Kate Anderson
Nick Karno
Al Muratsuchi
Mitch Ward 
Betsy ButlerThe Daily Breeze printed an article on the race to replace Ted Lieu (who is termed out in 2010 and is running for Attorney General) inthe 53rd Assembly District. At the California Democratic Convention in Sacramento last month MadProfessah was able to run into some of the major candidates in this (currently below-the-radar) electoral battle.
Here's an excerpt:
When the seat was last open, after the death of incumbent Mike Gordon in 2005, Democrats held a six-point registration advantage in the district. That advantage has since doubled to 12 points.
[...]
Perhaps the most formidable candidate at this early stage is Betsy Butler, who has secured several major endorsements despite being virtually unknown in the 53rd District.
Butler is the top fundraiser for Consumer Attorneys of California, a lobbying group for trial lawyers. Butler, 45, says she splits her time between her job in Sacramento and her home in Marina del Rey.
[...]
Lieu is staying neutral, at least for now.
The other candidates may have stronger ties to the local community, but they will have to struggle to compete financially.
Among them is Mitch Ward, who is the first black councilman ever elected in Manhattan Beach. Ward, 48, has the backing of his fellow council members, but he will have to introduce himself to the rest of the district, which extends from Venice to Torrance and Lomita.
Additionally, Nick Karno (deputy city attorney in Los Angeles and Venice Neighborhood Council member, 39), Al Muratsuchi (deputy State Attorney General and Torrance School Board member,44) and Kate Anderson (former aide to U.S. Rep. Waxman and lawyer, 37) are also considered in the article.
MadProfessah is interested in the race because if (as expected) Ward and Butler become the two top candidates in the race, as an elected delegate I will be voting on which one should receive the official nomination of the California Democratic Party at next Spring's convention in Southern California.
For LGBT People of Color this decision may be a difficult one because although Ward would become the first African American LGBT person ever elected to the California legislature. However, Butler is a longtime member of the board of directors of Equality California, the state's largest LGBT political advocacy organization and a very strong LGBT ally who is positioning herself as the more "viable" candidate.
It's almost like a mini-reprise of the Ragnarök battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008. Hopefully (for Ward) this battle turns out the same way.
MadProfessah is interested in the race because if (as expected) Ward and Butler become the two top candidates in the race, as an elected delegate I will be voting on which one should receive the official nomination of the California Democratic Party at next Spring's convention in Southern California.
For LGBT People of Color this decision may be a difficult one because although Ward would become the first African American LGBT person ever elected to the California legislature. However, Butler is a longtime member of the board of directors of Equality California, the state's largest LGBT political advocacy organization and a very strong LGBT ally who is positioning herself as the more "viable" candidate.
It's almost like a mini-reprise of the Ragnarök battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008. Hopefully (for Ward) this battle turns out the same way.
