Laura Richardson Secures Endorsement of Prominent Business Organization
San Pedro, CA – Today, Laura has secured a pivotal endorsement from Citizens for Accountable Leadership (CAL) following an exhaustive interview process. Comprising distinguished business and community leaders in Southern California, CAL has a rich history, having previously organized as the African American Leadership Finance Council for the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris Campaign.
The group decided to continue its efforts as an unincorporated association under the name Citizens for Accountable Leadership (CAL). Its dual mission is to provide a platform for candidates to discuss issues that are relevant to the community and to promote political engagement, education, and empowerment. Additionally, CAL raises funds for candidates who are running for public office, if it’s compelling to the organization.
In announcing the organization's endorsement, the following statement was released: Citizens for Accountable Leadership, better known as (CAL), is an unincorporated association that provides a platform for candidates to discuss issues that are relevant to the community, and to promote political engagement, education, and empowerment. According to Dr. Gail Willis, Chair of CAL, “Laura Richardson is the most qualified candidate for the California State Senate, District 35, who has an enriched background and experience, which enables her to serve the community. I strongly believe that she has the ability to bring the necessary resources to the community in order for residents to have a better quality of life. Due to Laura Richardson’s extensive background and many years in serving the community, I strongly believe that she will serve the constituents well in the 35th Senate District, stated CAL’s Vice Chair, Rickey Ivie, Esq.
Laura, herself a small business owner, said, “I am honored to have the support and endorsement of some of Southern California’s most prominent business and community leaders and a highly respected organization who has helped elect many of our current elected officials. I look forward to working collectively with the group to bring resources into the district”.
The Citizens for Accountable Leadership (CAL) include Dr. Gail Willis, Rickey Ivie, Esq.,
(vice-chair), Clifton Albright, Esq., Charles McLurkin, Esq, J. Stanley Sanders, Esq., Hon. Nate Holden, Kerry C. Cox, M.D., Reginald Holmes, Esq., Joseph T. Rouzan III, Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, Joy Atkinson, and Eric Bates, Esq., Carl E. Douglas, Esq., Robert W. Brown, Esq., Anthony Willoughby, Esq., Anthony Calloway, M.D., Paul C. Hudson, Esq., Hon. Sherrill D. Luke, Hon. Jerome Horton, Jimmie Woods Gray, Joseph Chow, Tony Nicholas, Carmen Hawkins, Esq., Antoinette Anderson, Ed Anderson, Vilma Dawson, Ivor Dawson, Armen D. Ross, Greg Dulan, and Celestine Palmer.
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
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 Democratic Club
San Pedro Democratic Club
Citizens for Accountable Leadership (CAL)
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.
For more information please visit – www.laura4senate.com