[Editor’s Note: Via chef Basil Kimbrew’s California Friends of the African American publication (cafriendsofaacc@gmail.com).]
Dateline Gardena — Maintaining his significant lead on the endorsement front in the race for the 35th state Senate District seat in the June primary, former State Assemblyman Steve Bradford today scored a heavyweight endorsement from Watts icon Sweet Alice Harris.
Ms. Harris pioneered the groundbreaking organization, Parents of Watts (POW), a powerful community force aimed at helping local youth. As a community activist, founder, and executive director, Ms. Harris has sought to ease the friction between the African American and Latino residents of her community.
A witness to the 1965 riots, the woman widely known as Sweet Alice and a cadre of volunteers worked out of her house to help rebuild the community. Linking with other civic groups, Ms. Harris formed the Black and Brown Committee. Eventually, in 1979, it became Parents of Watts.
In announcing her support of Mr. Bradford in the three-way race that includes Warren Furatani and Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan, Ms. Harris remarked:
“Steve represents the proven leadership that we need fighting on behalf of the District. He’s a man of substance, compassion and determination. Steve has been a strong supporter of Watts.”
Earlier this week Mr. Bradford rolled out endorsements from the following Maywood city leaders who neighbor the Senate District:
Maywood Mayor Eduardo De La Riva
Maywood Mayor Pro-Tem Veronica Guardado
Maywood City Councilman Oscar Magaña
Mr. Bradford’s endorsement list includes:
* Channing Hawkins, director, California Democratic Party, Region 14
* Jimmie Woods Gray, past chair, Los Angeles County Democratic party
* Darren Parker, chair, California Democratic party, African American caucus
* Darryn Harris, president, Black Los Angeles Young Democrats
* Ingrid Hutt, past president, New Frontier Democratic Club
* Heather Hutt, treasurer, California Democratic party African American caucus
* Armond Aghakhanian, founder, past president, Southern California Armenian Democrats
* Jason Levin, vice president, Los Angeles County Young Democrats
* Ari Ruiz, past president, Stonewall Young Democrats
* Carson Councilman Jawane Hilton
* Compton Councilmember Janna Zurita
* Compton Councilmember Emma Sharif
* Retired Compton Councilmember Delores Zurita
* Gardena City Treasurer J. Ingrid Tsukiyama
* Hawthorne Councilman Nilo Michelin
* Lawndale Councilman Larry Rudolph
* Compton Unified School District Board vice president Satra Zurita
* Compton Unified School District Board clerk Margie Garrett
* Compton Community College trustee Deborah LaBlanc
* Compton Community College trustee Leslie Irving
* Hawthorne School District Board member Eugene Krank
* Lawndale Elementary School District Board president Bonnie J. Coronado
Mr. Bradford also has been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Senate president pro-tem Kevin de León, incumbent Sen. Isadore Hall, and U.S. Reps. Janice Hahn, Karen Bass and Judy Chu.
Significantly, Mr. Bradford has been on a winning streak, besting his opponents in fundraising with a substantial $614,067 total raised for June. More than two-thirds, $440,987, represents cash on hand.
Steve Bradford has represented portions of the 35th Senate district for eighteen years – first as a member of the Gardena City Council and then as a member of the California State Assembly.
To view Bradford’s full list of endorsements, click here.
For more information about the Steven Bradford for State Senate campaign, click here: http://stevenbradfordforsenate.com/