Board of Equalization District 3 will have new representation in 2018. With the June 2018 election fifteen months away, projected front runner Scott Svonkin has already began lining up endorsements and campaign war chest. Scott Svonkin currently serves as a trustee for the LA Community College District.
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Having secured endorsements from Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, retired Congresswoman Diane Watson and local Democratic Party leaders Darren Parker and Jimmie Woods-Gray, the remaining members of Black politics have yet to weigh in on the seat currently held by Jerome Horton.
Horton has made the news being attached to an audit of the Board of Equalization (BOE), that led to Governor Jerry Brown asking for a federal investigation and a directive to the board that they are not allowed to hire and/or award contracts, without his approval. Two current BOE board members are calling for the board to be disbanded. Horton’s predecessor would have to walk a very thin line.
Sources tell this author that Black leaders wanted former Sen. Isadore Hall to run, however, he is happy in his position on the agricultural board.
The likely candidate, who is not tarnished, is Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles. He benefits by having strong connections to Sacramento through his work in Asm. Autumn Burke’s office and is well liked throughout the South Bay. He formerly sat on the Metro South Bay Service Council.
Although his mayor’s seat is up in April 2018, many wonder if he is giving up his mayors seat for a seat that could possibly be out of his reach.
Scott Svonkin has already raised $400k, for a race expected to cost upwards of $1 million dollars.
To put this in perspective, Pullen-Miles won his last mayoral race in 2016 with less than 800 votes, which probably cost a few thousand to pull off.
Does Robert Pullen-Miles have the capacity to raise the funds needed to run a full campaign?
