Speaker of the California State Assembly Karen Bass, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Senator Ridley-Thomas is not only a California co-chair for the Barack Obama campaign, but was one of Senator Obama’s earliest and staunchest supporters. The two community organizers share much in common and have a strong friendship. In fact, when visiting California back in January, Obama singled out his “great friend,” Senator Ridley-Thomas, at the beginning of his remarks at L.A. Trade Trade Technical College.

Karen Bass is also an avid supporter of Senator Ridley-Thomas. See the Speaker’s enthusiastic video endorsement of the Senator here.

Speaker Karen Bass Endorses Mark Ridley-Thomas

Speaker of the California State Assembly Karen Bass offers a heartfelt endorsement of Mark Ridley-Thomas for L.A. County Supervisor:

“I have worked with Mark Ridley-Thomas for over 30 years and, like Barack Obama, Mark Ridley-Thomas was a community organizer, a civil rights leader, a legislator. We’ve been serving in the State Assembly and Senate together for the last few years. And he has the same set of values I do — a strong, deep commitment to social and economic justice.

And frankly, the Board of Supervisors in Los Angeles County, that is the institution that, from my point of view, manages the lives of poor folks. And I believe that his commitment to improving the quality of life for those in our society who are the most vulnerable makes him the most qualified to do the job.”

Senator Ridley-Thomas and Speaker Bass Rally Dems at West L.A. Headquarters

Speaker Bass: “Let me just tell you that the Obama factor up and down this state is going to have us picking up seats in the Assembly, and in the Senate and we have to take advantage of this opportunity and send Mark Ridley-Thomas to the County Board of Supervisors.”