[img]2299|left|Sebastian Ridley-Thomas||no_popup[/img]The Culver City Chamber of Commerce recently endorsed Sebastian Ridley-Thomas in Tuesday’s state Assembly race, and Michael Hamill, Chair of the board, spoke later about his own opinions.
The choice between Mr. Ridley-Thomas and former City Councilman Christopher Armenta was easy, he said.
Mr. Hamill was among the throng at the Democratic Club’s noisy endorsement meeting a fortnight ago, and he vividly remembered a closing scene from the candidates forum.
“Look at Christopher Armenta’s final response. He was asked, ‘In your 10 years of service, besides balancing the budget, what other accomplishments do you have?’
“He did not name any,” said Mr. Hamill.
“He said ‘The record speaks for itself.’
“What is that? He did not elaborate on what his accomplishments are.
“If you want something to speak for itself, you have not accomplished anything then.”
[img]2300|right|Michael Hamill||no_popup[/img]Mr. Hamill had two separate conversations with Mr. Ridley-Thomas before he went to the Chamber board seeking its endorsement.
“He really impressed me as very, very intelligent,” the chairman said. “I have concerns over his youth (he is 26 years old), and that we may be electing another career politician.
“But as a candidate, if you just put him on his own, and take his father out of the picture, he really impresses me as somebody you just are having a conversation with.”
Mr. Hamill commended Mr. Ridley-Thomas for his exhaustive knowledge of the far flung 54th Assembly District.
Recent holders of both the state Assembly and state Senate seats have almost aggressively ignored Culver City, leaders broadly agree.
Many of them sense a change with Mr, Ridley-Thomas because they say already he is more intimately familiar with the community and its issues than his predecessors.
“Sebastian's intimate knowledge of Culver City and its issues, showed the Chamber Board he was the right choice,” Mr. Hamill said. “Especially when this is combined with his knowledge of the rest of the district and state government.”
