On April 20, Andre “Hub City Dre” Spicer and Compton Councilmember Isaac Galvan emerged as the top two vote-getters in a race that saw five candidates contending to represent Compton’s northeast area which includes Walmart, the Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center and Louis Burgers II on Rosecrans.

Sadly, Jace Dawson, a candidate who claimed to grow up in Compton, and have over six degrees, have worked for President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, even a congressional member who has been dead for over 20 years, and Fox News (seemingly all at the same time) came in last place after Fox 11 reporter Gina Silva exposed his fraudulent candidacy.

 

Under normal circumstances, incumbents who are the current holder of an office or position, are almost always a shoo in for reelection. 

Factor in that Isaac Galvan, 34, is Compton’s first Latino councilmember, his reelection should have been a given.  Call it the "perks" of office--visibility, campaign organization, money, and effective representation. 

 

But circumstances are far from normal in Compton’s 2nd District.

Last October, FBI agents served search warrants at the home of Galvan as part of a federal investigation examining Baldwin Park’s dealings with cannabis businesses.

 

Before that, it was revealed that Galvan had been cited for driving while under the influence and had his license suspended but was still collecting a monthly transportation allowance at the expense of Compton taxpayers. 

He is currently still unable to drive legally.

Add in public drunkenness--including at his last swearing in ceremony, racial slurs describing his fellow colleagues, his failure to file any of the required campaign finance disclosures for this election cycle and his many absences from council meetings--residents in the 2nd District have decided to forgo the tradition of blindly reelecting the incumbent and look for a change in representation.

 

Enter 39-year-old Andre “Hub City Dre” Spicer. A lifelong resident of Compton whose father was a member of the Compton Police Department--Andre’s family has called Compton home for over 60 years. In the April 20 Primary Nominating Election, Andre came in first place with 36 percent of the vote to Galvan’s 25.

Andre has been married to his wife Shantavia for seven years and has three children ages 5, 8, and 14.  While is a renter, he is the owner of three businesses in Compton including The Hub Radio, a community broadcasting and podcasting studio, Water Worx Purified Water, a fresh water supply store located at Long Beach Blvd. and Elm Street, and Naturali Me Hair Salon and Beauty Bar on Long Beach Blvd. and Palmer Street where Andre says they specialize in Black natural hair care including locs and twists.

Just the right mix some would say to keep an elected official connected with the realities of their constituents--a renter and a business owner in the city of Compton.

 

 

Most recently Andre served as the liaison for 3rd District Compton Councilwoman Michelle Chambers.  In this position he served the residents and businesses of Council District 2, maintained productive communication with other City Council offices and City departments, and provided advice and assistance to individuals and groups residing in the district.

So for Andre it was an easy decision to make when he filed to run for city council.

“We have not been represented in the 2nd District since Lillie Dobson was in office,” Spicer explained.  “I have been doing a lot of work in the city.

 

I felt like I had to get involved. I felt like I would be a better representation than what we currently have.”

 

Andre is backed by several businesses in Compton including Compton Car Wash Studios, Billionaire Burger Boyz, Grocery Outlet, Alexander Burritos, The Reup Water Juice Spot, St. Julian’s Barber Shop and Barberizm.

As far as his platform and goals if elected, Andre says he’s focused on four key areas--housing, public safety, economic development, and culture.

He is a supporter of a program that allows homeowners to legally convert their garages into livable spaces and collect up to $1,000 in rent to house unhoused and low-income tenants.  

 

Spicer says he will advocate for local artists to paint murals that reflect the cultural diversity of Compton and place those murals in high traffic areas so that residents and visitors will, “see the art that reflects their lives and experiences and the rich history that has made Compton one of the most well-known cities around the world.”

 

“We have everything that we need right here in this city,” added Andre. “I plan to foster an increase in small businesses by utilizing the vacant commercial property that we already have available. Commercial businesses will be used to help generate the necessary funding for community safety measures.

They will also provide much needed economic opportunity for our youth in the form of employment, professional development, networking, and financial literacy.

Compton needs a new, innovative approach to revitalize commerce in our city, and I have a plan to do just that via mixed use projects that will allow access to state, federal, and county money while simultaneously increasing tax revenues and lowering the unemployment rate.”

Andre is also supported by several notable Compton figures including Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, City Attorney Damon Brown, Compton Unified School District Trustee Mae Thomas, former Councilwoman and current member of the Compton Community College District Barbara Calhoun.

“I am supporting Andre Spicer because he is a young entrepreneur who cares about the entire Compton Community,” said Barbara Calhoun. 

“He is bold and determined and wants to work with the entire city council and put the citizens first. Andre Spicer wants to bring stability to the beautiful city of Compton.”

“As my former liaison, he is fully aware of the needs of the community, the importance of our fiscal infrastructure and he has the wherewithal to deliver quality of life services to the residents,” added Councilwoman Michelle Chambers.

She continued, “District 2 has been neglected for the past 8 years. From a lack of representation on the dais to the lack of basic services for the residents.

 

Whereas Andre has always been responsive as a resident and as their liaison. Prior to becoming my liaison, he personally hosted food giveaways, community clean-ups and mentoring to our youth.

Mr. Spicer is and has always been a present force in the community.

 

The community trusts him,  depends on him, and wants him to represent them. I’m excited at the opportunity to have him as my colleague.”

 

 

Former city attorney Legrand Clegg II said, “Andre Spicer is a longstanding community activist, an efficient administrator, and a staunch family man whose commitment to the City of Compton is unmatched.

I wholeheartedly endorse him for the position of councilman for the second district.”

Andre has also been endorsed by the Los Angeles Sentinel, L.A. Watts-Times, Slauson Girl and Reel Urban News.

According to Political Data Inc. (PDI), there are 10,096 registered voters in Compton 2nd District of which 1,459, or 14.45 percent, voted in the April 20 primary. 

Of the 1,459 votes, Spicer earned 531 and Galvan 375 making Spicer the favored candidate headed into the general election.

Election Day is Tuesday, June 1. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, like the primary election, the general election will be mostly mail-in ballots only with limited in-person voting available. 

If you don’t know what district you live in call or email the Compton City Clerk’s office at (310) 605-5530 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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