Don’t be fooled by my opponent’s mailers paid for by Indian gambling interests; he is on record and still supports the PXP oil drilling deal

In a desperate campaign ploy, State Assembly candidate Das Williams – a longstanding cheerleader for the first new offshore oil drilling lease in California State waters in 41 years – has  issued a press release calling for a moratorium on new offshore oil leasing.

It’s unclear how Williams can call for a moratorium on “new offshore oil leasing” while still supporting Texas-based oil company Plains Exploration and Production Company’s (PXP) proposal which calls for the first new offshore oil lease in California state waters.

Williams has repeatedly stated that the reason he jumped into the 35th District Assembly race against Susan Jordan — after publicly pledging to support her — was her staunch opposition to the PXP oil drilling deal.

Williams has supported the PXP oil drilling deal from the time it was a secret agreement, and just recently reaffirmed his support for it even after the tragic Gulf oil spill that cost 11 workers their lives and is causing untold environmental damage. In the wake of the Gulf tragedy, even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped his support for the PXP deal.

“This is a desperate campaign ploy by Das to distance himself from his longstanding support for the first new offshore oil lease in California state waters in 41 years,” Jordan said.

Oddly, there was no mention of Williams’ continued support for the PXP deal in his press release.

A series of mailers from the Williams campaign and from tribal gambling interests, have sought to distance Williams from the PXP deal. See the tally of Williams’ donors here.

“It’s unclear to me how Das can call for a moratorium on new offshore oil leasing while he continues to support the PXP deal,” Jordan said.

“I have always been consistent in my opposition to new oil drilling in federal and state waters. I opposed the controversial PXP deal because its promise to end offshore oil drilling was unenforceable and I was unwilling to expose our coastal economy, our marine wildlife and our beaches to the devastating impacts of an oil spill – a risk that would have doubled under the PXP plan,” Jordan said.

On May 18, 2010, State Lands Commission staff released a legal memorandum confirming that the end dates in the new PXP agreement were unenforceable, that the drilling plan would increase the risk of an oil spill, create an incentive for new federal offshore oil leasing off California, and was, therefore, not in the best interest of the state.

This is a collection of what Das Williams has said about PXP in the past:

“We don’t have to trust the corporation…. There is a private party agreement that’s enforceable as a contract between them and the environmental groups… So we have several layers of safety, we don’t need to trust them.” (Das made this statement despite the fact that the Attorney General and the State Lands Commission have definitively ruled that the deals are unenforceable.)

— Examiner, March 6, 2010

“Williams said that a decisive event in his final decision to run was the action taken by Jordan and Nava in helping to sink a painstakingly negotiated agreement between major environmental groups and Plains Exploration and Production (PXP) oil company.”

— Santa Barbara Independent, April 1, 2009

“Among the few environmentalists opposing the deal was longtime coastal advocate Susan Jordan and her husband, Assemblyman Pedro Nava. Jordan is now seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat, being vacated by Nava. She is opposed by city councilman Das Williams, who said he got into the race largely because of Jordan’s position on the issue.”

— “Tranquillon Ridge Project Returns,” Santa Barbara Independent, 5/14 2009

“The dynamic is clear in the Jordan/Das Williams Democratic primary race for Nava’s soon to be vacant seat. Williams got in, earlier backing Jordan, for the stated reason that she opposed EDC’s deal.” Williams said he “stands with EDC” in looking for alternative ways to breathe new life into the agreement with PXP, and to address environmental concerns raised by Lands Commission staff.

— “Arnold’s Oily Surprise,” Santa Barbara Independent, 5/21/2009

“Among those fighting to beat Schwarzenegger’s bill was Susan Jordan, a top contender for the seat and a coastal advocate who fiercely opposed EDC’s agreement from the start – and who happens to be married to Nava. Jordan’s chief Democratic rival is SB City Council Member Das Williams, who backed the original PXP agreement and cited Jordan’s opposition to it in his decision to enter the race.”

— “Pedro Drills Arnold,” Santa Barbara Independent, 7/30, 2009

“Longtime enviro Susan Jordan, who’s running to succeed her husband Pedro Nava, staked out a lonely stance opposing the deal, while most of her erstwhile allies, including City councilman Das Williams, backed it. Williams who had earlier pledged to support Jordan, cited her position on Tranquillon Ridge as the key reason for making an about-face entry in to the race.”

— “No Tranquility at Tranquillon,” Calbuzz Fishwrap, 5/15/2009

“I think it was a good deal and I think we should be willing to make good deals like that.”

— Excerpt from video interview with Das Williams on www.PlanetSantaBarbara.com

“An immediate effect of the split is the decision by Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams to open an exploratory committee to run for the 35th Assembly District. Williams had previously pledged to endorse Susan Jordan, the wife of the termed out incumbent Pedro Nava….” The situation (defeat of PXP at SLC) played a major role in convincing Williams to abandon his support and move toward entering the race himself.”

— “Oil drilling deal splits Democrats,” Ventura County Star, 3/11/2009

“Last week, Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams jumped into the Democratic primary for the seat, citing Jordan’s opposition to an agreement between environmentalists and the oil company Plains Exploration & Production (PXP) as a key reason for abandoning his earlier support of her.

— “Why Susan Jordan Loves Homework,” Santa Barbara Independent, 4/9/2009