For Immediate Release Contact: Piper Crowell

July 1st, 2012 (415) 342-2770
EUREKA, CA – Congressional candidate, Assemblymember Jared Huffman toured local energy, business and veterans facilities on June 29. Huffman, currently a Democratic state assemblymember representing Southern Sonoma and Marin Counties, recently won the primary election for the new 2nd District Congressional race with 38% of the vote. He faces a runoff against Republican Dan Roberts in November.
“I’ve been to Humboldt County more than two dozen times since I announced my candidacy, meeting with a wide array of people and touring the area,” Huffman said. “There is always more to learn and I’m committed to familiarizing myself with the region’s people and issues.”
On Friday, Huffman toured the new Humboldt Bay Power Plant in King Salmon, which provides the majority of electricity to Humboldt County and is designed to accommodate increasing amounts of power brought into the grid by renewable energy sources. The site is also undergoing a nuclear decommissioning process overseen by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Huffman also toured Sun Valley Floral Farms in Arcata. Sun Valley started as a local business in 1969 and has expanded to become a world leader in cut flowers. Congressman Mike Thompson, who endorsed Huffman, was recently successful in encouraging President Obama to address trade inequities between the U.S. and Columbian cut flower industries.
Later in the afternoon, Huffman toured the new North Coast Veterans Resource Center in Eureka. The new facility provides housing, employment and training programs, counseling, and legal services for the North Coast’s homeless veterans. The $2.6 million project was funded by a City of Eureka Community Development Block Grant, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, the state Emergency Housing Department and the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Home Program.
“These three facilities all have important federal components,” Huffman said. “Congress must continue to pay close attention to how its actions affect local communities and work to make sure it helps to encourage vital infrastructure, business, and social programs.”
On Saturday, Jared and his wife Susan traveled north of Crescent City to Lake Earl for a tour of the fisheries with biologist Zack Larson.
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About Jared Huffman
Jared Huffman currently represents Southern Sonoma and Marin Counties in the California State Assembly. Huffman started his political career as a member of the Marin Municipal Water District (MWWD) in 1994. He served 12 years on the board, including three terms as Board President before besting five Democrats in a heavily contested race for the State Assembly in the June 2006 Primary.
Huffman graduated magna cum laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and cum laude from Boston College Law School. Prior to law school he was a three-time NCAA All-American athlete and was a member of USA Volleyball Team in 1987 when the team was ranked #1 in the world and had recently won the world championship. Huffman lives in Marin with his wife Susan, a teacher, and their children, Abby (age 12) and Nathan (age 9). In his free time, Huffman enjoys fishing, tennis and home winemaking.
