By Laura Richardson
In light of recent unwarranted attacks by my opponent who’s decided to run a smear campaign, I wanted to take a moment to set the record straight.
In the last week or so, you have received no less than 8… nasty hit mail pieces that have attempted to mislead the public with lies, baseless 10 year old claims and half truths, with the goal of character assassination of my name since I am leading the race with strong support from our local leaders.
Don’t fall for the late, false, desperate, and negative ads. These are desperate attacks from a desperate campaign. I have never been charged, never found guilty, and never been deemed corrupt by a court.
As someone who has served many years as a public official on all three levels of government, I understand that being under scrutiny and criticism comes with the job and I have never shied away from owning up to my mistakes and taking accountability – including for mistakes from over a decade ago. But the nasty and false messages my opponent and her supporters are spreading to voters is beyond criticism, it is a desperate tactic by a desperate campaign that attempts to hide behind lies and misdirect voters.
During my earlier years as an elected official, I transitioned from a local City Councilmember, a State Assemblymember, and eventually, to the US Congress, over a brief two year period. This roller coaster journey unfolded amidst the backdrop of a painful public divorce, the loss of my father, and not to mention the significant financial challenges that emerged. While in Congress, a wave of partisan investigations targeted elected officials, including myself. Despite the scrutiny and allegations, I accepted responsibility, paid a fine, in one instance was successful in clearing my name and proceeded to serve as no legal actions were taken in any court of law.
These experiences, while challenging, have shaped me into the experienced and compassionate advocate I am today. With age comes wisdom. They have led me to implement critical health and wellness programs for seniors, the creation of job opportunities, and my recent endeavors as a small business owner dedicated to advancing housing initiatives that transcend politics and benefit our community.
In times of adversity, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to serving our community with hard work and compassion. That is why I am endorsed by Mayor Karen Bass, our elected leaders in cities throughout the district, local Longshore unions, Teamsters, Electrical and Pipefitter unions, the National Women’s Political Caucus and the largest Latino Democratic Club in Los Angeles County, who carefully evaluated all the candidates and determined my proven record best tackles the needs of the 35th Senate District.
I hope you will join the countless voters and local leaders you trust in supporting my campaign for State Senate. It will be an honor to represent you.
Let us reject the politics of division and embrace a future guided by inclusivity and compassion.
