Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas over the weekend announced that Stephen B. Sample, President of USC, has been appointed Chair of his 2nd District Transition Team, an advisory group that will provide advice and counsel on policy issues, critical community concerns, County commission appointments, County budget priorities and related matters. The team also includes Dr. Mark Rocha, President of West Los Angeles College.
The newest Supervisor, elected on Nov. 4 in a runoff against L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks, was scheduled to take his oath of office at 12 noon today at 500 W. Temple St., downtown.
Supervisor-elect Ridley-Thomas said the purpose of his Transition Team was “to gather together the leading minds and practitioners from throughout the 2nd District to begin the process of evaluating current County policies, assessing funding needs for programs across a range of issues, and examining the effectiveness of county departments and appointed commissions.”
“The voters of the 2nd District voted for change,” Mr. Ridley-Thomas said. “Key to that change is the involvement and participation of stakeholders and residents throughout the 2nd District. They voted for a leader who they believed would deliver results. I intend to exceed their expectations.”
In addition to Mr. Sample, Mr. Ridley-Thomas named the following members to his Transition Team advisory panel (and the issue areas they will lead as Transition Team members):
Honorable Sheila Kuehl – Budget Reform
State Senator (Ret.)
Connie Rice, Esq. – Public Safety
Co-Director
The Advancement Project
Robert K. Ross, M.D. – Health Services
President and CEO
The California Endowment
Mark W. Rocha, Ph.D. – Workforce Development
President
West Los Angeles College
Maria Elena Durazo – Commissions/Governance
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Dora Leong Gallo – Housing Services
CEO
A Community of Friends
Martin Schlageter – Environmental Quality
Director of Public Policy
Coalition for Clean Air
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Esq. – Small Business Development
President
National Assn. of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
Mr. Ridley-Thomas said, “My Transition Team will be inclusive and diverse. I have more Transition Team members who will officially appointed and named in the coming days. My advisors will help me develop district-specific views on County policy and they will help me assess the budgetary needs of county programs serving the people of the 2nd District.”