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Mary Plummer
What I cover
As managing editor for enterprise reporting and investigations, I oversee many of the newsroom’s editor and reporter teams. I love local news and supporting the journalists who cover our communities.
My background
I started my broadcast career at ABC News, and since then, I’ve worked at nonprofit newsrooms. Most of that time has been right here at LAist (yes, all the way back to the KPCC days). I’ve held a variety of roles, including as a radio producer, political correspondent and senior editor. I’ve also worked as an investigative reporter covering local government and the California state prison system.
I’ve lived in Southern California for over two decades and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska.
My goals
Our newsroom puts community first and brings great rigor and care to all that we do. We’re here to watchdog local government, help you navigate L.A. and Orange counties and shine light on the people and stories that make Southern California so special.
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.
I’m also a big believer in people-powered reporting. Earlier in my career, I helped pioneer many of our community engagement projects, and I’m excited about the innovative work we continue in this area. So often, our best stories are informed by you.
Best way to reach me
By email at mplummer@laist.com. You can also send us ideas or tips here.
Stories by Mary Plummer
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In 2017, Mayor Eric Garcetti will be defending his seat against multiple challengers. Five so far have declared their intentions to try and unseat him.
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Decades after the 1965 riots, Watts remains a place dealing with poverty, unemployment and crime — and where voting is simply not a part of many lives.
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One possible consequence of the new law could be lower voter turnout rates, at least initially, as more people join the state’s voter rolls but don’t necessarily show up to vote.
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Gov. Brown said in his State of the State address that he could stick around past his term limits — if he funded a ballot initiative to make it happen. He framed it as a joke, but was it?
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Voters in Malibu who had thought they’d successfully blocked a large retail project before a court intervened got their first chance to air the issue before City Council Monday night.
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Backers of dozens of initiatives are trying to qualify them for the November ballot. One political analyst says the interest is the highest he's seen in 20 years.
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California passed more election reforms than any other state in the country in 2015, according to one expert, and more proposals are in the works.
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President Obama will host a summit of Southeast Asian leaders at the famous Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, according to a National Security Council spokesman.
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The Secretary of State's office is accepting applications for volunteers to help advise it on improving voting for non-English speakers.
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The combined database known as VoteCal is expected to be fully implemented by June, creating a centralized voter roll that links together the states' 58 counties.
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Better communication and areas for students awaiting pickups are among the needs that emerged when Los Angeles schools coped with a threat of violence.
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With less than a year before the 2016 presidential election, attention turns to attracting young people to voting
