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Reflections from the desk of the West Los Angeles/Culver City Assemblyman…
Dateline Sacramento – The week brought a change in the top leadership of the Assembly. Toni Atkins, a veteran public servant representing San Diego, and the Assembly’s Majority Leader, was unanimously endorsed by Assembly Democrats to become the 69th Speaker of the state Assembly.
I welcome Speaker-presumptive Atkins to the role of Assembly Leader. Democratic members of the Assembly look forward to her leadership and efforts to build on the legacy of retiring Speaker John A. Pérez, who will leave office this year because of term limits.
Assemblymember Atkins previously served as a member of the San Diego City Council. She served in the not-for-profit sector for many years. A native of Virginia, Ms. Atkins has made it her business to work with all Californians.
Special Note: We are approaching one of those rare moments in the state legislature when the leaders of both the Senate and Assembly represent Southern California legislative districts.
Majority Leader Atkins’s primary goal when she assumes the Speakership, following a formal vote in a few months, will be to produce balanced, on-time budgets. She invites all Legislators to focus on doing the same. Ms. Atkins is a capable leader whom many regard as a leader among leaders. We look forward to great things for the 54th District during the Atkins Speakership in the Assembly.
Chief among the Speaker’s responsibilities is to serve as the Assembly’s representative in budget negotiations with Gov. Brown. We will be working closely with outgoing Speaker Pérez and Speaker-elect Atkins through the course of budget deliberations to ensure that issues such as early childhood education, higher education, healthcare, and infrastructure investments remain high priorities.
All of these areas will assist the 54th District in becoming a focal point of what Gov. Brown calls the ‘California Comeback.’
Lesson of the Week: Sacramento thrives on procrastination. The only way to avoid its perils is for one to do one’s homework to the level that one has multiple options for success. That includes knowing the rules, protocols, and potential outcomes of every decision one might make.
Yours in service,
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
State Assemblyman
