Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas today announced that Steven B. Sample, President, University of Southern California has been appointed Chair of his Second District Transition Team, an advisory group that will provide advice and counsel to Supervisor Ridley-Thomas on policy issues, critical community concerns, county commission appointments, county budget priorities and related matters.

Supervisor-elect Ridley-Thomas said the purpose and role 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. Key to that change is the involvement and participation of stakeholders and residents throughout the Second District. They voted for a leader who they believed would deliver results. I intend to exceed their expectations,” Mr. Ridley-Thomas said.

In addition to Mr. Sample, Supervisor-elect Ridley-Thomas named the following members to his Transition Team advisory panel (and the issue areas they will lead as Transition Team members):

Connie Rice, Esq. – Public Safety
Co-Director
The Advancement Project

Honorable Sheila Kuehl – Budget Reform
California State Senator (Ret.)

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

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 Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

Maria Elena Durazo – Commissions/Governance
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

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.

“My Transition Team advisors will help my office chart new directions for the 2nd District through a structured process of empowerment that will include, but not be limited to issues of county budget reform, workforce development, small business expansion, health services, public safety, environment quality, housing, and children and family services.”

Supervisor-elect Ridley-Thomas will take his oath of office on Monday, December 1 at 12:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles.

On Monday night the Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor campaign opened its Gardena satellite office to a packed house. It was standing room only for the more than 70 volunteers and community leaders that came out for the spirited office kickoff. The night proved once again that the Ridley-Thomas campaign will work hard to win the L.A. County Supervisor’s race on November 4th and have fun doing so!

Gardena Councilman Steve Bradford Introduces Senator Ridley-Thomas

Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford explains the importance of the Supervisor’s race and why he is supporting Senator Ridley-Thomas:

“There is no bigger Barack Obama supporter in this room than me right now and I would be willing to fight anybody to prove that (laughter). But that’s not why I am here right now. The most important election is the local elections because it will be our next county supervisor, not Barack Obama, who determines if Martin Luther King Hospital is open. So these local elections are important. This is where are focus should be…”

“It’s important to understand why I am supporting the Senator for Supervisor. It’s not about popularity, it’s not about personality, it’s about policy, it’s about leadership, it’s about moving this county in a brand new direction that we haven’t seen in a long time… So it is important that we have a public servant, not a personality, a public servant in that position. Someone who understands the issues, someone who understands the community, someone who understands the needs of working men and women and have done that their entire life, not just lately.”

Senator Ridley-Thomas Speaks to Supporters

Senator Ridley-Thomas thanks his supporters and encourages them to work hard over the final three weeks of the campaign. A raucous roll call follows where individual supporters identify themselves as being associated with various organizations including blacks in government, Progressive Democratic Club, SEIU, UTLA, sheet metal workers, Sierra Club, black journalists of Southern California, retired public employees and the Samoan Federation. Senator Ridley-Thomas concludes by pointing out the significance of the diversity in the room:

“It seems to me that you have an appreciation for the depth and breadth of this coalition that is building to support this candidacy. This is not a one-dimensional proposition by any standard. It is broad in its outreach and its focus and that is essentially what we will bring to bear on the County Board of Supervisors.”

Gardena Community Leaders Endorse Senator Ridley-Thomas

Endorsers include Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford, Gardena City Council candidate Shannon Lawrence, National Association of Women Business Owners president Cynthia McClain-Hill, New Frontier Young Democratic Club president Elliott Petty, Tamisha Rose of Monroe Middle School, child advocate Grace Cainoy-Weltman, West Basin Municipal Water District Board member Gloria Gray, Water Replenishment District of Southern California president Robert Katherman and Gardena Councilwoman Rachel Johnson.