LA Rep Becomes Speaker of the Assembly

For the last ten years, state representatives from Los Angeles have dominated the role of Speaker of the Assembly, including Mayor Villaraigosa, LA City Council Herb Wesson and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. Today, Karen Bass, the assemblywoman who represents neighborhoods from West LA to Culver City to Baldwin Hills, had enough votes to become Speaker of the Assembly up in Sacramento.

The job of speaker is to be the leader of the California State Assembly, controlling every committee assignment (which rep sits on transportation, etc) and has a great deal of sway in regards to which legislation moves forward or not. Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert says the job is "considered by many to be second only to the governor in power and prestige in California government."

Bass will work alongside the current speaker, Fabian Nunez of Downtown LA, until his term ends later this year. Nunez was behind Prop 93, which would have allowed him and other politicians to serve a third term. Voters rejected it on February 5.

Previously on LAist: 5 LA Area State Dems Eye Speaker of Assembly Gig

Photo via Bass' website