I Stand with Susan Burton, Founder, A New Way of Life, When It Comes To Choosing Michelle Chambers for 35th Senate Seat

The Southern Truth

By Gloria Zuurveen, Editor-in-Chief

Just the other day, I had the opportunity to speak with Michelle Chambers, who is running for the soon-to-be vacant Senate seat currently held by Steven Bradford. It was an informative meeting, and I learned more than I had anticipated about this gracious candidate. Chambers expanded on her reasons for wanting to challenge former Congresswoman Laura Richardson in the race to serve the people of this vast district. The contest has been heated, with some vile and vicious mailers circulating throughout the district, accusing Chambers of having a criminal record. However, after speaking with her and listening to her story, it became clear that hers is a story of courage and confidence in her ability to serve the public—qualities she first learned from her mother, a dedicated community activist deeply involved in politics. That political spirit rubbed off on Chambers, who has risen through the ranks to pursue her own public service career.

Following her tenure on the Compton City Council, Chambers moved on to serve as the External Affairs Manager for California Attorney General Rob Bonta. These roles followed her experience working with retired Congresswomen Diane E. Watson and Janice Hahn, the latter now serving as a Los Angeles County Supervisor. Such positions reflect the strong support Chambers enjoys as a viable candidate to serve the constituents of the 35th District.

Despite her qualifications, Chambers has faced attacks from her opponent, who accused her of being a criminal, based on past mistakes. Susan Burton, founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project for incarcerated women in California, addressed these accusations, stating: “You know, Laura Richardson wants to bring up events from three decades ago and fails to recognize the intellect and integrity of Michelle Chambers and the person she is today—I don’t want someone like that representing me.” Burton continued, “It’s quite disturbing to me. What would she say about me? I don’t want anyone in Sacramento representing me who is as vicious as Laura Richardson.”

Does anyone want someone like Laura Richardson—who, as a federal representative of California, was on record multiple times as one of the most corrupt members of Congress? This pattern of misconduct, spanning four separate incidents, raises serious concerns. While Richardson was supposed to be representing the people, she was instead caught representing her own interests, to the point where she faced ethical violations. She was found guilty of misusing government resources, destroying evidence, and tampering with witness testimony.

I stand with Susan Burton and a host of other supporters, including the current Senator Steven Bradford,Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (Ret.), Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Supervisor Janice Hahn, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. and Inglewood City Clerk Aisha L. Thompson, in supporting Michelle Chambers as the next 35th District Senator. The California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO noted, “As someone who comes from a union family, Michelle will fight to increase wages, grow the middle class, and lower costs for working families.” Chambers has also received endorsements from the Planned Parenthood, the California Teachers Association, and the California Democratic Party. The question is: will you join them?

Vote today with early voting or on November 5 for Michelle Chambers for the 35th Senate seat.