Reynaga’s campaign war chest comes largely from his own pocket.īrown, who was 31 when she took office, brought a youthful glamour to the post as she pushed for Compton to be known as more than a hotbed of gang violence. Sharif’s donors include Crystal Casino and Republic Services, the city’s trash hauler. Since the beginning of the year, Sharif has raised more than $41,000, compared with about $28,000 for Reynaga. She said she has voted on measures in favor of tree trimming, graffiti removal and street repair contracts. County Sheriff’s Department accountable for deputy shootings of civilians and other issues. Sharif says she wants to tackle homelessness and hold the L.A. Like many American cities, Compton has seen a huge increase in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 17 through April, compared with four last year. His stated priorities - among them homelessness, illegal dumping and public safety - do not differ drastically from his opponent’s. As he embedded himself in Compton politics, many of the leaders he worked with were Black Americans. Reynaga serves on two city commissions and has been interested in local government since he began attending council meetings at age 8, he said. Galvan has said the inquiry has nothing to do with Compton City Hall. In November, Galvan’s apartment was searched by federal investigators as part of a probe into corruption in the Baldwin Park city government. Galvan is up for reelection Tuesday, after finishing second in the primary to Andre “HubCityDre” Spicer, who is Black. He remains the only Latino council member. In 2013, a year after voters approved elections by district, Isaac Galvan became the first Latino on the City Council, which includes the mayor as one of its five members. In 2010, three Latinas sued the city, alleging that at-large City Council elections weakened Latinos’ voting power. Reynaga is trying to capture a citywide vote that has not historically favored Latino candidates, even though Latinos are 68% of the population compared with Black people at 29%.Īs is typical with heavily immigrant groups, such as Asian Americans in the San Gabriel Valley, some Latinos are not citizens, are not registered to vote or are not engaged in local politics.Īfter a generational lag, political representation has caught up with demographics in some cities, including Monterey Park, where four of the five council members are Asian American. Turnout was about 16% among the city’s more than 49,000 registered voters, with the vast majority of ballots cast by mail. He won 31% of the vote to 19% for Sharif, who served on the board of the Compton Unified School District before joining the City Council in 2015. Reynaga, a Realtor and entrepreneur who grew up in the city, finished first in the April 20 primary against nine opponents. Many residents say they feel under siege by the people who are supposed to protect them. The city’s new mayor will have to address issues with law enforcement, homelessness and economic development, as well as voter demands to repair the streets and plant more trees and flowers.Ĭalifornia Compton residents feel under siege from Sheriff’s Department and are demanding reforms “So when we’ve gotten it, we’ve jealously held on to it because it’s so elusive in terms of the ability to keep it.” “African Americans fought bitterly for power in Southern California and across America,” Clegg said. “People are less likely to look at the color of your skin and more at your deeds,” he said.Īt the same time, he said, some Black residents fear losing their hard-won political power. Clegg II, a former Compton city attorney, said “interracial leadership” is becoming the norm. Sharif, meanwhile, has several key Latino supporters, including the congresswoman who represents the area. Brown has mentored Reynaga and has not seen eye to eye with Sharif on some issues. In a prominent example of such an alliance, the outgoing mayor, Aja Brown, has endorsed Reynaga over his opponent, 70-year-old City Councilwoman Emma Sharif.īrown and Sharif are both Black. Politics in Compton is more personal than racial, some observers say. I want to be known as a mayor who had a positive change, but I do take pride that I speak Spanish.” “I don’t want to be known as a Latino mayor. “I never really saw it as a race thing,” Reynaga said. He downplays any talk of racial milestones.
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