Laura Richardson Secures Endorsement of Former Carson Mayor Pro-Tem Elito Santarina

Elito Santarina is a Community Pillar with Decades of Service in the Carson Community and his Endorsement adds to Richardson’s Dominance of Current and Former Carson Elected Officials

SAN PEDRO, CA –  After recently securing the endorsements from Gardena Councilmember Paulette Francis, Compton Councilmember Jonathan Bowers, and Inglewood Councilmember Gloria Gray, Laura Richardson captures the influential endorsement of Mayor Pro-Tem Elito Santarina (Ret.).  Santarina has served the Carson community for more than two decades as a City Commissioner, Councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem. He also served as Co-Chair of the City of Carson’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations. He successfully fought for the Elito M. Santarina Senior Technology Center to help seniors acquire skills that will allow them to keep up with technology advances. Elito was born in the Philippines and is a retired educator.

Santarina said the following: “As a former Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember in the City of Carson, I've worked with several elected officials over the years. I know Laura Richardson personally and as an elected official and have found her to be committed, responsive, and focused on delivering resources to her entire diverse district. I proudly endorse Laura Richardson for State Senate. I can confirm Laura's effective leadership and unwavering service to her constituents, including our Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander communities who need more leaders like Laura to ensure their voices are heard. Laura Richardson cares for seniors and our youth, and will represent us with integrity, passion, and a deep understanding of our needs”.

“I am truly honored to have the support of one of Carson’s finest public servants. Santarina understands the importance of  creating local jobs, protecting working families, housing our unhoused neighbors and fighting for our seniors", said Laura Richardson.

Richardson’s announcement compliments her growing list of endorsers that includes:

Lula Davis-Holmes, Mayor, City of Carson

Emma Sharif, Mayor, City of Compton

Barry Waite, Mayor, City of Lomita

Jawane Hilton, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Carson

Angie Reyes-English, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Hawthorne

Cedric Hicks, Councilmember, City of Carson

Lillie Darden, Councilmember, City of Compton

Deidra Duhart, Councilmember, City of Compton

Jonathan Bowers, Councilmember, City of Compton

Wanda Love, Councilmember City of Gardena

Paulette Francis, Councilmember, City of Gardena

Gloria Gray, Councilmember, City of Inglewood

Dr. Khaleah Bradshaw, Clerk City, City of Carson

Elito Santarina, Mayor Pro-Tem (Ret.), City of Carson

Barbara Calhoun, President, Compton Community College District Board of Trustees

Satra Zurita, Board Member, Compton Unified School District

Micah Ali, Board Member, Compton Unified School District

Juanita Douse, Commissioner, City of Hawthorne

Ken Miller, Commissioner, City of Lawndale

Robert Katherman, Director, Metropolitan Water Replenishment District

Leticia Vasquez-Wilson, Director, Central Basin Municipal Water District

Harold Williams, Board Member, West Basin Municipal Water District

So Cal Pipe Trades District Council 16

UA Local 250

Teamsters Joint Council 42

ILWU Local 13

Avance L.A. Democratic Club

Richardson was born in Los Angeles to bi-racial parents and lives in San Pedro. She was raised by a single mother after her parents divorced when she was two. Her mother was a member of the Teamsters and remains a retiree today. Laura graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned her MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.

Richardson served on the Long Beach City Council from 2000 to 2006, and while serving in the Assembly in 2007 after the untimely passing of Congresswoman Juanita Millender McDonald, she was elected to the House of Representatives, representing District 37, where she served three terms before redistricting significantly altered California's congressional map, resulting in the loss of African American representation for the first time in decades.

Senate District 35 includes the Los Angeles County communities of Westchester, Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, Harbor Gateway, Wilmington, San Pedro, and unincorporated communities of East and West Rancho Dominguez, Lennox, West Athens, Westmont, and Willowbrook.

The election will take place on March 5, 2024.