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Ex-Sheriff Villanueva Eyes Supervisor Seat
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks to media during an election night party at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
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Trevor Stamp for LAist
)
Topline:
Former L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is expected to announce his candidacy for a Board of Supervisors seat today. He wants to challenge incumbent Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents District 4.
Why now: In an interview with Fox 11’s Marla Tellez, Villanueva said he wants to run for Hahn's seat because “county government is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of all the county residents. In that regard, the board has failed miserably. All you have to do is look at the news every day, you are assaulted by images of violent crimes, smash and grab robberies, senseless wanton violence.”
The district: District 4, home to over 2 million people, covers the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Long Beach and the Gateway Cities.
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The backstory: Villanueva once led the largest sheriff’s department in the nation, but it is also one plagued with troubles. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in 2021 launched a civil rights investigation into the agency to look into allegations of use of excessive force, retaliation and other issues.
Villanueva routinely attacked elected officials — including the supervisors — during his tenure as sheriff and even now. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, yesterday to call out Hahn’s politics.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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