Politics & Government

Mike Bonin Wins District 11 Seat

Four candidates were running for the City Council seat, and Bonin secured a substantial lead early in the night.

After an early lead, Mike Bonin cruised to victory with over 60 percent of the vote in the race for the City Council District 11 seat.

As of 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, with 100 percent of District 11 precincts reporting, Bonin had 17,566 votes or 61 percent of the total, with Tina Hess in a distant second with 5,155 votes or 18 percent.

Frederick Sutton and Odysseus Bostick captured about 12 percent and 9 percent of the vote, respectively.

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“There are people in this district who do not have a voice, who are not always heard, who are too often left in the shadows in this district and in this city,” Bonin said. “My job is to listen to all of those voices and to invite people to be heard.”

Bonin pledges to continue outgoing Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s transparent approach with constituents and plans to hold office hours twice a month at different locations. Some of the accomplishments Bonin touts are securing more police officers for the Westside, building new playgrounds and skate parks, cleaning up the local environment and working with communities and agencies to alleviate traffic by synchronizing traffic lights and ensuring the Expo line is built expeditiously. 

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“I had the privilege of having him run my campaign and then watch my back for eight years while I was in office,” Rosendahl said. “He’s a man of ethics and integrity and one of the best elected officials this city will have.”

Bonin hopes L.A.’s next mayor will appoint him to the Metro board of directors. Bonin, like Rosendahl, opposes the LAX modernization plan, which calls for moving the northernmost runway 260 feet closer to homes in Westchester. The Los Angeles Planning Commission approved the plan in mid-February and the City Council will now debate the issue.

Here is where Bonin stands on some issues and what he pledges to accomplish during his tenure:

Transportation

  • Oversee that the Metro Expo line to the Westside is built by 2015 and coordinate efforts with the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and the Culver City Bus to create synergy in public transit.
  • Possibly install a trolley rail line along Lincoln Boulevard.
  • Extend the Metro green line to LAX.
  • Continue promoting cycling and build the city’s biking infrastructure. 
  • Install red light cameras on Sunset Boulevard near the 405 Freeway to prevent cars from blocking intersections in Brentwood.

Economy

  • Encourage and promote the growth of Silicon Beach.
  • More aggressively market Los Angeles as a tourism destination.
  • Work to eliminate the gross receipts tax to incentivize and help small businesses.

Environment

  • Increase treatment of stormwater runoff to help clean beaches.
  • Mandate LEED standard on all city buildings.
  • Obtain 32 percent of water from local sources, like groundwater, recycled water and stormwater.
  • Establish more farmers markets throughout the city.

Homelessness

  • Expand homeless programs in District 11 and house 500 more people.
  • Create a facility to help homeless people transition to permanent housing.
  • Fight to raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles.


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