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Our Weekly endorses Emma Sharif for Compton mayor

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Emma Sharif is running for Mayor of Compton. (304979)
Emma Sharif is running for Mayor of Compton. Credit: City of Compton

The LA County Registrar-Recorder has certified the results of the April 20 mail-in ballots of the City of Compton’s mayoral primary nominating election. Our Weekly is endorsing Emma Sharif, who came in second in the 10-person field.

“I am grateful for the overwhelming support I received from the voters of Compton,” Sharif said. “I am thankful for the confidence they placed in me to lead our city.”

Sharif, a 30-year resident of Compton who raised her four children in the city, has been representing the 4th District on the Compton City Council since 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

At an April candidate forum, Sharif said she is the only candidate with experience as an elected official and is focused on bringing more affordable housing, improving public safety, and preventing human trafficking in Compton.

“I have the vision, training and experience to fix our streets, tackle the homeless issue, improve our relationship with the Sheriff’s Department, bring jobs and revenue, and increase funding for senior citizen programming,” she said.

Mayor Aja Brown, who was elected in 2013 as the youngest mayor in the city’s history, is not seeking re-election and will leave the office at the end of June. She has endorsed Cristian Reynaga, who is currently serving as the vice-chair of the Compton Taxpayer Committee.

Sharif voted against two ballot measures in 2018, preceding voter rejection of Measure C and I, which proposed the establishment and regulation of cannabis industry shops in the city. Although her website touts the recruitment of businesses that will bring additional revenue to the city, she will enforce the current ban on dispensaries.

Sharif has been endorsed by Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan; State Sen. Steve Bradford; Assemblyman Mike Gipson; Assemblywoman Autumn Burke; Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes; Carson Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dear; and fellow council member Tana McCoy.

Other endorsements include those from Carson Councilmen Cedric Hicks and Jawane Hilton; Compton Community College Trustees Barbara Calhoun and Dr. Deborah LeBlanc; and Compton Unified School District President Micah Ali.

Since being re-elected to the Compton City Council in 2019, Sharif and the rest of the council have accomplished the following:

• Completed $5.9 million in street repairs

• Approved $45 million in revenue bonds to fund additional street repairs

• Fought for a COVID-19 Testing Site in Compton

• Fought for Homeless Outreach Plan that provided services to 90 individuals

• Approved a contract to clean up Illegal Dumping

• Approved hiring a painter to clean up Graffiti

• Approved a $1.2 million Tree trimming contract

• Approved over 500 units of housing

• Worked with Assemblyman Mike Gipson to revitalize the Compton Creek

• Worked with Congresswoman Nanette Barragan to rename the Compton Post Office after the first Black Marine Medal of Honor recipient, Pfc. James Anderson Jr.

“Although we have much to be proud of as a city, we still have work to do to increase the quality of life for all Compton residents,” Sharif said. “I look forward to working with the council, staff, and residents to take Compton to the next level.”

The runoff election will be held on Tuesday, June 1.

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