May 30, 2013

Brian W. Carter

LAWT Staff Writer

 

As Senator Curren Price readies to transition to the Los Angeles City Council, Assemblywoman Holly J. Mitchell (D-54) has announced her bid for the 26th District seat. Mitchell’s run for Senate will fall under the same umbrella she continues to hold for the state: edifying families and a healthier California. Continuing a proud legacy of African American leaders, Mitchell, if elected, would follow City Council elect-Member Curren Price and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, both of whom have served the 26th District.

“When I ran three years ago, I ran on a platform of supporting working families and children,” said Mitchell. “I have focused my three years, thus far, in the Assembly, on a platform where we looked at… building a healthy California, which means building healthy families.

A health and human services advocate, Mitchell has spent her career bringing awareness and shedding light on public affairs. She has worked in the district office in Los Angeles for State Senator Diane Watson. Mitchell served as a policy analyst for the California Senate's Health and Human Services Com­mittee where she was instrumental in helping keep health care initiatives alive.

Mitchell’s legislative accomplishments with the Western Center for Law and Poverty helped to create many programs including the Healthy Families program. She has also served as executive director of the Black Women's Health Project in Los Angeles. She currently chairs the Assembly's Budget Sub-committee #1 on Health & Human Services, a member of the Committees on Budget, Health, Insurance and Public Safety and Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Mitchell also chairs the California's Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the Select Committee on Foster Youth, and is a member of the Women's Legislative Caucus.

Elected in 2010 to the Assembly, representing the 54th District of Los Angeles, Mitchell serves a number of diverse communities, which include the Crenshaw District, Culver City, UCLA, Cheviot Hills, Mar Vista, the Fairfax District and parts of South Los Angeles.

“As chair of the budget subcommittee, I’ve worked really hard to make sure that the needs of working women and their children are made a top priority,” said Mitchell. One bill in particular Mitchell has been working on is in regards to hydraulic fracturing and that effect that could have on the community.

The agenda won’t change according to Mitchell who plans to continue to strive for better policies in California. She has proven to be a legislative heavyweight having had multiple bills signed by the governor of the state. Mitchell says you can expect the same kind of devotion and representation from the 26th District seat.

“The residents of the Senate District could expect a similar kind of platform and commitment from me,” said Mitchell.

Amongst the busy work of an Assemblymember, Mitchell makes time for her teenager. This serves as a front row view when it comes to issues such as quality and accessible health care in the educational systems. She’s about family because she understands it’s the building block of a healthy community, which leads to a healthy city and ultimately, a healthy state.

“A healthy family means, healthy environment, economy, bodies and looking at public safety as a health issue as well.”

Category: Business