LANCASTER – The voters have spoken. Lancaster’s two incumbents bested seven challengers Tuesday in the race for Lancaster city council. Marvin Crist finished first with 4,052 votes, followed by Ron Smith with 3,874 votes. While Johnathon Ervin garnered the most votes at the polls, he lost ground in the votes by mail, and ultimately finished…
LANCASTER – Lancaster city council candidate Johnathon Ervin expressed outrage Monday over a last-minute political mailer sent out to Lancaster’s “values-based” voters. “It’s trying to question whether I have family values and whether I have morals, and I think that’s unfair,” Ervin said. “I think that it’s the same type of dirty politics we’re used…
By Lancaster resident and former mayoral candidate Arnie Rodio When I ran for Mayor against [R. Rex] Parris in 2008, a hit mailer was put out against me, Ken Mann and Denise Latanzi, who were running as a slate. At a City Council meeting, Denise [Latanzi] called out Ron Smith on it. Smith stated in…
The Lancaster Municipal Election takes place Tuesday, April 8, with polling locations opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. For more information regarding the City’s upcoming election, contact the Lancaster City Clerk Department at 661-723-6020. (This poll will stay open until 7:45 p.m. on April 8, 15 minutes before the real polls close. Voting…
ANTELOPE VALLEY – With the State Senate belatedly taking action against three senators accused or convicted of various crimes, local activists are calling on Assembly Speaker John Perez, the Assembly Rules Committee and the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee to institute an investigation into the whistleblower allegations against Assemblyman Steve Fox. “The public was first notified…
PALMDALE – The City Council appointed Fred Thompson to a vacancy on its board Wednesday evening, making the former Palmdale School District trustee the first African-American to serve on the council. The four-member council voted unanimously in a motion to appoint Thompson to Councilwoman Laura Bettencourt’s vacated seat. Bettencourt resigned her seat on the council…
By Lancaster resident Nax Stuart The pot calling the kettle black would best describe the vitriol that comes out of the mouth of Lancaster’s Mayor R. Rex Parris. His latest berating of a political contender for Lancaster City Council, Johnathon Ervin, is nothing short of Parris’ racist grandstanding telling Lancaster’s constituents through a ‘hit mailer’…
LANCASTER – As we reported last week, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris financed a hit mailer that claimed City Council candidate Johnathon Ervin was a “gang candidate” who had led an “anti-law enforcement protest.” Read more here. A new political mailer making the rounds this week also takes aim at Ervin, while urging Democratic voters…
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale) announced this week that his Traffic Ticket Amnesty Bill, (AB) 2085, and Grandparents Rights Bill, (AB) 1628, were passed unanimously by the Assembly Public Safety Committee and the Judiciary Committee respectively. The bills now will move to the Assembly Floor. “These proposed laws attempt to provide common sense remedies…
By David Paul, Lancaster Human Relations Tapestry Commissioner and candidate for Lancaster City Council With the upcoming city council election in Lancaster turning ugly over race, it seems time for me to weigh in. If we want to stop any of the racism, the social unrest, and even the class warfare that divides us, we…
PALMDALE – Palmdale City Councilmember Laura Bettencourt has submitted her letter of resignation from the Council. In the letter, dated March 20, 2014, Bettencourt wrote, “After some heartfelt discussions with some of my colleagues, friends, and City staff I have decided to resign my seat on the Palmdale City Council. My resignation will be effective…
LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris apologized Friday after backlash over a political mailer he produced, which claimed City Council candidate Johnathon Ervin was a “gang candidate” who had led an “anti-law enforcement protest.” View the mailer here. The apology came after an Associated Press story, titled “Lancaster mayor blasted for ‘gang candidate’ claim,” was…
LANCASTER – A political mailer making the rounds with local voters this week claims Lancaster City Council candidate Johnathon Ervin “organized and led an anti-law enforcement protest to attack our Lancaster Deputy Sheriffs.” But the mailer, which was produced by Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, is nothing more than a lie-filled hit piece, and there…
SACRAMENTO – George Runner announced today he is sponsoring legislation to enhance tax benefits for California’s disabled veterans. SB 1113, authored by Senator Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley), will help ensure that disabled veterans who encounter bureaucratic delays can still claim a key property tax exemption. “These brave men and women have sacrificed greatly for our…
An “Electoral Observation” by Occasional Contributor T.E. Barkas The Lancaster election is a month away, and election politics are heating up again locally. What’s that you say? You don’t really care all that much about local politics!? If so, this column is for you, and that rapping sound you hear is opportunity knocking. Imagine an…
LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster will mail out the sample ballots tomorrow for its upcoming General Municipal Election, which takes place on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. View the sample ballot here. The sample ballot contains polling locations, candidate statements, important dates to remember, and a Vote-by-Mail Application. Vote-by-Mail Applications must be returned to the…
Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris put political differences aside Tuesday morning to jointly announce support for Assistant Sheriff James Hellmold, as he campaigns to be the next sheriff of Los Angeles County. “The one way that we know to make certain the Antelope Valley continues to be safe, and continues…
LANCASTER – At a public meeting in the Lancaster city council chambers Tuesday, the City’s citizen Elections Committee heard a third party analysis from Voting Rights Act expert, Dr. Morgan Kousser, who found that the City of Lancaster is in compliance with the California Voting Rights Act, city officials said in a news release. “Dr.…
By Kermit Franklin I am proud to call the Antelope Valley my home and I look forward to having the opportunity to serve our district in the State Assembly. I am fully committed and ready to fight for the poor and middle class in ensuring a livable job wage while fighting for access to quality…
LANCASTER – The public is invited to hear expert third party analysis on Lancaster’s compliance with the California Voting Rights Act. The meeting, featuring Voting Rights Act expert Dr. Morgan Kousser, will take place at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the City Council Chambers, located at 44933 Fern Avenue, according to a press release…