When your name is synonymous with government regulations to combat global warming, there's plenty to keep you busy these days.
Former Ventura County Assemblywoman Fran Pavley planned to be on hand tonight in Los Angeles for the first-ever presidential debate focused on climate change and energy policy -- an event sponsored by the California League of Conservation Voters, and featuring Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich.
Pavley told me Friday, however, that she does not intend to be in federal district court in Fresno on Monday when attorneys for the Natural Resources Defense Council attempt to get a judge to toss out the lawsuit filed by automakers against the law Pavley authored in 2001 that will require reduced greenhouse-gas emissions for cars sold in California.
Pavley was the subject of some raised-eyebrow reporting last week after EdVoice used her name and photograph on a flier promoting "carbon free voting" that was sent to about 30,000 Southern California households, including many in the district in which she is running for a state Senate seat.
She told me she found the speculation somewhat silly that the promotion was designed to advance her campaign -- although EdVoice is a strong supporter, having paid for an early poll in the district.
"Who in June is going to remember that I was on a brochure for a February election?" she asked.
She said she agreed to let EdVoice use her name and photo because the idea of promoting mail-in voting as "carbon-free voting" was "a cute way to draw people into voting in general."
As for Pavley, she says she personally prefers to vote at the polls. Of course, she drives a Prius to get there.