Englander and Napolitano for L.A. County Board of Supervisors

by Gary Toebben

This election season marks a historic change on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Due to term limits, two long-time Supervisors will be stepping down this December, ushering in a major shake-up on the non-partisan five member board. With a $28-billion budget and management of the country's largest jail and foster care system and second-largest public health system, it is vital that those seats go to individuals with a clear vision for the County, the ideas to make that vision a reality, and the fiscal restraint to keep County services stable no matter our economic future. The L.A. Jobs PAC interviewed the candidates for both Supervisorial Districts 4 and 5 and strongly endorsed Steve Napolitano and L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander.

Extending from Marina del Rey to the Palos Verdes Penninsula and Long Beach, then east to Diamond Bar, the 4th District encompasses 27 cities, and includes the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and Los Angeles International Airport. From his time as the youngest ever member of the Manhattan Beach City Council through his 11 years with Supervisor Don Knabe, Steve Napolitano has proven to have the knowledge and experience it will take to continue Knabe's legacy on the Board. As a former member of the Independent Cities Association and League of California Cities, he understands the unique needs of this geographically diverse district. He's also accumulated years of County relationships, and skill in balancing budgets and pressing for economic programs and infrastructure investments.

The 5th Supervisorial District is the County's largest, with 22 cities and dozens of unincorporated areas that stretch from the Ventura County to San Bernardino County lines and up to Kern County. Mitch has long been a good friend to the business community in his role on the L.A. City Council, often being one of the few voices advocating for economic growth, job creation, and enabling local businesses to compete. As chair of the Public Safety Committee and a member of the Planning and Land Use Committee, Mitch has in-depth experience with many of the issues that will come before him as a County Supervisor.

The business community thanks Supervisors Don Knabe and Michael Antonovich for their service to the County. At 20 years and 36 years on the Board, they leave a major hole in institutional knowledge, but a lasting legacy in their districts and the County as a whole. The Chamber's PAC strongly believes that Steve Napolitano and Mitch Englander are the right representatives to step into those seats. I urge your vote for Steve Napolitano in District 4 and Mitch Englander in District 5 in the June 7 primary election.

And that's The Business Perspective.