This story was updated to correct Nilo Vega Michelin’s academic achievements.
The election to replace outgoing state Senator Steven Bradford is filled with veteran candidates looking for a promotion while others are staging a comeback. And still others who are newcomers looking to get a toe-hold into elected office. Bradford’s career in the state assembly and the state senate centered on public safety, energy and utilities, and criminal justice reform.
In 2021, he led a task force to study and develop reparation proposals with special consideration for African Americans who are descendants of the enslaved in the United States. The purpose of the Task Force was: (1) to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans; (2) to recommend appropriate ways to educate the California public of the task force’s findings; and (3) to recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Task Force’s findings resulting in a 1,000 page document.
Eight candidates are running for the office, seven of which are Democrats. A nonprofit organization known as the Carson Network.
Michelle Chambers -Democrat- (Community Justice Advocate)
Chambers is a former Compton City council- member, known for her service as external affairs manager for State Attorney General Rob Bonta and also served on the staff of Rep. Diane Watson (ret.), former Rep. Janice Hahn, and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang.
The daughter of a 40-year member of the Pipefitters Union, Chambers is a former member of AFSCME Local 2545. Her husband Todd Chambers is a current member of the Association of State Supervisors and a former member of AFSCME. Chambers’ sister is a member of the Nurses Union. Michelle is a lifelong Democrat and a member of many Democratic Clubs, and organizations in Los Angeles County.
Assuring representation for the City of Compton, Michelle served on the following Boards and Commissions: The Public Safety Task Force Commission (CA Contract Cities), the Los Angeles County Sanitation Board, Sex Trafficking Task Force, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Los Angeles County Transportation Committee (appointed by Supervisor Holly Mitchell), League of California Cities, Southern California Association of Governments, and CDP 64th Assembly District Delegate.
With over 30 years of public service experience,
Lamar Lyons -Democrat- (Financial Consultant)
The vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council and former candidate for the 15th Council District has long focused on crime, pollution, homelessness, and housing unaffordability.
At the time, Lyons favored public-private partnerships to create a 70/20/10 split in mixed-income housing (market rate/ affordable/ fixed income housing respectively). Lyons has described himself as a coalition builder and someone willing to overturn entrenched power structures.
A San Pedro resident of more than 30 years, LaMar enters the race with numerous credentials under his belt. After graduating from Howard University School of Law, he served on the staffs of Los Angeles City Councilman Gilbert Lindsey, Assemblyman Elihu Harris, California Senator Alan Cranston, and California Assembly Clerk Dotson Wilson. In the private sector, Lyons has worked as the administrator for two nonprofits focused on assisting disabled children and the elderly. In addition to this. he has worked as an investment banker and underwriter of bonds for Morgan Stanley, Rothschild & Co., and his firm I.C. Rideau Lyons.
Nilo Vega Michelin -Democrat- (Governing Board Member, El Camino Community College)
Michelin is an El Camino College Trustee, teacher, attorney, and community advocate. He is on the board of trustees for El Camino College. As President of El Camino’s board of trustees from 2020 to 2022, he led the effort to create a Project Labor Agreement, which will provide apprenticeships to students. He supported vocational and technological training for students. He supported providing formerly incarcerated students with education and services. He supported the opening of the Black Student Success Center and the future opening of the Latino Success Center. He supported the “South Bay Promise” Program which provided free tuition for students. He supported the “Dual Enrollment” Program which provides high school students with a college education.
Nilo attended the US Naval Academy (but did not graduate) and holds an undergraduate and a law degree from UCLA. He has served his community as a Hawthorne deputy city attorney, school board member, city council member, and teacher. As a history teacher, he has taught at Carson High School and Dana Middle School in San Pedro.
Alex Monteiro -Democrat- (Councilmember/Nonprofit Director)
Monteiro served on the city of Hawthorne’s city council from 2018 to 2022.
Originally from Cape Verde Islands, immigrated to the United States 35 years ago. For the past twenty-five years, he has worked in education, and social service agencies helping underprivileged children and families receive adequate physical and mental health services, and support structures that positively affect their well-being.
Monteiro has worked as project coordinator for the Uphams Corner- Healthy City International in Boston, Healthy Babies & Healthy Families in Massachusetts, Health Educator and Community Relations Coordinator at Arroyo Vista Family Health Center in Los Angeles, Executive Director for the LAUSD-Roosevelt High School Based Clinic in East LA, Healthy Start coordinator for Hawthorne School District, and Richstone Family Center.
Monteiro is the president and CEO of the Moneta Gardens Improvement, Inc. (MGI), a non-profit organization serving the underprivileged families and children of Hawthorne. He is also the Chief Administrator for the South Bay Universal Child Development Center (SBUCDC) “The Castle,” a non-profit organization dedicated to providing early childhood education to our children of Hawthorne.
Laura Richardson -Democrat- (Businesswoman/Housing Advocate)
Richardson began her career in public service as a legislative staffer at the local, state, and federal levels, including State Assembly Speak Cruz Bustamante and Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald before she died in 2006. Richardson ran for Millender-McDonald’s seat and was elected in 2007. She served three terms before redistricting significantly altered California’s congressional map and pitted her against Janice Hahn in a reconfigured congressional district. Before running for Congress, she had just been elected to the California State Assembly representing the 55th District.
Albert Robles -Democrat- (Attorney-at-Law/Local Businessman)
Robles enters the California State Senate race with name recognition given his decades on the Water Replenishment board and his stint on Carson’s City Council and that city’s mayor.
He has been a practicing lawyer since 2006.
He is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law, he earned a Master’s Degree, Public Administration and Intergovernmental Management from USC and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado,
Jennifer Trichelle-Marie Williams – Democrat- (Accountant/Small Businesswoman)
Williams is on the LA County Citizens’ Economy and Efficiency Commission, a board member of America’s Charities, and an elected delegate of the CA Democratic Party.
Williams is a graduate of Emerge California and Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute (LAAAWPPI).
She is also a member of the West Athens Westmont Task Force and lives with her husband and 4-year-old daughter in unincorporated Westmont. Together her family stays grounded in their faith as active members of Revelation Church in Compton.
SD 35 Candidate Forum
Time: Jan. 6, 2-4p.m.
Details: (424) 704-7703
Venue: Carson Park Activity Room, 214111 Orrick Ave, Carson, CA 90745
The 2024 primary election is on March 5, 2024.