[Editor’s Note: With the March 5 Los Angeles primary election 43 days away, we present reports from two camps, City Attorney contender Mike Feuer and City Council candidate Emanuel Pleitez.]
[img]1610|left|Mike Feuer||no_popup[/img]In the spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Los Angeles City Attorney candidate Mike Feuer announced an important endorsement from California’s first and oldest African-American Democratic club, the New Frontier Democratic Club.
This endorsement bolsters Mr. Feuer’s campaign and showcases his expanding network of grassroots supporters throughout Los Angeles.
It comes on the heels of Mr. Feuer’s endorsement from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. In addition, Mr. Feuer has been endorsed by more than 15 local grassroots Democratic Clubs throughout Los Angeles.
“Mike Feuer stands for the ideals on which our club was founded during the 1960 Presidential election of John F. Kennedy,” said Patt Sanders, President of New Frontiers. “We can’t think of a better time than Martin Luther King Day to announce our endorsement.
“From promoting social justice to advancing civil rights and ensuring fairness in our court system, Mike has been a leader. Mike’s unique experience coupled with his progressive vision for the City Attorney’s office inspire us.”
Besides being the oldest, the New Frontier is the largest Democratic club in the California. The majority of the region’s African-American elected officials serve as members.
“The New Frontier Democratic Club is one of the most powerful and effective grassroots Democratic clubs in Los Angeles,” Mr. Feuer said. Their endorsement illustrates my growing support among community activists. It also demonstrates my significant support in the African-American community. ”
In 1960, the New Frontier Democratic Club was founded by a few African- American leaders in Los Angeles whose concern was to provide the community with a political vehicle for involvement in the Presidential campaign of Mr. Kennedy. In the 1990s, many of the same issues evident in 1960 demanded that New Frontier Democrats play an even larger role in the community's fight for increased political and economic power.
Mr. Feuer has built up a long list of endorsements from some of California's most widely-respected African American leaders, including City Council President Herb Wesson, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Culver City), retired U.S. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Culver City), state Board of Equalization Chair Jerome Horton, State Sen. Curren Price (D-Culver City), Rev. Dr. Chip Murray, Rev. J. Edgar Boyd, and former Chair of the County Democratic Party Jimmie Woods-Gray, among others.
Recently Mr. Feuer has been riding a major wave of momentum with the endorsements of Mayor Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, former state Assembly Speaker and the co-chair of incumbent City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's 2009 transition team Bob Hertzberg, U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas, former state Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, and the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.
Last week, Mr. Feuer released an endorsement list of over 600 Los Angeles residents, community leaders, and neighborhood activists, showcasing his broad and citywide grassroots support. To view the list, click here.
For further information, see www.votemikefeuer.com
From the Pleitez campaign, here is John Hill’s perspective on the weekend:
[img]1662|left|Emanuel Pleitez||no_popup[/img]Los Angeles City Council candidate Emanuel Pleitez earned frequent applause on Saturday at USC from the crowd of 1500 at the 21st annual Empowerment Congress Summit.
Transportation, economic justice, and the relatively under-discussed topic of mental health headlined the candidates forum.
Mr. Pleitez called for “acceptance, compassion, and understanding” to end the stigma of mental health and called for the use of places like schools as “wraparound centers for family oriented community centers”.
Asked about reducing gun-related homicides, Mr. Pleitez responded with his own testimonial about losing close friends to gang violence and currently living in a neighborhood where he experiences gun-related violence often. He called for a technological revolution in the LAPD and proposed a data- based solution to chronic efficiency problems. The crowd was moved and applauded.
Councilman Eric Garcetti, answering immediately after Mr. Pleitez, tried unsuccessfully, to one-up Mr. Pleitez’s personal narrative, saying he has heard gunshots outside of his Silver Lake home. The forum was silent following his response.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Pleitez challenged the crowd. “If you are happy with the job our current politicians have done, vote for them.” The crowd responded with supportive laughter that turned to applause after Mr. Pleitez concluded, “I’m here because you deserve something different, something better, something that actually works.”
Mr. Pleitez was the only candidate who stayed after the debate talk with the audience and community members. Immediately following the forum, his staff was approached by a middle-aged African-American woman who demanded more information. “He was the best one up there,” she said. She was one of many inspired audience members.
Mr. Pleitez is a former technology executive, with public, private, and non-profit sector experience, and was appointed to manage President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. An L.A. native, he grew up on the East Side. Mr. Pleitez lives in El Sereno with his wife, Rebecca. For full bio, see www.pleitezforla.com.
