The date on the calendar is closer to election day 2020 than election day 2022 but that isn’t stopping candidates from perpetuating a never-ending election cycle with multiple individuals now declaring their intent to run for County Supervisor.
Current Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin announced Wednesday that he is entering the race. Galperin joins Assemblymember Richard Bloom and West Hollywood Mayor Lindsay Horvath in competing for the seat currently held by Shelia Kuehl.
“L.A. is at a turning point,” Galperin said in a statement. “Our region has always been the home of creativity, innovation and dreams. As we begin to emerge from more than a year of COVID-19, we face enormous challenges, but also have great opportunities that must be tackled with guts and vision. It takes leadership and a willingness to fight to deliver a more equitable Los Angeles.”
The Controller is a financial watchdog position. The position oversees the tax roll, tax and general obligation bond rates, property tax receipts, allocates property tax revenues to all taxing agencies and reconciles with the tax collector. Galperin recently issued a letter to the City of Los Angeles pointing out the amount of sales tax the City paid to other jurisdictions and said stronger buy local provisions would increase city funding.
Elected as Controller of the County’s largest city in 2013 and again in 2017, Galperin said that during his eight years as Controller, he has transformed the Controller’s role and improved public services by using data transparency, technology, audits and reports, dashboards, maps and more — to better meet people’s needs.
Galperin said his priorities include homeless housing and services, planning, public safety and infrastructure. He is the third candidate to declare an interest in the seat following Horvath and Bloom.
Horvath was elected to the West Hollywood City Council in 2015 after previously serving from 2009 to 2011.
She has listed homelessness, Covid recovery, transportation, community safety, civil rights and climate change as her top priorities.
Kuehl has endorsed Horvath’s campaign.
“I have followed Lindsey’s work and have seen the impacts of her leadership, not only in West Hollywood, but also countywide. Her tenacity and commitment to getting things done for the residents of Los Angeles County show that she is uniquely qualified for the job of Supervisor,” said Kuehl in her statement.
Bloom, like Kuehl, is a Santa Monica resident. He is a former Santa Monica councilmember and said his decision to run was tied to his current legislative term expiring in 2024.
In interviews with SMDP, Bloom’s list of priorities was similar citing homelessness, mental health services, Covid-recovery, climate change and transportation.
“I think for residents and for voters, there’s no question in my mind that homelessness is at the top of their list of concerns,” said Bloom. “This is something that I’ve worked on since I was first elected in 1999, and I think I understand the issue.”
editor@smdp.com