The Stonewall Democrats held their endorsement meeting Dec. 19 and endorsed Eric Strong for Los Angeles County Sheriff.
“The Sheriff’s Department is broken, and across the country, we are seeing calls for a reimagining of our policing models,” said Stonewall President Alex Mohajer in a statement. “Our organization has a unique responsibility to urge policing reforms. Eric Strong is the only candidate to talk about compassion in policing and propose concrete ideas for disbanding deputy gangs and evaluating police performance. He went on record offering Stonewall and other community stakeholders a seat at the table — and we intend to hold him to it.”
Strong captured 63% of the vote over Sheriff Alex Villanueva, LAX Chief Cecil Rhambo, Ret. Chief Robert Luna, and Eli Vera.
“I am here to do what’s best for this community, and for all of our families,” said Strong.
Villanueva’s campaign manager Javier Gonzalez believes the endorsement process isn’t neutral.
“The Democratic Party endorsements have long ceased being neutral arbitrators of who is the best candidate,” said Gonzalez. “It’s a circus ran by paid operatives and insiders.”
Rhambo’s campaign made no public comments on the endorsement process, despite having support from the LA County Democratic Party.
Candidates will next appear at the Central Committee and must receive 60% of the vote to secure the actual endorsement from the party.