Santa Cruz, CA –Emily Reilly received the sole endorsement of Vote the Coast today in her race for the State Assembly. Reilly is running in the 27th district, which includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties.

Vote the Coast is a grassroots organization committed to protecting California’s coastal and ocean resources. By supporting and helping to elect legislators who share this sense of commitment to coast protection, Vote the Coast has played an important role in advocating for California’s coast.

“I am honored to have received the endorsement of Vote the Coast,” said Reilly. “Coastal protection has always been an important issue to me, and Vote the Coast has made a tremendous impact on protecting our coastal resources. I have been a leader in the fight to protect Monterey Bay and I will continue to do so in the State Assembly.”

Reilly serves on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, and received the Ruth Vreeland Award in 2005 for her efforts on behalf of the Bay. She has worked to protect Monterey Bay from urban runoff and marine debris and has been a strong supporter of former Assemblyman Fred Keeley’s Marine Life Protection Act.

Reilly has received a number of high-profile endorsements, including those of California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi; former State Controller Steve Westly; Board of Equalization Chair Betty Yee; The California Nurses Association; the California League of Conservation Voters; Vote the Coast; the Women's Political Committee; Democratic Activists for Women Now; United Transportation Union Local 23; the Santa Cruz Police Officers Association; the GLBT Alliance and a wide range of community leaders.

Reilly is a member of the Santa Cruz City Council and a former two-term Mayor. The Assembly seat is currently held by John Laird, who is termed out in January 2009.

See a complete list of Emily's endorsements here.