Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - April 3, 2014 Ocean League Pits Cougars Against Vikings Hawthorne pitcher Jonathan Juarez throws to a Santa Monica batter during last Thursday's Ocean League baseball action. The Vikings rolled over the Cougars 11-3. Hawthorne hosts Lawndale in a non-league rivalry next Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. Photo by Joe Snyder. Voting for New Mayor a Priority for Lawndale By Nancy Peters On Tuesday morning, April 8, when the polls open at 7 a.m. in Lawndale, citizens will be casting their vote for a new Mayor and none of the names on the ballot will belong to Harold E. Hofmann. Hofmann passed away in November 2013 and since that time the City of Lawndale has worked with a four-man City Council and Pat Kearney as Mayor Pro Tem has been the leader. Of the two candidates for the office of Mayor of Lawndale, one (Robert Pullen-Miles) brings a background in elections and the other (Daniel Reid) is running for an elected office for the first time. One moved to Lawndale 25 years ago (Reid) and the other is a resident for nearly 20 years (Pullen-Miles). Pullen-Miles, whose election motto is “I’m Pullen for You!,” hails from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where as a young man he showed an interest in legal studies, although he is a certified emergency management services technician and was a probation officer for six years. But for the last 15 years, his job has been closely tied to the California State Legislature as a Rules Committee Officer. Initially, he served under State Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza until her death a few years ago. Now Pullen-Miles is assigned to State Senator Ted Lieu’s office that represents a portion of the South Bay in Sacramento. His local community involvement includes service on the Lawndale Planning Commission for 10 years until his election to the Lawndale City Council in 2004. Pullen-Miles said he was encouraged to run for Council by Hofmann--a man who served as his mentor and role model in city politics. Taking a page from the Hofmann book of serving your community, Pullen-Miles said he believes in the economic development of Lawndale as the key to expanding the tax base by bringing in new businesses and keeping the general fund strong as it has maintained since the beginning of the City incorporation. “Our city is extremely well-run in its fiduciary responsibilities, with grants always being sought by City staff for big projects so that City funds are not compromised,” he said. Pullen-Miles added, “Since my time as a Councilman, I have watched the City experience management like a well-oiled wheel cog. The City got used to Harold being available for them, showing up on their street when there was a project being constructed, or a street paving being done. Harold was involved and he noticed that my passions about progress for the economic development of our business district were similar to his beliefs on what we have to do to remain viable in tough economic times.” Pullen-Miles is a member of the Lawndale Rotary Club and participant in nearly every City event. He noted that he has been walking the neighborhoods, knocking on doors and telephoning voters to hear their concerns about Lawndale. He pointed out that he was involved when Hofmann found funding for the new library and the Community Center, using his State legislative experience to help guide the Council. Pullen-Miles added that when he first joined the Council in 2004, he was instrumental in working with the local school district to use the land inherited from Caltrans that had been vacant and unused for 20 years, eventually developing that land to become Hopper Park- -the first new park in Lawndale in 20 years. Pullen-Miles believes his community service and analytical approach to the issues helped him gain the respect of his Council colleagues, earning their support in his election campaign for Mayor. “I want the community to know that as Harold Hofmann told me, it is important to always be an advocate for the people, from the youth to the seniors. I am looking forward to the election, to allow me to serve the people of Lawndale as the next Mayor. I know that my level of service and the quality of my dedication speak for themselves. “Whether a member of the City Council as the Mayor or as a Councilman, I will be proactive in continuing the great traditions of Lawndale, expanding the tax base, working with the residents to make the city a great place to live. As a father of my three daughters, it is important that the city is a safe place for all and I hope to serve Lawndale for many years to come.” Running against Pullen-Miles is Reid, the current chairperson of the Lawndale Planning Commission. Reid is a leader and Scout master in the Lawndale Troop 283 Boy Scout program, serving for 24 years, and was also the Chairman of Camporee in the Centinela Valley Boy Scout Region. He serves on numerous ad hoc committees in the City of Lawndale, but this is his first foray into elected office. Reid made the decision to run for Mayor in December 2013 after considering a bid for the Council, but threw his hat into the mayoral ring after Hofmann’s death left a gap in City leadership. “I have been a responsible volunteer for many years in the community and for my church,” Reid said. “I participate in the Neighborhood Watch program and believe that our citizens begin with our youth and continue up to senior citizens. Seniors need to be given the respect they have earned, never ignoring the wealth of knowledge they bring with their life experience. The people of Lawndale have raised the level of civic service to an admirable one with all the participation of residents in City events. I want to see that tradition carried on. Reid continued, “Our citizens deserve responsible management of the City, City services, and of the citizens themselves. We need to strengthen partnerships with business owners, with the school districts, and the City, always looking for ways to increase the value of our properties. We need to coach our youth in the traditions of civic service and give them role models to look up to. The citizens were used to Harold Hofmann as the leader of Lawndale. They want an open, trustworthy, responsive Mayor who will maintain the City, but look for constant improvements at every corner.” The LA Firefighters Local 1014 and several long-time citizens have put their support behind Reid. He said will bring years of volunteer participation and his professional management experience to the role of Mayor. He believes his positive attitude about Lawndale is infectious as he walks the neighborhoods and introduces his platform to the residents to let them know his intentions for the City if and when he is elected. Reid will end his four-year term on the Planning Commission at the end of 2014 if he is not elected to the office of Mayor of Lawndale. But he pledged to continue his commitment to the City no matter what role he has. His feels that his campaign motto – “Challenge Me–Dan’s the Man that Can” – speaks to his stewardship goals in maintaining the level of community service he wants to exemplify. Don’t forget to cast your vote on Tuesday, April 8. The election also includes two seats on the City Council. Running for reelection are Pat Kearney and Larry Rudolph, and the third candidate is Gary McDonald. A new City Clerk will also be elected from the two-person field of Marge Heinemann and Bernadette Suarez. • Inside This Issue Calendar...............................3 Classifieds............................3 Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................5 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Food.......................................8 Legals............................. 2,6,7 Politically Speaking............4 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Mostly Cloudy 63˚/50˚ Saturday Sunny 66˚/54˚ Sunday Sunny 72˚/59˚
Lawndale 04_03_14
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