From Kim Kardashian to Santa Monica Forward, political influencers of all stripes are still throwing their weight behind top contenders for LA County Third District Supervisor, a week after vote by mail ballots hit mailboxes in the run-up to the June 7 primary election.
Six candidates are vying for the job of replacing Sheila Kuehl, 81, as supervisor, since the longtime Democratic lawmaker-turned-county supervisor announced her retirement after eight years representing the westside and Santa Monica Mountains.
Three among them, all Democrats, have gathered the lion’s share of both endorsements and campaign contributions: West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath, State Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bob Hertzberg and State Senator Henry Stern. Combined, the three have raked in nearly two-and-a-half million dollars for their respective campaigns. Other hopefuls — Craig A. Brill (I), Jeffi Girgenti (R) and Roxanne Beckford Hoge (R) — together have picked up less than $50,000, as of the latest reporting documents filed with the County on April 23.
Stern, Horvath and Hertzberg have also picked up their share of endorsements, including some from unusual sources.
Reality television star-turned-political activist Kim Kardashian, a longtime resident of Calabasas, took to Instagram on Monday morning to voice her support for Stern, citing their work together toward cleaning up the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the site where downed Southern California Edison electrical wires sparked the devastating 2008 Woolsey Fire.
“Hey guys, I just got off of a call with Senator Henry Stern, and it left me feeling really hopeful,” Kardashian said in a four-part endorsement video shot selfie-style and posted to her 311 million Instagram followers. “And I just wanted to share the message with you that I really feel like we need people like him and also because these environmental disasters don’t get resolved overnight.”
Stern, also a resident of Calabasas, grew up in Malibu and has spent much of the past four years of his campaign focused on the Santa Monica Mountains in his role as Senator for District 27.
“I’ve just learned so much from him,” Kardashian said, later adding, “I know the elections are coming up and just wanted to lend my support to Senator Stern, and hope you guys do, too.”
Kardashian’s endorsement came two weeks after the Santa Monica Democratic Club threw its weight behind Stern’s campaign, together with Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich and Santa Monica College Trustee Sion Roy, plus a collection of unions, area Democratic clubs and environmental organizations like the Sierra Club.
On the same day Kardashian voiced her support for Stern, Horvath’s campaign announced she had received a local Santa Monica endorsement from Santa Monica Forward, a progressive organization of “forward-thinking Santa Monica renters and homeowners, small business owners, parents, and neighbors.”
“Santa Monica Forward is proud to endorse Lindsey Horvath for Los Angeles County Supervisor. We believe that equity, sustainability and diversity should be the guiding principles that shape our city’s future,” Santa Monica Forward Co-Chair Carl Hansen said in a statement released by Horvath’s campaign. “Lindsey Horvath has spent her career working to uphold those very principles, and she has the skills and experience needed to deliver results for Angelenos throughout the County. She is a coalition-builder and a fighter, and that’s exactly what Los Angeles needs right now.”
Horvath’s other endorsements include one major backer: Kuehl. She has also received support from the LA Times editorial board and several local names including Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan, City Councilmembers Gleam Davis, Christine Parra, Oscar de la Torre and Phil Brock, Santa Monica College Trustee Dr. Nancy Greenstein, and former Mayors Judy Abdo, Pam O’Connor, Kevin McKeown and Ted Winterer.
With both Horvath and Stern competing for the County’s progressive vote, Hertzberg has racked up a good number of endorsements from more center (and right-of-center) sources including the 8,000-member Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and the 9,900-member Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), two unions representing law enforcement officers in the greater Los Angeles area.
“Los Angeles’ police officers are supporting Bob Hertzberg for LA County Supervisor because throughout his career, he has put public safety first,” LAPPL president Craig Lally said in a statement provided by Hertzberg’s campaign. “We know Bob will do the same on the Board of Supervisors and that he will work to reduce crime and improve neighborhood security. Bob Hertzberg is the best choice for public safety and the LAPPL is with him 100%.”
In addition to multiple public safety unions, Hertzberg’s campaign has secured endorsements from several chambers of commerce and more than 30 trade unions or their local chapters. His campaign website lists one notable local endorsement: that of Neil Carrey, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Board vice chair.
Hertzberg’s campaign announced on May 9 that it had secured more than $1 million in donations — the latest official numbers supplied by LA County’s Registrar/Recorder’s Office, dated April 23, put the Senator at $898,957.20.
In comparison, Stern, as of April 23, had brought in $804,266.76 and Horvath, $748,293.24.
You can learn more about the candidates and their positions on the issues important to the district at a combined online candidate forum on Thursday, May 19.
The Acorn, Circling the News, the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Westside Current will be co-hosting the forum. The public can participate online and are asked to register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/supervisor-3-candidate-virtual-forum-tickets-337496189187) to secure your (virtual) spot. The event will be May 19 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
emily@smdp.com
