Mitch Ward sure is well known around these parts.
As a six-year councilmember, former Planning and Cultural Arts commissioner, founder of the Manhattan Beach Youth Recognition Award, member of at least 15 civic organizations, boards and local committees and the owner of a high tech service company headquartered in the city, he tends to run into someone he knows when he’s out on the town.
A man approaches Ward at Metlox Plaza, says hello and assures him he will always have his political support.
“Yeah, you will be seeing me wear a lot more ties over the next year,” Ward adds after a brief chat with the resident.
Ward has his eyes set on the open 53rd District Assembly seat in 2010. Current Assemblyman Ted Lieu will term out that year and plans to run for attorney general.
“Your first elected office is your love,” Ward says. “But it’s about trying to do a little bit more.”
Ward is ready to take local control over our own destiny, he says, namely the protection of local reserves and revenues and the preservation of local services and the education system.
“I think the local level can be ratcheted up,” he said. “…There are other things out there that need to be taken care of now. Our fiscal state of affairs in California is broken, totally broken. We can scream about ideologues this and ideologues that, but meanwhile our kids are suffering and we have bloated pieces of government that should be cut.”
As an assemblyman, Ward, a progressive democrat, will make laws that will head to the Senate and then the governor’s desk. Ward will board the one-hour flight to Sacramento on Monday morning and fly back home on Thursday.
“I’ve been going up and testing it out,” he said, smiling. But after 18 years in the city, he has no plans on moving.
“Can you imagine if I left and tried to get back in? I’d say, ‘I used to live there,’ and they’d say, ‘Yeah, right,’” he joked.
Over the past few months, Ward has held a number of local fundraisers across the 53rd District, which includes Venice, West L.A., Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Westchester, LAX, El Segundo, Torrance, Lomita and the Beach Cities.
Many may question his aggressive campaign start though the primary isn’t until June 8, 2010. The state campaign filing deadline is June 30, next Tuesday.
Ward said politicians in Sacramento told him $100,000 is usually needed to properly staff the campaign and publicize the strength of his local support.
So far, Ward has raised more than he did for all three races for City Council. But he said he needs more, “to show we locally here mean what we say.”
“We’ve got to put our money where our mouth is,” he said. “Unfortunately in politics in America it’s about money and money raised. An individual can have all the merits of a good person to serve but if they can’t get their message out to the public…it’s difficult for them to get into office.”
Raising a hefty amount of funds also clears the field of lesser-qualified candidates, he added. But said the $100,000 figure is by no means a make or break number for his candidacy.
Ward says he knows that local households are all operating on decreased funds, so he’s grateful that he has received contributions from $20 to $2,500 and has an endorsement list that spans four pages.
Ward recalled Gary, an unemployed man who gave him $80 in cash last week.
“His hope was apparent—create jobs for our community,” Ward said.
A fireman gave him $100 because he said he believed strongly in Ward.
“I still remember the emotion that came over me when two local policemen said they and their fellow officers were definitely there for me because I have always been there for them,” Ward said.
Ward says he has always focused on ensuring public safety — he was mayor when the $47 million police and fire building was completed and co-chaired the Public Safety Committee — is passionate on environmental issues — he co-chairs the city’s Environmental Task Force and serves on the board of the Los Angeles Sanitation District — and he has fought for the protection of small businesses as the chair of the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
Ward says he doesn’t really know any of his opponents — Betsy Butler, the top fundraiser for Consumer Attorneys of California; Al Muratsuchi, deputy attorney general and member of the Torrance School Board; Kate Anderson, former Capitol Hill employee and a member of the Mar Vista Community Council; Nick Karno, deputy city attorney in Los Angeles; Peter Thottam, a Green Party candidate in 2006 and Lisa Green, a Green Party candidate.
But Ward feels his strong ties to the local community give him a leg up.
“On the local level we work cooperatively with each other and we get things done,” he said. “That has to be applied on the state level.”
Mitch Ward will hold a fundraiser at Pancho’s restaurant in North Manhattan Beach on June 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. featuring performances by American Idol, Star Search and Broadway stars Narek, Trenyce, Angela Teek, Violence with Smiles, Miaya Sykes and Oscar nominee Juanita Moore. For more information on Ward visit www.mitchward.net.