Governor Newsom Visits Culver City

State Senator Holly J. Mitchell has officially announced her campaign for the Second District seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. If elected, she will replace current Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas who will be termed out next year.

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared on Tuesday at the Culver City Senior Citizens Center to throw his support behind Mitchell.

"There are certain core tenants of leadership. They take responsibility; they are not bystanders in the world," said Newsom, endorsing Mitchell. "I've watched one leader in particular. I've watched Senator Mitchell. She gets it and gets it done."

Mitchell spoke about the importance of Los Angeles County and her passion for leadership.

"Los Angeles is my home," she said. "I've raised my son here. I intend to grow old here and I want to have the opportunities my mother, my grandmother and my great grandmother had.

"I represent a large area of unincorporated areas that don't have city councilmembers to represent them. They look to the county as their first line of defense. Everybody wants the same thing, affordable housing, park in their neighborhoods.... a sense of community," she added.

Mitchell has represented Culver City and surrounding communities as State Senator for California's 30th District for the past nine years.

In her press announcement, Mitchell cited her accomplishments in the state senate. "I am proud of the wins we have made in criminal justice reform, increasing access to quality healthcare, and to have passed two state budgets that expanded funding for vital services for infants, students and working families," she mentioned.

"Whether you're a third generation Angeleno like me or someone who just moved here, our communities must continue to be a place of possibility for all residents no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or economic status," she added.

Mitchell joins a crowded field of candidates vying to replace Ridley-Thomas. They include Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson and former Los Angeles City Council woman Jan Perry. Wesson previously served in the state assembly representing Culver City and adjacent areas of Los Angeles.

In what has become known as a "seat swap," Ridley-Thomas is eyeing the Los Angeles City Council seat, currently being held by Wesson who faces term limits in 2020.

The Second District includes almost 2 million residents and covers 162 square miles of Los Angeles County. It covers 8 cities, including Culver City, and vast areas of unincorporated communities.