HEART OF LA DEMOCRATIC CLUB ANNOUNCES THE CLUB’S FIRST CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS OF 2022
Karen Bass for Los Angeles Mayor
Hydee Feldstein Soto for Los Angeles City Attorney
and Rob Wilcox for Los Angeles City Controller
Hydee Feldstein Soto for Los Angeles City Attorney
and Rob Wilcox for Los Angeles City Controller
Los Angeles County, CA – The Heart of LA Democratic Club (HLADems), a Los Angeles County Democratic club that promotes equality and the full representation of women in local, state, and national politics, endorses Karen Bass for Los Angeles Mayor, Hydee Feldstein Soto for Los Angeles City Attorney, and Rob Wilcox for Los Angeles City Controller. The club’s membership voted to endorse after the January 5, 2022 membership meeting.
Throughout the endorsement process, the candidates demonstrated a meaningful understanding of the Heart of LA Democratic Club’s mission. The club believes that Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox demonstrated a serious commitment to issues of importance of women from practical and policy perspectives and that they will contribute positively to a much-needed culture change in Los Angeles.
The primary election will take place on June 7, 2022, followed by the general municipal election on November 8, 2022. The candidates for Mayor, City Attorney, and City Controller are running for open seats.
HLA Dems considered candidates for LA Mayor, LA City Attorney, LA City Controller, and LA County Sheriff. Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox received club endorsements. The Club did not reach a consensus on the endorsement of a candidate for LA County Sheriff, so the Club has not endorsed a candidate at this time.
Throughout the endorsement process, the candidates demonstrated a meaningful understanding of the Heart of LA Democratic Club’s mission. The club believes that Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox demonstrated a serious commitment to issues of importance of women from practical and policy perspectives and that they will contribute positively to a much-needed culture change in Los Angeles.
The primary election will take place on June 7, 2022, followed by the general municipal election on November 8, 2022. The candidates for Mayor, City Attorney, and City Controller are running for open seats.
HLA Dems considered candidates for LA Mayor, LA City Attorney, LA City Controller, and LA County Sheriff. Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox received club endorsements. The Club did not reach a consensus on the endorsement of a candidate for LA County Sheriff, so the Club has not endorsed a candidate at this time.
HLADems Endorsement Statements:
Karen Bass
KAREN BASS FOR LA MAYOR
Throughout her lifelong career in healthcare, grassroots organizing, foster care advocacy, and representing Californians in the state legislature and in Congress, Karen Bass has a proven track record that indicates that she will lead the charge in building a more diverse, inclusive, and representative Los Angeles. Bass would be the first woman to hold the position of the mayor of Los Angeles in the city’s history (172 years). Prior to serving as an elected official, she founded Community Coalition, a community-based social justice organization that empowers the African-American and Latino community to address substance abuse, poverty, and crime in South Los Angeles. Honoring her spirit of service, Heart of LA appreciates Representative Bass’s commitment to returning home from Washington, D.C. to help our City rebuild our public health, public safety, and economic systems as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as seek solutions to the city’s crisis surrounding our unhoused community. Representative Bass has the leadership experience and skills to mobilize a range of diverse communities together for a greater Los Angeles.
Please visit Karen Bass's website for more information.
Throughout her lifelong career in healthcare, grassroots organizing, foster care advocacy, and representing Californians in the state legislature and in Congress, Karen Bass has a proven track record that indicates that she will lead the charge in building a more diverse, inclusive, and representative Los Angeles. Bass would be the first woman to hold the position of the mayor of Los Angeles in the city’s history (172 years). Prior to serving as an elected official, she founded Community Coalition, a community-based social justice organization that empowers the African-American and Latino community to address substance abuse, poverty, and crime in South Los Angeles. Honoring her spirit of service, Heart of LA appreciates Representative Bass’s commitment to returning home from Washington, D.C. to help our City rebuild our public health, public safety, and economic systems as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as seek solutions to the city’s crisis surrounding our unhoused community. Representative Bass has the leadership experience and skills to mobilize a range of diverse communities together for a greater Los Angeles.
Please visit Karen Bass's website for more information.
Hydee Feldstein Soto
HYDEE FELDSTEIN SOTO FOR LA CITY ATTORNEY
Heart of LA Democratic Club has confidence that Hydee Feldstein Soto will use the powers of the City Attorney’s office to establish a culture at city hall that is inclusive, equitable, and free from discrimination and abuse. Feldstein Soto would be the first woman City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles. She was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended Swarthmore College and Columbia University Law School before moving to Los Angeles to practice law. She has a demonstrated track record of working in the male-dominated field of finance law, rising to become a partner at two major national law firms. The LA City Attorney manages an office of more than 500 attorneys practicing criminal and civil law throughout Los Angeles. Feldstein Soto’s decades of experience running and advising blue-chip companies, managing practice groups and legal teams at large firms have prepared her well for the job. In addition, HLADems appreciates Feldstein Soto’s three-tiered platform, particularly her plan for taking accountability and rooting out corruption in Los Angeles City Hall, her plans to help those experiencing homelessness, those affected by drugs, and human trafficking, senior abuse, and financial scams, as well as domestic violence.
Please visit Hydee Feldstein Soto's website for more information.
Heart of LA Democratic Club has confidence that Hydee Feldstein Soto will use the powers of the City Attorney’s office to establish a culture at city hall that is inclusive, equitable, and free from discrimination and abuse. Feldstein Soto would be the first woman City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles. She was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended Swarthmore College and Columbia University Law School before moving to Los Angeles to practice law. She has a demonstrated track record of working in the male-dominated field of finance law, rising to become a partner at two major national law firms. The LA City Attorney manages an office of more than 500 attorneys practicing criminal and civil law throughout Los Angeles. Feldstein Soto’s decades of experience running and advising blue-chip companies, managing practice groups and legal teams at large firms have prepared her well for the job. In addition, HLADems appreciates Feldstein Soto’s three-tiered platform, particularly her plan for taking accountability and rooting out corruption in Los Angeles City Hall, her plans to help those experiencing homelessness, those affected by drugs, and human trafficking, senior abuse, and financial scams, as well as domestic violence.
Please visit Hydee Feldstein Soto's website for more information.
Rob Wilcox
ROB WILCOX FOR LA CITY CONTROLLER
Rob Wilcox’s plan to help lead the way to effectuate substantive change addressing pressing problems, including homelessness, traffic, public safety, climate justice, economic recovery, and corruption in Los Angeles earned him the Heart of LA Democratic Club’s endorsement. HLA Dems are impressed with Wilcox’s clear vision for using the City Controller’s office to develop technology to identify more opportunity sites for homeless housing and relief, as well as his willingness to conduct regular audits of how the City of Los Angeles spends taxpayer dollars on housing, homelessness, and public safety. With his years of service in the Los Angeles City’s Controller’s office (under Laura Chick), the California Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, Wilcox is poised to push forth a strategy of transparency within the LA City Government which includes a review of LA’s disciplinary process pertaining to the LAPD and eliminating the culture of discrimination and harassment that exists in some departments, most notably fire and police.
Please visit Rob Wilcox's website for more information.
Rob Wilcox’s plan to help lead the way to effectuate substantive change addressing pressing problems, including homelessness, traffic, public safety, climate justice, economic recovery, and corruption in Los Angeles earned him the Heart of LA Democratic Club’s endorsement. HLA Dems are impressed with Wilcox’s clear vision for using the City Controller’s office to develop technology to identify more opportunity sites for homeless housing and relief, as well as his willingness to conduct regular audits of how the City of Los Angeles spends taxpayer dollars on housing, homelessness, and public safety. With his years of service in the Los Angeles City’s Controller’s office (under Laura Chick), the California Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, Wilcox is poised to push forth a strategy of transparency within the LA City Government which includes a review of LA’s disciplinary process pertaining to the LAPD and eliminating the culture of discrimination and harassment that exists in some departments, most notably fire and police.
Please visit Rob Wilcox's website for more information.
ABOUT THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS:
HLA Dems Endorsement committee considered candidates for LA Mayor, LA City Attorney, LA City Controller, and LA Sheriff. Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox received club endorsements. There was no endorsement consensus for LA Sheriff.
LA Mayor candidates interviewed included Representative Karen Bass (CA-37), Kevin De Leon (LA City Councilmember), Mike Feuer (LA City Attorney), and Jessica Lall (CEO/Advocate).
LA City Attorney candidates interviewed included Hydee Feldstein Soto (Attorney), Faisal Gill (Civil Rights Attorney) Kevin James (Attorney), Teddy Kapur (Attorney/Educator), and Marina Torres (Assistant U.S. Attorney).
LA City Controller candidates interviewed included Paul Koretz (LA Councilmember), Kenneth Mejia (accountant/CPA), attorney David Vahedi (Chief Financial Officer), and Rob Wilcox (Director of Community Engagement and Outreach for the Los Angeles City Attorney).
LA County Sheriff candidates interviewed included Cecil Rhambo (Los Angeles World Airports Police Chief), Eric Strong (Deputy Sheriff), Eli Vera (Commander, LASD/Law enforcement leader), and Alex Villaneuva (LA County Sheriff).
All candidates filled out a detailed questionnaire and participated in a follow-up interview (virtually) with an Endorsement Recommendation Panel (“ERP”) comprised of 10 members of the club, including six Board members. The ERP voted to recommend a candidate in each race, and the Elections VP presented the recommendations and general reasoning behind those recommendations to the membership at the Club’s January 5 meeting. All candidates present were invited to introduce themselves and speak for up to two minutes. Club members then voted by secret ballot using the secure ElectionBuddy platform. Candidates receiving the support of at least 60% of members voting gain the club endorsement. If no candidate receives 60% or higher on the first ballot, a second ballot is taken, dropping candidates receiving less than 20% on the first ballot. Bass and Feldstein Soto won endorsement on the first ballot and Wilcox won endorsement on the second ballot. There was no consensus on LA Sheriff, which means that the club will not endorse a candidate for that race.
HLA Dems Endorsement committee considered candidates for LA Mayor, LA City Attorney, LA City Controller, and LA Sheriff. Bass, Feldstein Soto, and Wilcox received club endorsements. There was no endorsement consensus for LA Sheriff.
LA Mayor candidates interviewed included Representative Karen Bass (CA-37), Kevin De Leon (LA City Councilmember), Mike Feuer (LA City Attorney), and Jessica Lall (CEO/Advocate).
LA City Attorney candidates interviewed included Hydee Feldstein Soto (Attorney), Faisal Gill (Civil Rights Attorney) Kevin James (Attorney), Teddy Kapur (Attorney/Educator), and Marina Torres (Assistant U.S. Attorney).
LA City Controller candidates interviewed included Paul Koretz (LA Councilmember), Kenneth Mejia (accountant/CPA), attorney David Vahedi (Chief Financial Officer), and Rob Wilcox (Director of Community Engagement and Outreach for the Los Angeles City Attorney).
LA County Sheriff candidates interviewed included Cecil Rhambo (Los Angeles World Airports Police Chief), Eric Strong (Deputy Sheriff), Eli Vera (Commander, LASD/Law enforcement leader), and Alex Villaneuva (LA County Sheriff).
All candidates filled out a detailed questionnaire and participated in a follow-up interview (virtually) with an Endorsement Recommendation Panel (“ERP”) comprised of 10 members of the club, including six Board members. The ERP voted to recommend a candidate in each race, and the Elections VP presented the recommendations and general reasoning behind those recommendations to the membership at the Club’s January 5 meeting. All candidates present were invited to introduce themselves and speak for up to two minutes. Club members then voted by secret ballot using the secure ElectionBuddy platform. Candidates receiving the support of at least 60% of members voting gain the club endorsement. If no candidate receives 60% or higher on the first ballot, a second ballot is taken, dropping candidates receiving less than 20% on the first ballot. Bass and Feldstein Soto won endorsement on the first ballot and Wilcox won endorsement on the second ballot. There was no consensus on LA Sheriff, which means that the club will not endorse a candidate for that race.
ABOUT THE HEART OF LA DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Founded in March 2017, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club was created in recognition of the growing awareness within the Democratic Party that women should be fully and equally represented in local, state, and national politics. The Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is open to all Democrats who subscribe to the club’s goals and purposes regardless of their gender identity. The mission of the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is to help make the Democratic Party and its elected officials responsive to, and responsible for, the needs of all people, particularly, though not exclusively, women in our community. In addition to endorsing candidates and organizing for those candidates, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club actively participates in issues advocacy, community outreach, and voter education. The Club’s monthly meetings feature guest speakers such as Democratic elected officials and candidates, and experts in policy areas of interest to women - including reproductive justice, homelessness, voter registration, immigration, criminal justice reform and more.
For more information about The Heart of LA Democratic Club, visit online:
Website: HeartLADems.org.
Facebook: Facebook.com/HeartLADems
Twitter: @HeartLADems
Instagram: @HeartLADems
Founded in March 2017, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club was created in recognition of the growing awareness within the Democratic Party that women should be fully and equally represented in local, state, and national politics. The Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is open to all Democrats who subscribe to the club’s goals and purposes regardless of their gender identity. The mission of the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club is to help make the Democratic Party and its elected officials responsive to, and responsible for, the needs of all people, particularly, though not exclusively, women in our community. In addition to endorsing candidates and organizing for those candidates, the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club actively participates in issues advocacy, community outreach, and voter education. The Club’s monthly meetings feature guest speakers such as Democratic elected officials and candidates, and experts in policy areas of interest to women - including reproductive justice, homelessness, voter registration, immigration, criminal justice reform and more.
For more information about The Heart of LA Democratic Club, visit online:
Website: HeartLADems.org.
Facebook: Facebook.com/HeartLADems
Twitter: @HeartLADems
Instagram: @HeartLADems
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