Assembly Speaker Karen Bass announced Wednesday she will run for the 33rd Congressional District seat being vacated by Diane Watson. (Photo by Gary McCarthy)
Story Created:
Feb 17, 2010 at 11:03 AM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 18, 2010 at 12:39 PM PST
Flanked by a number of supporters, including the woman she hopes to succeed, former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass on Wednesday formally announced her bid for the congressional seat now held by Rep. Diane Watson.
The announcement, made in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles, came one week after Watson, who represents the geographically and ethnically diverse 33rd Congressional District, revealed plans to retire at the end of her present term.
In her remarks, Bass immediately touched on the debate that is currently dominating national politics, and also referenced several issues she hopes to tackle on Capitol Hill. “Although I’m confident health care reform will be passed soon, I have no doubt there will be more work to do,” Bass said. “There are many other issues I have worked on here at home and in Sacramento and I want to continue to work on foster care, education, the environment and jobs in D.C."
The press briefing was hosted by Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, and Bass earned glowing endorsements from the likes of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, UCLA Labor Center director Kent Wong and Watson herself.
“As we stand here today, L.A., like the rest of our nation, stands at a crossroads as we grapple with an economic crisis that is impacting each of us,” Greuel said. “The question we as Angelenos need to ask ourselves is who to trust to go to Washington and help our country get back on track. And today, a diverse group of Angelenos is standing up to say that the woman we want to fight for us is the next congresswoman for the 33rd District, Speaker Karen Bass.”
USC professor Manuel Pastor praised his friend of “many years” as a “great community leader” who helped to create the grassroots organization Community Coalition.
“The atmosphere in Washington is corrosive and we need someone who can bring both integrity and civility and a willingness to find common ground,” he said.
In her endorsement, Watson recalled Bass’ work in the aftermath of the 1992 riots. “She doesn’t come to you talking about promises, she can stand on her record,” Watson said. “In ‘92 when we had the uprising it was Karen that organized the neighborhood. She said we don’t need five liquor stores in one block, red light houses and motels. She rounded up and collaborated with business and the community to change those neighborhoods. She was a leader before she was elected.”
Said Ridley-Thomas: “She’s known as a progressive and is unapologetic about that. But in so doing she is quite pragmatic and understands as an elected official that results matter.”
The 33rd District includes a portion of central Los Angeles, Hollywood, Culver City and parts of unincorporated L.A. County. It also envelops the neighborhoods of Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights, Mid-Wilshire, View Park and Windsor Hills.
RSS Feeds 
