Semenza for council

From The Daily Breeze, October 28, 2008

Gardena voters on Tuesday will choose from four well-matched candidates to fill the seat of Oscar Medrano, the former city councilman who was found guilty of child molestation earlier this year.

All four have qualifications and backgrounds that make for a difficult choice. Tasha Cerda, president of the Hollypark Homeowners Association, has worked as a community activist on a number of issues affecting the city, including a campaign against a jet-fuel pipeline.

Shannon Lawrence is a city planning commissioner and a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office. And Dan Medina, spokesman for Normandie Casino, has a long list of community experience with service groups.

Our nod, however, goes to Mina Semenza. She stresses her independence and her ability to work constructively with other council members. A 44-year resident of the city, Semenza has worked for a Fortune 500 company and owned her own business. She is currently president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley and is a former Planning Commission member.

In her campaign, she emphasizes the need for revitalization, especially along blighted parts of Rosecrans Avenue, and making pro-active efforts to bring popular stores and restaurants to the city. Her record in business and nonprofit groups should provide a balanced view on how the city should move forward.

The city's current leadership has finalized a workable repayment plan for a $26million municipal debt stemming from the failures of a city-owned insurance company and the first-time homebuyers program. The city is now moving ahead on infrastructure improvements.

We think Mina Semenza, who is running a traditional grass-roots campaign, would keep the city on track.

She has our endorsement.