SAN DIEGO — San Diego Jewish World is delighted to recommend two Democratic members of our Jewish community for your consideration on the November 2 ballot: State Assemblyman Marty Block for reelection in the 78th Assembly District , and former State Assemblyman Howard Wayne for the open 6th District of the San Diego City Council.
Both men are experienced legislators with records of involvement in the Jewish community, specifically through the American Jewish Committee, of which Block was a San Diego region president and Wayne was an active member of the committee promoting dialogue and cooperation between the Jewish and Latino communities.
While in the Assembly, representing the same district now represented by Block, Wayne built a reputation as a protector of the California’s beaches and bays from toxic runoff. He successfully pushed for testing the coastal waters where we swim, and remedial action to improve our storm drains.
Wayne served six years—the maximum three terms—before returning to his prior job as a deputy state attorney general in the San Diego office. His is a family dedicated to law enforcement; his wife, Mary Lundberg, is a lawyer with the United States Attorney’s office.
Now Wayne plans to bring his experience as a legislator and government attorney to the City Council, and we think the city will profit from his penchant for thorough research, careful consideration and probity.
Block, likewise, has given the Jewish community reason to kvell. A life-long educator, who served as chairman of both the County Board of Education and the San Diego Community College District, Block is now chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, and also has served on select committees on the community colleges and on California’s Master Plan for Education.
Colleges are a subject Block understands well, having served a career as both an attorney and education specialist at San Diego State University. He has helped to advance through the Sacramento legislative process such bills as the one giving community college graduates priority admission to state, and another measure, when economic times get better, to eventually construct a new state university in the Chula Vista area.
Like the Waynes, who are attorneys, the Blocks—Marty and his wife Cindy Edwards—are both educators. She has taught at Crawford High School.
We think both couples have much to offer San Diego.
—Donald H. Harrison, editor, San Diego Jewish World