Compton elections head into final stretch

Compton residents are less than a week away from the close of the city’s primary election which concludes Tuesday, April 20.  In a city with approximately 50,000 registered voters, a dismal 3,216 ballots have been returned to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office.

Three incumbents are seeking an additional four-year term and one Councilwoman is seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Aja Brown, who declined to run for a third term.

Alita Godwin has worked in the City Clerk’s office since the age of 18 and was mentored and trained by former City Clerk Charles Davis, who is the longest serving elected official in the city’s 100+ year history.

“She has the experience needed to run the office, worked for me for twenty-one years, and is committed to always putting the community first,” said Davis who is steadfast in his support of Godwin.

Godwin believes she is the right candidate to continue serving Compton residents with the same integrity and tenacity she has done for the last thirty-eight years.

“The City Clerk plays a pivotal role to the stability of City government and the credibility of a City Clerk is essential to the functions of the City Clerk’s Office,” said Godwin.  “I have over 38 years of government experience. The credible core values of a City Clerk are Trust, Character, Integrity and Competence, which I have demonstrated over the past 17 years as the City Clerk.”

Godwin also points to her taking outside education courses to obtain certification as a Master’s Municipal Clerk (MMC) to increase her skills to perform her duties.

Godwin isn’t the only incumbent who previously served as a city employee, prior to her election.

Godwin is facing community activist Lynn Boone.

Tana McCoy previously worked with the city’s elected officials as their liaison and after retirement, was appointed to represent Council District 3 after the 2016 resignation of former Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux.

McCoy has demonstrated she puts the needs of her constituents first and became very active with supporting a local nonprofit, re-establish the Woodlawn Cemetery, after it fell into destitute under the care of its registered owners.

Asm. Mike Gipson has supported McCoy, and the city’s efforts, to work towards making One Section At A Time, the official caregiver of the nearly 11-acre property.

“During my tenure I have voted in favor of $5.9 million dollars of infrastructure improvements, business development, and upcoming housing developments but there is still work to be done,” said McCoy. “I believe that I am on the right track to accomplishing the necessary improvements to improve the quality of life for our community.   I will diligently work to complete infrastructure improvements, protect public’s health and re-open parks and businesses.”

McCoy also points to her representing Compton residents with respect, dignity and professionalism during her forty-year career serving them.

McCoy is facing challengers: Jonathan Bowers, Tomas Carlos, Jennifer Flores, Harrieth Robinson-Blue and Renard Smith.

Councilwoman Emma Sharif has served residents in Council District 4 since 2015 and won re-election in 2019.  She previously served on the Compton Unified School Board from 2001-2015.

Sharif is looking to become the next mayor of Compton and believes she has the experience to move the city forward on day one.

“I am the only candidate running who can hit the ground running on day one. My experience and training have prepared me for such a time as this. I have served the community as an elected School Board Member and I am currently in the middle of my second term on the city council,” said Sharif.

She points to a long list of accomplishments that have helped move the city forward under her leadership.

“We have invested $5.9 million in street repairs, approved $45 million in revenue bonds to fund additional street repairs, fought to address homelessness, illegal dumping, graffiti and opened COVID-19 testing sites for Compton residents,” said Shariff.  “I also worked with Congresswoman Nanette Barragan to rename the Compton Post Office for the nation’s first African-American Marine Medal of Honor winter, PFC James Anderson, Jr.”

Sharif joins a long list of residents seeking to become the city’s next mayor.  James Hayes, Rodney Lister, Christian Reynaga, Lamar Willis, Mike Willie, Janet Ortega, Anthony Perry, and Elias Acevedo.

Long-time Treasurer Doug Sanders is running for an additional term and campaigning on improvements his office was forced to make when his subordinate walked out with close to $4 million of taxpayer funds.

Sanders is facing Compton Unified School Board Trustee Satra Zurita and Brandon Mims.

Incumbent City Attorney Damon Brown was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot and embattled City Councilman Isaac Galvan has not responded to numerous interview requests on his re-election.

Galvan is running against former Compton Unified Board Trustee Skyy Fisher, Jace Dawson, Andre Spicer, and Alin Hamade.

Voters have until April 20 to cast their ballot at either the ballot boxes located throughout the city, can return via U.S. mail, or bring to the County Recorder’s office in the city of Norwalk.