Culver City activist Daniel Lee, a volunteer mentor who narrowly lost his first bid for the City Council last year, today became the second candidate to declare for April’s Council election.

He joins Albert Vera, the second candidate to announce, in what is expected to be a large field.

Mr. Lee’s new campaign already has received the support of two-term City Council Member Meghan Sahli-Wells, Vice Mayor Thomas Small, former Los Angeles City Controller Rick Tuttle, and School Board member Dr. Kelly Kent.

Mr. Lee has been an activist and volunteer for nearly 15 years, including serving on the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee for the last 7 years.

He has been a volunteer mentor at El Rincon Elementary School since 2005.

He is currently project manager for the James Lawson Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to organizing movements for social change throughout North America.

Since 2012, he has been on the national board of directors for Move to Amend.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the California Air National Guard, he earned a bachelor’s degree from USC, and a master’s degree in social work from UCLA.

“I believe a city should reflect the views and values of its citizens,” Mr. Lee said.

“Governing institutions should represent the opinions, issues, and concerns of the people.

“It is time, Culver City, time to make changes that will make a difference.”

Mr. Lee’s campaign is built on three fundamental beliefs:

• Protect the environment,
• Encourage economic fairness, and
• Ensure government accountability.

Mr. Lee explains:

• Protect the Environment: “As 10 percent of the Inglewood Oil Field is in Culver City, we must protect residents from the health effects of oil wells and other environmental hazards. We must also have environmentally sound building codes and a robust sustainability plan.”
• Encourage Economic Fairness: “City government should act to support the demographic and economic diversity of our residents through inclusionary zoning, alternative building practices and affordable housing initiatives.”
• Ensure Government Accountability: “City Council members should pro-actively engage with residents in their communities on a regular basis. They should represent the concerns of those residents in the City Council.”

On Sunday, Nov. 19, Mr. Lee’s campaign is holding a 4 o’clock kickoff event at the home of Dr. Kent, the School Board m, 4204 Lafayette Pl., Culver City 90232.

All residents and anyone else who is interested, is invited to meet the candidate and share their perspectives on issues facing Culver City.

For more information on the campaign and kickoff event, see http://danielwaynelee.com

Mr. Klein may be contacted at jameskleinx@gmail.com