Showing posts with label Tasha Cerda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tasha Cerda. 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
11/01/2008
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.
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.
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.
sandy.mazza@dailybreeze.com
Daily Breeze
Topix
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.
sandy.mazza@dailybreeze.com
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