environmental advocacy is an example for us all. When Amplify Energy dumped over 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean off our coast, Jane came to Laguna Beach to help us advocate for an end to offshore drilling. Working together with allies like the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, we can and will address the climate crisis and protect our planet for future generations.”
The Jane Fonda Climate PAC said it works to elect “climate champions” on all levels of government, especially in down ballot races where local governments are taking the lead to enact climate policies.
In this election cycle, the Jane Fonda Climate PAC has endorsed more than 50 candidates, mostly at the city, state and county levels.
Laguna Beach’s general municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to elect two city council members, the city clerk and city treasurer. All positions will hold a full term of four years.
The nomination period for these offices closes on Friday, Aug. 9, at 5 p.m. Councilmembers George Weiss and Bob Whalen, as well as city treasurer Laura Parisi and city clerk Ann Marie McKay, are up for reelection.
As of press time, incumbents Weiss and Whalen have announced their bids for reelection. Mancuso and Hallie Jones, the executive vice president and chief program officer at Crystal Cove Conservancy, are also vying for a seat on the city council.
Kudos to two powerful and committed women working visibly to protect our coastal environments and our lives! You are both amazing and successful doers. Thank you.
Thank you candidate Judie Mancuso. You are a real leader and proven environmentalist. Your efforts to expose and address obstacles at city hall and the need to improve our City Council transparency, spending and government integrity is appreciated. Thank you for years of speaking up on important issues at Council meetings on residents behalf and never giving up.
Laguna is at a tipping (tripping?) point. Fact is, the Council majority led by multi-term controllers CC Bob Whalen and Mayor Sue Kempf and council cohorts Rounaghi and Orgill have failed us. They are misguided. Our ocean waters, open space, community peaceful living, safety/security and quality of life are under serious threat. Their priority and focus on tourism/visit laguna, business benefits/chamber and RE investors/developers are hurting us, our property investments and our town’s overall community health.
Enough is enough! After 12 years of CC Whalen’s representation, it’s time to move on. We simply cannot accept another 4 years of Laguna’s deterioration, tourism destruction, overspending, self-interest agendas and resident negligence. Incumbents always rave about their performance and accomplishments. We must asked ourselves; “did these efforts and decisions make my life and my community better?” One only needs to attend or watch a Council meeting to see the dissatisfaction level of residents and how they feel frustrated and misled. It’s time to get Laguna Beach back on the residents-first track.
Join me and many other locals. Vote Judie Mancuso to serve you this November. She will listen and get the fiscal, environmental and community-centric results we are looking for and deserve. Thank you.