
Mary Plummer
I help lead our newsroom and oversee our enterprise coverage and investigations team. One of my favorite things about journalism is getting to dig deep, and I’m proud of the groundbreaking investigative work produced during my time here. Our watchdog reporting has inspired legislation, helped change federal policies that blocked veterans from housing and increased transparency measures at the L.A. City Council. As a manager, I get to partner with colleagues across the organization to produce journalism that aims to make Southern California a better place to live.
I got my start in broadcast with ABC News, where I spent a year at their London and L.A. bureaus along with some time in New York. I’ve also worked at the nonprofit newsroom inewsource as an investigative reporter, and later, an audience engagement editor overseeing digital strategy and newsletters.
I’m proud to have spent the bulk of my career right here at Southern California Public Radio, where I’ve held a variety of roles including as the newsroom’s political correspondent during the 2016 and 2018 elections. I helped pioneer many of our community engagement projects and am a big believer in people-powered reporting. So often, our best work is informed by you.
I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and love being outdoors. I chased the sunshine to Orange County for college and have felt lucky to be in Southern California ever since.
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At least one candidate in the state 51st Assembly District race has taken to texting voters, a campaign tactic that some voters say is a turnoff.
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Security threats, low turnout and the rollout of a new law that will change how voters cast ballots all pose potential problems for elections officials statewide.
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Switching the state's presidential primary from June to March would change the strategy for presidential candidates, but it has unclear implications for voters.
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Research from UC Davis shows large disparities among racial and ethnic groups regarding mail voting and the degree to which they trust the U.S. Postal Service.
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Vote-by-mail ballots are being sent out beginning Tuesday to voters in the 51st State Assembly District in Los Angeles, which includes neighborhoods like Chinatown.
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A new University of California, Davis, study finds a majority of voters surveyed do not support consolidated voting centers in place of neighborhood polling places.
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Some LA residents reacted with anger on learning of the nearly $32 million in contributions raised by Mayor Eric Garcetti for favored causes, some from companies that do business with the city.
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Mayor Eric Garcetti has used a little-known mechanism to raise $31.9 million in four years. Public records show some of the contributors do business with the city.
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California’s newest congressional member took his oath of office on Tuesday to represent the 34th district, but the lengthy transition has been controversial.
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As Eric Garcetti was sworn in, he was interrupted by a small group of Black Lives Matter protesters who held up signs and chanted.