On January 22nd, Northeast Democratic Club will be holding our endorsement meeting for the 2020 primary. It will begin at 7pm at the Glassell Park Senior Center.
Candidates who responded to our invitation and agreed to participate in the process have shared information about their campaigns via a candidate information worksheet to give members a chance to do their own research ahead of the meeting. Their responses are listed in this post.
At the meeting, each candidate will be allowed 2 minutes to speak to members and a vote will be taken.
Candidates for Judge
Emily Cole
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 76
Ballot Designation:
Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County
Educational Background:
San Francisco State University – Bachelor of Arts, English Literature; Golden Gate University, School of Law – Juris Doctorate
Biography:
Emily Cole is a sex crimes prosecutor at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. She has built her career on being fair, reasonable, and always prepared. She has fought for justice for vulnerable victims including women, children, and the elderly. She strongly believes in mental health and drug treatment for defendants, to treat the underlying causes of why defendants commit crime. Emily, a Los Angeles native and life-long democrat, is a wife and mother of 2 children.
Website: emilycoleforjudge2020.com
Facebook: facebook.com/emilycoleforjudge
Instagram: @emilycolejudge
Twitter: @emilycolejudge
Sherry L. Powell
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 97
Ballot Designation:
Deputy District Attorney, County of Los Angeles
Educational Background:
J.D.; B.A., English
Biography:
I believe our judiciary should reflect the diversity of our community. If elected, I will contribute a voice to the judiciary for two underrepresented communities—the community of women and the LGBTQIA community. I have dedicated my career as a prosecutor to seeking justice for victims of child molestation, rape, human trafficking, and murder. As a gatekeeper of justice, I ensure the innocent are freed and charges are fair. I worked for 20 years in educational publishing and graphic design before putting myself through law school. I teach 10-year old students the Project LEAD program in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
Website: http://powellforjudge.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sherrypowellforjudge
Instagram: @sherrypowellforjudge
Twitter: @powellforjudge
Troy Slaten
L.A. County Judge, Seat 145
Ballot Designation:
Attorney/Legal Commentator
Educational Background:
BA – English Literature UCLA
JD – Pepperdine Univ. School of Law
Biography:
During his 15-year career as an attorney, Slaten has amassed diverse legal experience from criminal, civil, and litigation to administrative, business transaction, employment, worker’s comp and general business cases. He currently represents 170 victims of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at the Rt 91 Festival (which garnered the third largest settlement in United States history) and as a political pundit, he’s made over 500 television appearances on networks including CNN, HLN and Fox News as well as regularly appearing as a legal analyst on Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew Pinksy.
He has served as a Temporary Judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court many times over the last few years and says, “It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the public in the capacity of Temporary Judge and it would be a tremendous honor to continue serving the People of the County of Los Angeles as a Superior Court Judge.”
Website: http://troyslatenforjudge.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TroySlatenForJudge/
Instagram: @troy.slaten
Twitter: @troyslaten
Robert F. Jacobs
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Office 72
Ballot Designation:
Attorney At Law
Educational Background:
J.D. – Marquette University Law School
B.S. Political Science & B.S. Economics from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Biography:
I am the proud son of a public-school teacher and union leader, and a substance abuse counselor. They taught me the values of education, fighting for justice, and that all people are created equal. For over 21 years as an immigration attorney, I personally helped thousands of the most vulnerable people in society of all races, ages, sexual orientations, mental abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Los Angeles County Bar Association rated me “Qualified” to be a Judge, and I am ethical, compassionate and fair. In 2008 and 2012, I was a Deputy Field Organizer for Barack Obama’s campaigns and walked the precincts in Nevada. The Mexican American Bar Association PAC and over 50 Judges and community leaders have endorsed me. I have also been recommended for endorsement by the Stonewall Democratic Club.
Website: http://robertjacobsforjudge.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertjacobsforjudge
Instagram: @robertjacobslosangeles
Twitter: n/a
Myanna Dellinger
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 72
Ballot Designation:
Law Professor/Attorney
Educational Background:
M.Sc., J.D.
(Certificate in Natural Resources Law) (Order of the Coif)
PhD candidate (2020)
Biography:
Myanna Dellinger will bring a much needed diverse, female voice to the still much too traditional LA County court system. Myanna was a research attorney for three state- and federal-level trial and appellate court judges giving her key insight into how cases are solved by judges behind the bench, not by attorneys on the floor. She worked on more than 300 criminal cases and dozens of civil cases. She wrote opinions for a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the second-highest court in the nation after the U.S. Supreme Court. As a law professor specializing in climate change and business law, she has trained more than 1,300 attorneys how to practice law correctly and ethically. She is a Fulbright Scholar, a life-long Democrat, a first-generation immigrant who graduated at the top of her law school class, and she will help you by bringing Democratic values into the legal system to benefit all of LA County.
Website: http://dellingerforjudge.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dellingerjudge2020
Instagram: @myannadellinger
Twitter: @myannadellinger
Steve Morgan
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 72
Did not submit candidate worksheet.
Linda Sun
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 42
Ballot Designation:
Deputy Attorney General, State of California
Educational Background:
BA in Economics from UCLA
JD from Southwestern University
Biography:
Worked at the Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General for over 18 years specializing in consumer protection litigation; personally prosecuted close to 1000 unscrupulous professionals
Website: http://lindasunforjudge.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lindasunforjudge
Instagram: @lindasunforjudge
Twitter: @lindasunforjudge
Adan Montalban
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 145
Ballot Designation:
Deputy District Attorney, County of Los Angeles
Educational Background:
Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School
Biography:
For over a decade, I have safeguarded the rights of victims of the most severe crimes. I received numerous awards for my work in the community and for the justice I secured for immigrant victims. I’ve also been recognized for my efforts in uncovering wrongful convictions. I mentor 5th graders on a weekly basis who live in high risks neighborhoods. I am endorsed by the The Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Los Angeles County Federation Of Labor, AFL-CIO, SEIU 721, Rio Hondo Democratic Club, West Hollywood Democratic Club/Beverly Hills Democratic Club and North Valley Democratic Club. I am the only candidate endorsed by Loyola Law School Project for the Innocent.
Website: http://montalbanforjudge.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/adan.montalban.319
Instagram: montalbanforjudgemarch
Ken Fuller
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 129
Did not submit candidate worksheet.
Scott Yang
L.A. Superior Court Judge, Seat 162
Did not submit candidate worksheet.
L.A. City Council District 14
Cyndi Otteson
L.A. City Council District 14
Ballot Designation:
Mother/Organizer/Businesswoman
Educational Background:
UC Irvine, BA in Sociology
Biography:
Cyndi was born in Council District 14; she’s the child of immigrants, a businesswoman, nonprofit founder, former Neighborhood Council VP, and proud public school parent of two adorable kids.
Through her service on the Neighborhood Council, she fostered a passion for public service and saw the power of local government to help people in need and facilitate a thriving neighborhood. Through her leadership at the nonprofit Miry’s List, she combated the hate and distrust of the refugee community perpetrated by America’s national leadership and has activated over 75,000 Americans to help welcome over 320 new arrival families since 2016.
She never thought she would ever run for public office, but when Cyndi saw two career politicians running for CD 14, she felt an urgency to throw her hat in the ring. Thanks to a swell of grassroots support, the city’s 6-to-1 matching funds program, and Cyndi’s own work ethic she is now a serious contender in this historic race.
She received the endorsements of former LAUSD Board member Bennett Kayser, Teacher-Activist Erika Alvarez, and the United Teachers of Los Angeles. She’s knocking doors and talking to voters about issues that matter to all of us. Her agenda focusses on humanely building relationships, serving, and housing our homeless neighbors; mandating inclusionary zoning and increasing renter protections to address the affordable housing crisis; fundamentally shifting the culture of City Hall toward transparency and service; and investing in the health, safety, and opportunities of the children of CD 14.
Website: http://cyndi2020.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/cyndi2020
Instagram: @cyndiLA2020
Twitter: @cyndi2020
Kevin de León
L.A. City Council District 14
Ballot Designation:
Teacher / Environmental Policymaker
Educational Background:
“Before politics, Senator de León served the public as a community organizer, taught ESL and U.S.citizenship courses, and advocated for public schools. He graduated with honors from Pitzer College; fields of study were Political Science and Education. The Senator is currently a professor at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Fellow at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.”
Biography:
Kevin de León is President pro Tempore Emeritus of the California State Senate. The son of a single immigrant mother with a third grade education, he rose from San Diego’s Logan Heights barrio to become the first Latino to lead the State Senate in over a century.
As leader of the Senate, he delivered landmark gun-safety legislation, clean-energy mandates, environmental protections, and immigration reform. He authored the “Sanctuary State Bill” Senate Bill 54, created the CalSavers retirement security program, reallocated $2 billion for permanent supportive housing for individuals with mental illness experiencing homeless under his ballot initiative “No Place Like Home”, and legally committed California to 100% clean energy with his Senate Bill 100.
Website: http://kevindeleon.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kevindeleonkdl
Instagram: @kdeleon
Twitter: @kdeleon
Raquel Zamora
L.A. City Council District 14
Did not submit candidate worksheet.
Monica Garcia did not respond to our invitation.
John Jimenez is not eligible for Democratic endorsement as he is registered No Party Preference.
L.A. County District Attorney
George Gascón
L.A. County District Attorney
Ballot Designation:
Justice Reform Advocate
Educational Background:
“When I came to the United States I did not speak English and therefore struggled in school during my formative years. I dropped out of Bell High School and joined the U.S. Army, where I earned my high school diploma. Later, I attended California State University, Long Beach graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in History. I earned my Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University, College of Law. Upon graduating from college, I joined the LAPD rising through the ranks to become the Assistant Chief of Operations. I was recruited to become the Chief of Police in Mesa Arizona and battled against the nationally known anti-immigrant Sheriff Joe Arpio. I took our fight to the US Congress where I provided testimony exposing the human/civil rights abuses going on in Arizona. That resulted in me being asked to leave Mesa. Then Mayor Newsom recruited me to be San Francisco’s Chief of Police. I was the SF Chief of Police for 16 months helping to reduce murders from 98 annually to 45. Thereafter, I became the District Attorney and ran successfully for two terms pushing a nationally recognized agenda of reform and community safety. I’m back home and running to replace Jackie Lacey as DA, because I believe LA County needs a more effective and progressive DA that enhances community safety without over incarcerating our communities.”
Biography:
Making our communities safer and more equitable is my life’s work. While public safety is a top priority for my time in office, so is justice. As such, I am committed to ending mass incarceration in a County that has seen a steady decline in violent crime rates, but continues to maintain the biggest jail system in the country. While serving as District Attorney of San Francisco, I worked tirelessly to reduce jail and prison populations, and tackle bias by keeping demographic information about suspects from prosecutors as they decide whether to bring charges. And despite incarcerating people at ¼ the rate of Los Angeles, violent crime in San Francisco dropped more quickly than it did in LA.
I am seeking to bring this same approach to Los Angeles–ensuring public safety and reducing crime, while also reforming the overburdened and outdated prison pipeline currently in place.
Website: http://georgegascon.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dageorgegascon
Instagram: @gascongeorge
Twitter: @georgegascon
Rachel A. Rossi
L.A. County District Attorney
Ballot Designation:
Public Defender, Federal
Educational Background:
“Rachel earned her Bachelors Degree from Bethany University in 2005, and her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2009. She is admitted to practice before the bars of California, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.”
Biography:
Rachel Rossi is the first former public defender, first Afro-Latina, and first Latina to run for Los Angeles County District Attorney. She is a daughter of immigrant parents born in the Dominican Republic and Greece, and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley area.
As a public defender, Rachel defended Angelenos in the trenches in the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles, and then an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Rachel defended clients who — all to often — suffered from mental illness, substance use disorders and poverty, and daily witnessed the stark racial disparities of the system. She handled a wide range of cases, from charges of sleeping on the sidewalk against our houseless neighbors, to immigration related offenses, insider trading, fraud, narcotics and gun trafficking, and complex litigation including RICO conspiracy charges. Working in both state and Federal courts, Rachel gained comprehensive expertise on L.A.’s layers of criminal justice systems, including the many local and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial agencies that intersect in our County.
Rachel then worked on criminal justice policy in Washington, D.C. on the House and Senate sides, to reform criminal justice systems nationally and in California. As Counsel to Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Democratic Whip, on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Rachel worked on multiple nomination hearings, including those for Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, and was a lead staffer on the largest major federal criminal justice reform bill signed into law, which enacted comprehensive sentencing and prison reforms and has resulted in thousands of people being released from federal prison to date.
As Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee, Rachel worked with the Democratic Majority on efforts to develop the next steps in criminal justice reform nationally. She worked with Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler and Judiciary Crime Sub-Committee Chair Rep. Karen Bass on drafting legislation and holding Congressional hearings on criminal justice issues, including on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, the need for criminal justice reform, issues faced by women in the criminal justice system, reducing firearm violence, combatting hate crimes, and a Los Angeles field hearing on California’s criminal justice reforms.
Website: http://rachel4da.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rachel4da
Instagram: @rachel4da
Twitter: @rachel4da
Jackie Lacey did not respond to our invitation.
Congressional District 34
David Kim
Congressional District 34
Ballot Designation:
Neighborhood Council Boardmember
Educational Background:
BA – History – 2006 JD – Law – 2010
Biography:
David was born in Sierra Vista, Arizona and grew up primarily in Arizona, Washington State and California. As a 2nd generation Korean American with immigrant pastor parents, and being one of the few non-Caucasian students in his school and a product of the government’s assistance, David knows all too well the struggle of how real it gets in a lot of families and communities that make up America. Early on, David assumed the role of being an advocate for many, first starting with talking on behalf of his parents from early on as a child, and then as an attorney, with serving and helping creatives navigate through everything legal in the entertainment industry and then as a Board Member on the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council serving his local neighborhood district constituents in Los Angeles. Having also served on 2 congressional campaigns for the same seat that he is currently running for, David is confident that he and the people can win this November and remove a corporately funded incumbent from office.
Website: http://davidkim2020.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/davidkimforcongress
Instagram: @davidkimforcongress
Twitter: @davidkim2020
Jimmy Gomez
Congressional District 34
Ballot Designation:
Member of Congress
Educational Background:
Jimmy attended community college and ultimately transferred to UCLA, where he graduated magna cum laude and later earned a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Biography:
Jimmy Gomez was elected in a special election to represent the 34th Congressional District in June 2017, after finishing first in a 23 person primary. Jimmy won the runoff with 60 percent of the vote. He is a working class progressive helping lead a new generation of democrats fight for our values in Washington and across the country. Since winning the special election, Jimmy has co-sponsored more than 200 pieces of legislation including the 2017 DREAM Act, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and the HELP Separated Children Act, which protects children affected by immigration enforcement actions. He has also voted against Republican legislation to fund Donald Trump’s border wall, his demand for more detention beds, and increased funding for ICE. Jimmy is also a strong champion of environmental equity, helping eliminate student debt, protecting women’s right to choose, and defending and expanding the gains we have made under the Affordable Care Act. Jimmy sits on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. He is also a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus and the Expand Social Security Caucus.
Website: http://jimmygomezforcongress.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jimmygomezca
Instagram: @jimmygomezca
Twitter: @jimmygomezca
Keanakay Scott
Congressional District 34
Ballot Designation:
Author
Biography:
In and out of foster care since the age of four, Keanakay Scott aged out of the system at eighteen. She was homeless for more than a decade despite being chronically employed. She has worked to advocate for policy change in the foster care system and been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, Fox News, and other print, radio and TV programs. She speaks regularly about the issues of foster care and homelessness.
Website: http://keanakayforcongress.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/keanakayforcongress
Instagram: @keanakayforcongress
Twitter: @keana4congress
Francis Yasmeen Motiwalla did not respond to our invitation.
Assembly District 51
Wendy Carrillo
Assembly District 51
Ballot Designation:
Assemblymember
Educational Background:
M.A., Specialized Journalism, USC
B.A., Rhetorical Communications, CSULA
Biography:
Wendy Carrillo was elected to serve in the California State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 51st Assembly District in the City of Los Angeles and, unincorporated East Los Angeles, which includes some of the most historic and iconic communities in the city.
Assemblywoman Carrillo serves on the Appropriations, Rules, Health, Labor and Utilities and Energy committees and is the chairwoman of the select committee on young girls and women of color.
Prior to being elected to office, Assemblywoman Carrillo was a broadcast journalist for twelve 12 years, covering human rights, global conflict, and U.S. politics. Assemblywoman Carrillo immigrated to the United States as a young child during El Salvador’s civil war and is a first- generation American with Salvadoran and Mexican heritage.
Website: http://wendycarrillo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/votewendycarrillo
Instagram: @wendycarrillo
Twitter: @wendycarrillo
Assembly District 53
Godfrey Santos Plata
Assembly District 53
Ballot Designation:
Public Teacher Advocate
Educational Background:
BA, University of Richmond [American Studies (concentration: Ethnic Studies) & Theater]
MA, UC Berkeley [Performance Studies – Thesis: Racial Performance in K-12 Classrooms]
Biography:
Godfrey Santos Plata is a 35 year old Filipino immigrant, Koreatown renter, and former public school teacher dedicated to supporting teachers as they mobilize around issues important to them and their students. He was raised by parents whose union jobs offered secure wages and benefits that brought them into the middle class. A graduate of LA and Long Beach Unified schools, Godfrey holds degrees from the University of Richmond and UC Berkeley, where his master’s thesis focused on how racial identity is constructed in K-12 public school classrooms. Over the last 13 years, Godfrey has been a fierce advocate for protecting and improving our public education system. Through organizing, Godfrey has supported school communities and stakeholders to take on issues like the school-to-prison-pipeline, unsafe routes to schools, attacks on immigrants, and more. He’s built organizing muscle by organizing with churches of diverse denominations through the Industrial Areas Foundation. Today, Godfrey is running to represent a district of renters, immigrant workers, and families like his own, and would be the first assembly-person in California’s 140-year history to be both an immigrant and a member of the LGBTQ community; the first Filipino assembly-person ever to represent the greater Los Angeles area; and just the second renter to join the assembly in which tenants are represented by just one renter, while more than 25% of legislators are landlords.
Website: http://godfreyforassembly.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/godfreyplata
Instagram: @godfreyplata
Twitter: @godfreyplata
Miguel Santiago
Assembly District 53
Ballot Designation:
Assemblymember
Biography:
Miguel Santiago was born to hard working immigrant parents, attended the University of California, Los Angeles and was the first in his family to graduate from college. Miguel was elected in November 2014 to represent California’s 53rd Assembly District, which includes Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, Pico Union and the surrounding areas. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Miguel served as the President of the Los Angeles Community College Board. He led the efforts to expand 21st century job skills, and to revitalize and renovate all nine colleges including L.A. Trade Tech, East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles Community College.
Website: http://santiagoforassembly.com
Facebook: Miguel Santiago’s FB
Twitter: @santiagoad53
LAUSD BD5
Jackie Goldberg
LAUSD Board District 5
Did not submit candidate worksheet.
Christina Martinez Duran did not respond to our invitation.
Democratic candidates who did not respond to our invitations to participate in the endorsement are:
Jackie Lacey for LA DA
Monica Garcia for LA CD14
Frances Yasmeen Motiwalla for CA34
Christina Martinez Duran for LAUSD BD5