Showing posts with label Rachel Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Johnson. Show all posts
3/15/2013
Newly elected Gardena officials confirmed in final vote tally
The winners of Gardena's March 5 election were confirmed Thursday after a tally of all provisional and late vote-by-mail ballots.
Mayor Paul Tanaka will retain his seat for a third term, and Councilwoman Tasha Cerda also will remain on the City Council. Former Mayor Terrence Terauchi won the seat vacated by Councilman Ron Ikejiri, who was termed out of office.
Realtor Mina Semenza won the city clerk's position and J. Ingrid Tsukiyama will remain as city treasurer. The newly elected officials will be sworn in at a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19.
- Sandy Mazza
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_22791686/newly-elected-gardena-officials-confirmed-final-vote-tally?source=email
2/26/2009
Gardena street may be Obama namesake
Daily Breeze 02/26/09
President Barack Obama could soon have more in common with Martin Van Buren than sharing the same residence.
One already has a street named after him in Gardena, and the other may soon be bestowed with the same honor.
Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford on Tuesday proposed naming a two-block stretch of 132nd Street after the 44th president.
Obama Way would run past an elementary school and a park, from Ardath to Western avenues, Bradford said.
"This is not a political issue. This is cultural, historical," Bradford said. "I believe in giving people their due while they're here. I've run it by people and they've said, `Yes, the Obama Way.' It's catchy to folks."
Bradford believes there is not enough recognition of blacks in the community. Naming a street after the first black president would be a start, he said.
"How much do you know about contributions African- Americans have made?" Bradford said. "They don't tell you about George Washington Carver in school, or that a black man invented the cell phone. There are plenty of African-Americans who should have things named after them. This is one that is easier for people."
Bradford has been a strong supporter of Obama. He was chosen as a 35th Congressional District delegate for Obama at the Democratic National Convention. At the request of Obama administration officials, he applied for a job with the new administration.
Mayor Paul Tanaka did not say whether he supported the name change, but directed city staff to study the recommendation and report back to the council within two months.
"This has to be done very thoroughly and thoughtfully," Tanaka said. "It's important we don't make a unilateral decision citing history or a historical occasion. I've asked the city manager to put together a responsible group of individuals from the city to write an objective feasibility study."
Tanaka said he wants to know what it would cost to change the name, and whether it would affect any businesses or homes on the street.
City Manager Mitch Lansdell said he will assemble a list of legal and procedural requirements to change the name in the next few days.
"We've done it before and there is a process of notification and hearings," Lansdell said. "The city doesn't currently have a policy on naming."
In recent years, the city has renamed parts of streets after Huatabampo, a Gardena sister city in Mexico, and Chuck Nader, a former councilman and business owner.
Bradford said there are no addresses on that section of 132nd Street, so it would have a small impact.
"Finding the street is the easy part," Bradford said. "Getting consensus with council members and staff to move forward - that's where the challenge will be. I don't think there's going to be too many residents or businesses who are going to be opposed."
Bradford may already have a majority of support on the City Council for the street name change.
Councilwoman Rachel Johnson and Councilman Dan Medina said they like the idea.
"Having a street named after a newly elected president who has broken a lot of ground seems appropriate," Medina said. "As long as it doesn't cost a lot."
If the recommendation is approved, Bradford said he would invite the Obama family to the street name dedication. But he thinks the president would probably not want the recognition.
"If it was up to him, he'd probably say: `I don't need anything named after me,"' Bradford said.
President Barack Obama could soon have more in common with Martin Van Buren than sharing the same residence.
One already has a street named after him in Gardena, and the other may soon be bestowed with the same honor.
Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford on Tuesday proposed naming a two-block stretch of 132nd Street after the 44th president.
Obama Way would run past an elementary school and a park, from Ardath to Western avenues, Bradford said.
"This is not a political issue. This is cultural, historical," Bradford said. "I believe in giving people their due while they're here. I've run it by people and they've said, `Yes, the Obama Way.' It's catchy to folks."
Bradford believes there is not enough recognition of blacks in the community. Naming a street after the first black president would be a start, he said.
"How much do you know about contributions African- Americans have made?" Bradford said. "They don't tell you about George Washington Carver in school, or that a black man invented the cell phone. There are plenty of African-Americans who should have things named after them. This is one that is easier for people."
Bradford has been a strong supporter of Obama. He was chosen as a 35th Congressional District delegate for Obama at the Democratic National Convention. At the request of Obama administration officials, he applied for a job with the new administration.
Mayor Paul Tanaka did not say whether he supported the name change, but directed city staff to study the recommendation and report back to the council within two months.
"This has to be done very thoroughly and thoughtfully," Tanaka said. "It's important we don't make a unilateral decision citing history or a historical occasion. I've asked the city manager to put together a responsible group of individuals from the city to write an objective feasibility study."
Tanaka said he wants to know what it would cost to change the name, and whether it would affect any businesses or homes on the street.
City Manager Mitch Lansdell said he will assemble a list of legal and procedural requirements to change the name in the next few days.
"We've done it before and there is a process of notification and hearings," Lansdell said. "The city doesn't currently have a policy on naming."
In recent years, the city has renamed parts of streets after Huatabampo, a Gardena sister city in Mexico, and Chuck Nader, a former councilman and business owner.
Bradford said there are no addresses on that section of 132nd Street, so it would have a small impact.
"Finding the street is the easy part," Bradford said. "Getting consensus with council members and staff to move forward - that's where the challenge will be. I don't think there's going to be too many residents or businesses who are going to be opposed."
Bradford may already have a majority of support on the City Council for the street name change.
Councilwoman Rachel Johnson and Councilman Dan Medina said they like the idea.
"Having a street named after a newly elected president who has broken a lot of ground seems appropriate," Medina said. "As long as it doesn't cost a lot."
If the recommendation is approved, Bradford said he would invite the Obama family to the street name dedication. But he thinks the president would probably not want the recognition.
"If it was up to him, he'd probably say: `I don't need anything named after me,"' Bradford said.
1/05/2009
Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up
Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up
In the midst of the holiday rush this one got buried and has just resurfaced. Some of the readers' comments in The Breeze were too good to pass up:
"You are completely correct. Steve Bradford, once arrested for attempting to run over a police officer with his personal vehicle, is a horrible representative of the people in Gardena. His only concern is for his supporters and doesn't care about the south half of the city! His only goal is to get as much recognition for himself as he can. He is NOT who I would want representing me."
"It is so wonderful that Gardena City Council has solved all their other problems and has time to deal with this horrible travesty! This scourge of our nation!!! I think they ought to start their own canpaign geared towards dumb and wasteful proposals called "Pull Your Head Out!" LOL"
"mr bradford should give up his city council seat.....cant we find something a little more productive to do for the city of gardena..PLEASE "
In the midst of the holiday rush this one got buried and has just resurfaced. Some of the readers' comments in The Breeze were too good to pass up:
"You are completely correct. Steve Bradford, once arrested for attempting to run over a police officer with his personal vehicle, is a horrible representative of the people in Gardena. His only concern is for his supporters and doesn't care about the south half of the city! His only goal is to get as much recognition for himself as he can. He is NOT who I would want representing me."
"It is so wonderful that Gardena City Council has solved all their other problems and has time to deal with this horrible travesty! This scourge of our nation!!! I think they ought to start their own canpaign geared towards dumb and wasteful proposals called "Pull Your Head Out!" LOL"
"mr bradford should give up his city council seat.....cant we find something a little more productive to do for the city of gardena..PLEASE "
10/26/2008
FORT (Friends of Ridley-Thomas)
Look closely, Gardena voters. Gardena City Council candidate, Shannon Lawrence, is endorsed heavily by unions, including the SIEU, and Ridley-Thomas, mentioned in this article. He is also backed by incumbents Steven Bradford and Rachel Johnson.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY ELECTION
Unions' campaign fund for Ridley-Thomas raises fears about special interests
'Independent expenditures' outside the candidates' control could play an increasing role in city and county elections, some officials believe.
By David Zahniser October 26, 2008
Three years ago, campaign finance experts watched with alarm as one-fifth of the money raised on behalf of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa came from "independent expenditures," special interests with no limits on how much they could collect and spend.The numbers were even more jaw-dropping for Villaraigosa's opponent, then-Mayor James K. Hahn. Although he lost his bid for a second term, Hahn saw one-third of his financial backing, or $2 million, come from such groups.
But those amounts look tame compared to the $8.5 million amassed so far this year by an array of labor unions seeking to elect state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas to the county Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4. For every $1 raised by Ridley-Thomas, those unions have raised nearly $9 for a separate campaign on his behalf, according to fundraising reports.The change has not gone unnoticed by other city and county politicians, who fear the supervisorial election will establish a new precedent, inspiring real estate developers, billboard companies, employee unions and other special interests to pursue a similar strategy in future campaigns."It's out-and-out buying an election," said Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has endorsed Ridley-Thomas' opponent, City Council member Bernard Parks.
"If the special interests see this as being successful, there's no telling how far it will go, and it will be much easier for candidates to submit to special interests instead of going out, working hard and raising [their own] money," she said.Molina predicted that she would be the next target of a union independent expenditure campaign when she comes up for reelection in 2010.
Meanwhile, one veteran Los Angeles lobbyist marveled at the sheer size of the union campaign, calling it "off-the-charts extraordinary.""Other than governor, I don't know that there are statewide candidates that spend that much," said lobbyist Steve Afriat.Ridley-Thomas said Parks and his supporters are simply upset that they failed to secure the backing of the county's powerful Federation of Labor, known for its ability to win elections. And he defended the current campaign arrangement, saying he is following all laws that apply to outside campaign groups."It's appropriate. It's fair. It's legal," he said.
"And the only reason they're criticizing it is because they don't have this level of support."The Alliance for a Stronger Community, a union coalition, has raised the vast majority of independent expenditures for Ridley-Thomas, whose own campaign must adhere to the city's rules limiting donations to no more than $1,000 per contributor per election cycle.
In return for having the ability to raise unlimited amounts, independent committees are legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidates they support.Independent expenditures came into being in the mid-1970s, after Congress passed a law placing a $1,000 limit on campaign contributions.
In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the limits on individuals and groups spending independently on behalf of candidates, saying they violated donors' constitutionally protected right to free speech.The first significant independent expenditures appeared in 1980, when the National Conservative Political Action Committee and the Fund for a Conservative Majority spent more than $10 million on behalf of President Reagan.
Five years later, the Supreme Court ruled again, saying that any effort to limit spending by such groups would violate the 1st Amendment.In Los Angeles, such groups began to play a significant role in 2001, when term limits created 10 competitive city government races.At the top of the ticket, labor threw its weight behind Villaraigosa, and Indian gaming interests financed some of the nastiest attacks of the campaign on behalf of Hahn.
Two years later, independent expenditure groups contributed $1 for every $1 raised by the City Council campaign of Martin Ludlow, a union activist. Ludlow won the seat but left in 2005 to run the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. While serving in that role, he was convicted on charges that he illegally took union contributions while running for council that exceeded the spending limits. In most city races, independent expenditures essentially ran a secondary campaign, one that represented a fraction of the efforts by a candidate.
This year's county contest reverses that equation, with independent expenditures dominating the race and Ridley-Thomas' campaign looking like a bit player.
So far this year, the labor coalition has used its largesse to hire researchers, send campaign mailers, erect campaign signs, purchase full-page newspaper ads, reserve radio advertising time and develop 30-second television spots in English and Spanish for Ridley-Thomas, none of which can be coordinated by the candidate.The overwhelming effort means that Ridley-Thomas has been able to avoid some of the expenses that candidates typically face.
For example, many who run for office in South Los Angeles, including Parks, place at least a few advertisements in the Los Angeles Sentinel, the region's most prominent black-owned newspaper.
Last spring, two union groups bought at least 11 full-page ads promoting Ridley-Thomas as part of their independent expenditure. Ridley-Thomas did not purchase any.
Service Employees International Union Local 721, the biggest donor to the union initiative, called a news conference Friday at which Ridley-Thomas was expected to discuss county hospital funding. Only union officials attended, not Ridley-Thomas.
"Mark doesn't even have to show up," Parks said. "Mark could take a vacation and the [union] campaign would keep running."
Ridley-Thomas, in turn, accused Parks of "bashing" unions. And he pointed out that he has not faulted Parks for benefiting from three other independent expenditure committees, which are primarily backed by real estate interests.
Those groups raised nearly $450,000 during the period ending Oct. 18, according to campaign reports.With such a financial mismatch, Parks has spent much of his time calling donors, $1,000 at a time.
Even if he increased those efforts, the county election law bars him from spending more than $1.4 million in the runoff, a fraction of the union effort.Parks warned that if Ridley-Thomas is elected, the county Federation of Labor would use the same strategy to install two more pliant county supervisors by 2012.Arnella Sims, a board member with SEIU Local 721, said she could not predict whether her union would wage another massive campaign.
But Afriat, the lobbyist, said warnings about a tidal wave of independent expenditures strike him as overblown.
"The unions don't have to do that at City Hall because they already control what happens there," he said.
"And I think the business community, which said they would step up for Parks, is demonstrating that they are not capable of doing it the way the unions are doing it.
"Labor unions do not have a monopoly on huge independent expenditures.
In this year's June legislative primary, state Senate candidate Rod Wright benefited from at least $990,000 spent on his behalf by the Alliance for California's Tomorrow, a business group bankrolled by healthcare companies, casinos and other entities.
That independent expenditure group hired campaign consultants, secured billboard space and placed ads for Wright in newspapers stretching from Inglewood to Long Beach.Wright's own campaign organization spent just $330,000.Officials with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission fear the huge money spent in the supervisorial race will lead to louder demands from elected officials that the city roll back its fundraising limits on individual candidates.
The only thing that could stem the tide of independent expenditures -- frequently called I.E.s by political professionals -- is a successful lawsuit before the high court, said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Government Studies, a Los Angeles group that tracks campaign finance laws.
"Until it reaches a point where the court says it's gone too far and is corrupting the system -- and I think it does -- there will be unlimited I.E.s," he said.Zahniser is a Times staff writer.
david.zahniser@latimes.com
Jean-Paul Renaud contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY ELECTION
Unions' campaign fund for Ridley-Thomas raises fears about special interests
'Independent expenditures' outside the candidates' control could play an increasing role in city and county elections, some officials believe.
By David Zahniser October 26, 2008
Three years ago, campaign finance experts watched with alarm as one-fifth of the money raised on behalf of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa came from "independent expenditures," special interests with no limits on how much they could collect and spend.The numbers were even more jaw-dropping for Villaraigosa's opponent, then-Mayor James K. Hahn. Although he lost his bid for a second term, Hahn saw one-third of his financial backing, or $2 million, come from such groups.
But those amounts look tame compared to the $8.5 million amassed so far this year by an array of labor unions seeking to elect state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas to the county Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4. For every $1 raised by Ridley-Thomas, those unions have raised nearly $9 for a separate campaign on his behalf, according to fundraising reports.The change has not gone unnoticed by other city and county politicians, who fear the supervisorial election will establish a new precedent, inspiring real estate developers, billboard companies, employee unions and other special interests to pursue a similar strategy in future campaigns."It's out-and-out buying an election," said Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has endorsed Ridley-Thomas' opponent, City Council member Bernard Parks.
"If the special interests see this as being successful, there's no telling how far it will go, and it will be much easier for candidates to submit to special interests instead of going out, working hard and raising [their own] money," she said.Molina predicted that she would be the next target of a union independent expenditure campaign when she comes up for reelection in 2010.
Meanwhile, one veteran Los Angeles lobbyist marveled at the sheer size of the union campaign, calling it "off-the-charts extraordinary.""Other than governor, I don't know that there are statewide candidates that spend that much," said lobbyist Steve Afriat.Ridley-Thomas said Parks and his supporters are simply upset that they failed to secure the backing of the county's powerful Federation of Labor, known for its ability to win elections. And he defended the current campaign arrangement, saying he is following all laws that apply to outside campaign groups."It's appropriate. It's fair. It's legal," he said.
"And the only reason they're criticizing it is because they don't have this level of support."The Alliance for a Stronger Community, a union coalition, has raised the vast majority of independent expenditures for Ridley-Thomas, whose own campaign must adhere to the city's rules limiting donations to no more than $1,000 per contributor per election cycle.
In return for having the ability to raise unlimited amounts, independent committees are legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidates they support.Independent expenditures came into being in the mid-1970s, after Congress passed a law placing a $1,000 limit on campaign contributions.
In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the limits on individuals and groups spending independently on behalf of candidates, saying they violated donors' constitutionally protected right to free speech.The first significant independent expenditures appeared in 1980, when the National Conservative Political Action Committee and the Fund for a Conservative Majority spent more than $10 million on behalf of President Reagan.
Five years later, the Supreme Court ruled again, saying that any effort to limit spending by such groups would violate the 1st Amendment.In Los Angeles, such groups began to play a significant role in 2001, when term limits created 10 competitive city government races.At the top of the ticket, labor threw its weight behind Villaraigosa, and Indian gaming interests financed some of the nastiest attacks of the campaign on behalf of Hahn.
Two years later, independent expenditure groups contributed $1 for every $1 raised by the City Council campaign of Martin Ludlow, a union activist. Ludlow won the seat but left in 2005 to run the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. While serving in that role, he was convicted on charges that he illegally took union contributions while running for council that exceeded the spending limits. In most city races, independent expenditures essentially ran a secondary campaign, one that represented a fraction of the efforts by a candidate.
This year's county contest reverses that equation, with independent expenditures dominating the race and Ridley-Thomas' campaign looking like a bit player.
So far this year, the labor coalition has used its largesse to hire researchers, send campaign mailers, erect campaign signs, purchase full-page newspaper ads, reserve radio advertising time and develop 30-second television spots in English and Spanish for Ridley-Thomas, none of which can be coordinated by the candidate.The overwhelming effort means that Ridley-Thomas has been able to avoid some of the expenses that candidates typically face.
For example, many who run for office in South Los Angeles, including Parks, place at least a few advertisements in the Los Angeles Sentinel, the region's most prominent black-owned newspaper.
Last spring, two union groups bought at least 11 full-page ads promoting Ridley-Thomas as part of their independent expenditure. Ridley-Thomas did not purchase any.
Service Employees International Union Local 721, the biggest donor to the union initiative, called a news conference Friday at which Ridley-Thomas was expected to discuss county hospital funding. Only union officials attended, not Ridley-Thomas.
"Mark doesn't even have to show up," Parks said. "Mark could take a vacation and the [union] campaign would keep running."
Ridley-Thomas, in turn, accused Parks of "bashing" unions. And he pointed out that he has not faulted Parks for benefiting from three other independent expenditure committees, which are primarily backed by real estate interests.
Those groups raised nearly $450,000 during the period ending Oct. 18, according to campaign reports.With such a financial mismatch, Parks has spent much of his time calling donors, $1,000 at a time.
Even if he increased those efforts, the county election law bars him from spending more than $1.4 million in the runoff, a fraction of the union effort.Parks warned that if Ridley-Thomas is elected, the county Federation of Labor would use the same strategy to install two more pliant county supervisors by 2012.Arnella Sims, a board member with SEIU Local 721, said she could not predict whether her union would wage another massive campaign.
But Afriat, the lobbyist, said warnings about a tidal wave of independent expenditures strike him as overblown.
"The unions don't have to do that at City Hall because they already control what happens there," he said.
"And I think the business community, which said they would step up for Parks, is demonstrating that they are not capable of doing it the way the unions are doing it.
"Labor unions do not have a monopoly on huge independent expenditures.
In this year's June legislative primary, state Senate candidate Rod Wright benefited from at least $990,000 spent on his behalf by the Alliance for California's Tomorrow, a business group bankrolled by healthcare companies, casinos and other entities.
That independent expenditure group hired campaign consultants, secured billboard space and placed ads for Wright in newspapers stretching from Inglewood to Long Beach.Wright's own campaign organization spent just $330,000.Officials with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission fear the huge money spent in the supervisorial race will lead to louder demands from elected officials that the city roll back its fundraising limits on individual candidates.
The only thing that could stem the tide of independent expenditures -- frequently called I.E.s by political professionals -- is a successful lawsuit before the high court, said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Government Studies, a Los Angeles group that tracks campaign finance laws.
"Until it reaches a point where the court says it's gone too far and is corrupting the system -- and I think it does -- there will be unlimited I.E.s," he said.Zahniser is a Times staff writer.
david.zahniser@latimes.com
Jean-Paul Renaud contributed to this report.
8/09/2008
Gardena council candidates won't face incumbent
By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/08/2008 11:53:05 PM PDT
Candidates for a Gardena City Council seat in the November special election are breathing easier, as a sitting councilman who pulled nomination papers did not file them by the Friday deadline.
Four people filed papers to be on the ballot for the seat vacated by former Councilman Oscar Medrano, who relinquished his post in March, two days before he was arrested and subsequently charged with 12 counts of child molestation. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges on June 27 and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.
The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Medrano's term, which expires in 2011.
Councilman Ron Ikejiri pulled papers last month, saying that he believed Councilman Steve Bradford was going to run in the race. Both are up for election in March 2009 and, if they had won a seat in November, could have run for mayor next year without risking their council posts.
Neither councilman filed papers, however.
Three of the candidates have run for council seats before, and there is one newcomer - Shannon Lawrence - who is backed by Bradford and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson.
Tasha Cerda, Dan Medina and Mina Semenza have been on the ballot in previous years. Medina came in third behind Medrano for two seats last year.
Medina, 61, is a spokesman for the Normandie Casino and a longtime member of several service clubs, including the Elks, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary, and a youth sports coach.
"I'm confident in my credentials and my pro-civic activity I've been doing since 1980," Medina said. "I've been doing volunteer work since before some of the campaigners were born."
Cerda, a 36-year-old insurance agent, is president of the Holly Park Homeowners Association and a resident advocate. She is a former chairwoman of the volunteer Rent Mediation Board, and has led community protests against the expansion of Purche Avenue Elementary School, the opening of a Numero Uno Market that wasn't complying with city codes and a jet-fuel pipeline through the city.
"I have stood firm against irresponsible development, kept the residents alert to the presence of sexual predators, and continually stood firm against negligent property owners," Cerda said in a written statement. "I enjoy being an advocate."
Lawrence, 30, is a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office with a background as a union organizer. He is also a member of the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission.
"I've been knocking on doors for the last few weeks, and one of the responses I've been getting is that they've been waiting for me to run," Lawrence said. "I think people will vote on who they think is the most qualified for the seat and, from what I'm hearing, that person is me."
Semenza, 64, is a Realtor, a former planning and environmental quality commissioner, and is president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley.
"I work every day promoting home ownership in our city," Semenza said. "I feel like I want to make a difference."
Article Launched: 08/08/2008 11:53:05 PM PDT
Candidates for a Gardena City Council seat in the November special election are breathing easier, as a sitting councilman who pulled nomination papers did not file them by the Friday deadline.
Four people filed papers to be on the ballot for the seat vacated by former Councilman Oscar Medrano, who relinquished his post in March, two days before he was arrested and subsequently charged with 12 counts of child molestation. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges on June 27 and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.
The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Medrano's term, which expires in 2011.
Councilman Ron Ikejiri pulled papers last month, saying that he believed Councilman Steve Bradford was going to run in the race. Both are up for election in March 2009 and, if they had won a seat in November, could have run for mayor next year without risking their council posts.
Neither councilman filed papers, however.
Three of the candidates have run for council seats before, and there is one newcomer - Shannon Lawrence - who is backed by Bradford and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson.
Tasha Cerda, Dan Medina and Mina Semenza have been on the ballot in previous years. Medina came in third behind Medrano for two seats last year.
Medina, 61, is a spokesman for the Normandie Casino and a longtime member of several service clubs, including the Elks, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary, and a youth sports coach.
"I'm confident in my credentials and my pro-civic activity I've been doing since 1980," Medina said. "I've been doing volunteer work since before some of the campaigners were born."
Cerda, a 36-year-old insurance agent, is president of the Holly Park Homeowners Association and a resident advocate. She is a former chairwoman of the volunteer Rent Mediation Board, and has led community protests against the expansion of Purche Avenue Elementary School, the opening of a Numero Uno Market that wasn't complying with city codes and a jet-fuel pipeline through the city.
"I have stood firm against irresponsible development, kept the residents alert to the presence of sexual predators, and continually stood firm against negligent property owners," Cerda said in a written statement. "I enjoy being an advocate."
Lawrence, 30, is a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office with a background as a union organizer. He is also a member of the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission.
"I've been knocking on doors for the last few weeks, and one of the responses I've been getting is that they've been waiting for me to run," Lawrence said. "I think people will vote on who they think is the most qualified for the seat and, from what I'm hearing, that person is me."
Semenza, 64, is a Realtor, a former planning and environmental quality commissioner, and is president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley.
"I work every day promoting home ownership in our city," Semenza said. "I feel like I want to make a difference."
7/28/2008
Ikejiri might run for Gardena mayor
By Sandy Mazza, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/26/2008 09:11:52 PM PDT
A Gardena councilman has pulled nomination papers for the seat vacated recently by Oscar Medrano, fueling speculation that he could be among mayoral contenders next year.
If Ron Ikejiri were to win Medrano's seat, he would be able to secure a spot on the council while also taking a chance on the mayor's race.
Ikejiri said he hasn't decided if he will run in the Nov. 4 special election to fill Medrano's post - the deadline to file is Aug. 8 - but he is one of several would-be contenders showing early interest.
Five others also have taken out nomination papers for the seat Medrano relinquished two days before he was arrested and subsequently charged with 12 counts of child molestation. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges on June 27, and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.
The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Medrano's term, which expires in 2011.
The city's regular election is in March 2009, when Mayor Paul Tanaka's post and two City Council seats - those now held by Ikejiri and Steve Bradford - will be up for grabs.
Ikejiri and Bradford each claims the other wants to run for mayor in March, and may be eyeing Medrano's seat as an insurance policy. Otherwise, they would have to forfeit their council seats to run for mayor in March.
"I am sure there will be several candidates who will run in the November special election," Ikejiri said in a written response to questions about why he took out papers. "My guess is Steve Bradford probably is one of them since he asked the city attorney to research whether an incumbent council member can run or not."
Ikejiri said he will probably run for mayor if Tanaka doesn't.
Bradford did not respond to questions about whether he will run in the special election or for mayor.
"This is not about me," Bradford said. "Whatever I run for in March, I plan on winning."
Tanaka did not return calls for comment.
Dan Medina, a spokesman for the Normandie Casino who plans to to run for Medrano's seat, said he expects Ikejiri and Bradford to jump into the race.
"I'm just taking it with a grain of salt," Medina said. "My take is that Ikejiri and Bradford are going to run for mayor and they want to make sure that, if they run and lose, that they still have their seat open. More than likely it'll be more difficult, but I'm going to just try harder and keep my nose to the grindstone."
Medina has run in the past two elections, coming in third in a race for two seats last year.
Tasha Cerda, the president of Holly Park Homeowners Association who also ran last year, expects to join the race as well. She said her campaign will be more difficult if the two sitting councilmen run.
"That would make a big difference in the way the election goes," she said. "My strategy is to give it 100 percent. I'd have to do it 200 percent this time around."
Shannon Lawrence, a planning and environmental quality commissioner who is supported by Bradford and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson, said his campaign is already in full swing.
"In November, (Ikejiri's) a candidate just like I am. At the end of the day, I think people will vote on who they think is most qualified for the seat and, from what I'm hearing, that person is me," Lawrence said.
Lawrence works as a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office.
Art Kaskanian, also a planning and environmental quality commissioner, also has taken out papers. He owns Sam's Auto Land, an auto repair shop in the city.
Mina Semenza, a Realtor and former planning and environmental quality commissioner, said she will file her nomination papers and run in the election. She ran in 2003, and is president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley.
Semenza said she will run the same campaign whether or not the incumbents decide to run.
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Article Launched: 07/26/2008 09:11:52 PM PDT
A Gardena councilman has pulled nomination papers for the seat vacated recently by Oscar Medrano, fueling speculation that he could be among mayoral contenders next year.
If Ron Ikejiri were to win Medrano's seat, he would be able to secure a spot on the council while also taking a chance on the mayor's race.
Ikejiri said he hasn't decided if he will run in the Nov. 4 special election to fill Medrano's post - the deadline to file is Aug. 8 - but he is one of several would-be contenders showing early interest.
Five others also have taken out nomination papers for the seat Medrano relinquished two days before he was arrested and subsequently charged with 12 counts of child molestation. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges on June 27, and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.
The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Medrano's term, which expires in 2011.
The city's regular election is in March 2009, when Mayor Paul Tanaka's post and two City Council seats - those now held by Ikejiri and Steve Bradford - will be up for grabs.
Ikejiri and Bradford each claims the other wants to run for mayor in March, and may be eyeing Medrano's seat as an insurance policy. Otherwise, they would have to forfeit their council seats to run for mayor in March.
"I am sure there will be several candidates who will run in the November special election," Ikejiri said in a written response to questions about why he took out papers. "My guess is Steve Bradford probably is one of them since he asked the city attorney to research whether an incumbent council member can run or not."
Ikejiri said he will probably run for mayor if Tanaka doesn't.
Bradford did not respond to questions about whether he will run in the special election or for mayor.
"This is not about me," Bradford said. "Whatever I run for in March, I plan on winning."
Tanaka did not return calls for comment.
Dan Medina, a spokesman for the Normandie Casino who plans to to run for Medrano's seat, said he expects Ikejiri and Bradford to jump into the race.
"I'm just taking it with a grain of salt," Medina said. "My take is that Ikejiri and Bradford are going to run for mayor and they want to make sure that, if they run and lose, that they still have their seat open. More than likely it'll be more difficult, but I'm going to just try harder and keep my nose to the grindstone."
Medina has run in the past two elections, coming in third in a race for two seats last year.
Tasha Cerda, the president of Holly Park Homeowners Association who also ran last year, expects to join the race as well. She said her campaign will be more difficult if the two sitting councilmen run.
"That would make a big difference in the way the election goes," she said. "My strategy is to give it 100 percent. I'd have to do it 200 percent this time around."
Shannon Lawrence, a planning and environmental quality commissioner who is supported by Bradford and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson, said his campaign is already in full swing.
"In November, (Ikejiri's) a candidate just like I am. At the end of the day, I think people will vote on who they think is most qualified for the seat and, from what I'm hearing, that person is me," Lawrence said.
Lawrence works as a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office.
Art Kaskanian, also a planning and environmental quality commissioner, also has taken out papers. He owns Sam's Auto Land, an auto repair shop in the city.
Mina Semenza, a Realtor and former planning and environmental quality commissioner, said she will file her nomination papers and run in the election. She ran in 2003, and is president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley.
Semenza said she will run the same campaign whether or not the incumbents decide to run.
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