3 Democrats Vie in 54th Assembly Special Election Tuesday

By City News Service

Voters will choose among three Democrats in a special election Tuesday in the 54th Assembly District, which includes portions of the Westside and South Los Angeles.

The field consists of Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, an aide to Los Angeles Councilman Curren Price; former Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta and real estate broker John Jake.

Jake and Ridley-Thomas both support expanding the abilities of small business to take advantage of local and state contracting opportunities to create jobs; apprentice programs to give the unemployed more skills; and funding school health centers through public-private partnerships.

Ridley-Thomas, one of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas's 26-year-old twin sons, has also called for reopening the Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital.

Jake also supports creating incentives to stop runaway film and television production.

Armenta said he supports stopping outsourcing of jobs in state contracts and having future Metro Rail stations above or below grade in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The district stretches from Westwood, Holmby Hills and Century City in the north to the Crenshaw district, Leimert Park and Jefferson Park in the south. It also includes Cheviot Hills, Palms, Mar Vista, Culver City, Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights and View Park-Windsor Hills.

If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will be held Feb. 4 among the top two finishers.

The special election was necessitated by the victory of then- Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell in the Sept. 17 special election to fill the 26th Senate District seat that was vacated by Price was he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council.