With former speaker of the State Assembly, Herb Wesson Jr.,
reaching the end his term limit this year, the race to fill his
seat is expected to be a close one.
Out of the seven candidates running for the 47th Assembly
District (which includes UCLA), Karen Bass has the strongest vision
for education and would best represent student interests in the
state Legislature. Bass, 50, is a faculty member at the University
of Southern California and a senior policy fellow at the UCLA
School of Public Policy.
Bass, one of five Democratic candidates vying for the position,
lists education as her top priority and says she is against school
vouchers.
Though she has less experience in political office than another
front-runner ““ 74-year-old Los Angeles City Councilman Nate
Holden ““ Bass does have valuable community-based experience
in the Los Angeles area. Bass founded the Community Coalition,
which prevented the building of more than 150 liquor stores in the
area.
During a debate held on campus in early February, Bass said she
wanted to improve high school standards to better equip students
when they enter college. She also emphasized the importance of
protecting outreach programs.