November 06, 2014

By Kenneth D. Miller

Assistant Managing Editor

 

After the Nov. 4 windfall of a new generation of leadership heading to Sacramento with the victories of Autumn Burke and Mike Gipson in the State Assembly, shoe-in State Senator Isadore Hall III is expected to sworn in within days of the incoming lawmakers in December. 

 

Hall completed two successful terms as a member of the Assembly representing District 64 and anointed his successor Mike Gipson who won in superior fashion on Tuesday. 

 

Choosing and anointing new leadership is nothing new for Hall who backed the mayoral candidacy of both Aja Brown and Chris Brown (unrelated) in Compton and Hawthorne, respectively. 

 

Other young emerging candidates are offspring of pioneering public service efforts such as small business owner Autumn Burke, Assembly member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas and Assembly member Chris Holden. 

 

Burke is the daughter of the first Black female member of Congress from California Yvonne B. Burke, Sebastian is the son of powerful Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Chris is the son of former Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden. 

 

Each will ensure a next generation of dynamic public service in the state of California for years to come. 

 

Flanked by her mother Yvonne B. Burke, the first African-American woman to represent the West Coast in Congress and her father Chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Dr. William Burke, Autumn says that she was humbled by the enormous support she received. 

 

“Honestly, it was incredibly humbling,” she said of her first election victory. “For this many people to believe in me and my message is just very humbling.” 

 

When asked what she told her mother after the votes started mounting, she added: “I just told her that I love her. I have great parents, but even my dad didn’t know if I could pull it off.  I am ready to go to work, I’ve spent two years interviewing for this job.” 

 

Meanwhile, in the 64th Assembly District to replace termed out Isadore Hall III, Carson City Councilman Mike Gipson easily defeated political novice Prophet L Walker 61.6 percent to 38.4 percent, a greater margin of victory than the primary when Gipson almost received a mandate. 

 

Backed by Hollywood heavyweights, Walker had a campaign war chest that dwarfs that of Gipson, but he lacked the credibility that Gipson had, and particularly endorsements from leading State Senate candidate Hall. 

 

“Words cannot express what Isadore Hall has done fro me. He has been with me from the very beginning and fought for me when people did not believe in me and I share this victory with him,” said an elated Gipson. 

 

It was a campaign that turned ugly and personal and threaded ethical lines as both candidates took aim at each other’s personal background. In the end the voters elected to go with a proven candidate whom they were familiar with and trusted. 

 

“I’m excited about this victory and about the opportunity to put forth good legislation. This district needs jobs, economic development and I want to address the crime in out district,” he added.  “I am going the make sure the classroom is a priority and I will be a cheerleader for my district.” 

 

GLORIA GRAY 

Incumbent Gloria Gray won a third term.

 

West Basin is water wholesaler that serves nearly 1 million people in much of the South Bay, West Hollywood and Malibu.

 

In 2006, Gray became the first black woman to be elected to the West Basin board, representing Inglewood, south Ladera Heights and other portions of South Los Angeles. The former Inglewood school trustee also represents West Basin at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, National Water Research Institute Board of Directors and the Association of California Water Agencies’ Joint Powers Insurance Authority.

 

West Basin’s directors serve unlimited four-year terms and receive monthly stipends. The new directors will be sworn in in December.

 

Other Black community candidates declared victorious at press time include:

 

U.S. Representative 37th District-Karen Bass

 

U.S. Representative 43rd District-Maxine Waters

 

Member of the Assembly 41st District

Chris Holden

 

Member of the Assembly 54th District

Sebastian Ridley- Thomas

 

Member of the Assembly 59th District

R Jones-Sawyer 

 

Sheriff

Jim McDonnell             

 

Inglewood City Mayor

James T Butts Jr       

 

State Board of Equalization

Jerome Horton

Category: Cover Stories