LANCASTER – The criminal case against David Grajeda, the 26-year-old man charged with disrupting a public meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, ended Wednesday morning when both sides agreed to a resolution in the case. The misdemeanor charge against Grajeda for disrupting a public meeting was dismissed; in...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Council members Sandra Johnson and Ken Mann were sworn in to office by city clerk Geri Bryan at Tuesday night’s city council Meeting. Johnson, who was the top vote getter in the April 10 election in her first bid for office, said she’s looking forward to getting right to work for the...
Read More »
LANCASTER – With all voting centers reporting, incumbent R. Rex Parris soundly defeated his competition, garnering more than 75 percent of the votes in the race for Lancaster mayor. Specifically, Parris won with 76.4 percent (6,517 votes), while his closest competitor, David Paul, trailed with 10.5 percent (898 votes). David Abber had 8 percent (684 votes),...
Read More »
LANCASTER – In the 36 hours leading up to today’s election, most candidates were likely making the final push for supporters. But mayoral candidate David Grajeda was sitting in a jail cell for at least four of those hours. In his latest brush with the law, Grajeda was arrested late Sunday night and jailed...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Mayoral candidate David Abber is known to many as the man who was involved in an altercation with Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris at a 24-hour Fitness Gym two years ago. “I was standing by the racquetball courts when the mayor walked up to me, swore at me, shoved me into the...
Read More »
LANCASTER – By not announcing which lawsuits are being discussed in closed sessions, taking action on items not on the agenda, and convening council meetings without a quorum, the Lancaster City Council is flagrantly violating California’s open meeting law, alleges a complaint filed against the City of Lancaster this week. The complaint, which claims...
Read More »
LANCASTER – David Paul is on the ballot again this year as a candidate for Lancaster City Mayor. “This is my fourth time running so I consistently believe I would be the best mayor,” Paul said. As an active member of the community, Paul said he has been sharing his ideas with the Lancaster...
Read More »
PALMDALE – Assembly candidate and Palmdale councilman Tom Lackey announced Monday he has signed the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” a vow to oppose any efforts to increase taxes. Since it’s inception in 1986, the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge has served as a tool to hold candidates accountable for their position on taxes....
Read More »
PALMDALE – At a press conference Wednesday morning, Palmdale City Councilman Tom Lackey formally announced his decision to run for the California State Assembly in June. Lackey will be running in Assembly District 36 for the seat vacated by Assemblyman Steve Knight who is seeking election to the State Senate. Surrounded by his family...
Read More »
LANCASTER – The first campaign finance disclosure statements in the Lancaster mayoral and city council races are in. In the city council race, incumbent Ken Mann has raised and spent the most cash so far. In the race for mayor, incumbent R. Rex Parris is the only candidate who exceeded the threshold – $1,000...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Sandra Johnson will be the first to tell you that she has lived the American dream. Having legally immigrated to the United States from Chile at a young age, Johnson grew up with very little, but worked hard to change her circumstances and steadfastly pursued her dream of opening a learning institution....
Read More »
LANCASTER – Residents who follow Lancaster City Council meetings may know David Grajeda, the outspoken council critic who was arrested and jailed for his behavior at City Hall. Less familiar is his older brother, Isaac Grajeda, a music teacher, writer and musician. However, this may change if the elder Grajeda realizes his goal of...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Six candidates running for city, county and state offices outlined their platforms Wednesday to a crowd of about 60. Hosted by the Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD), the event was billed as a Question and Answer Forum to allow candidates to introduce themselves to Antelope Valley residents. Candidates were given...
Read More »
LANCASTER– California State Senator Sharon Runner has announced that she will not seek re-election to the State Senate this November. “Serving the people of our community over my lifetime has been an amazing blessing and I am so very thankful for their support throughout each of my elections and my tenure in office,” said...
Read More »
LANCASTER – A least eight candidates running for various state, county, and municipal offices have confirmed their attendance at a ‘Candidate Question & Answer’ forum, to be hosted by the Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD) on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Scheduled to attend are: Lee Rodgers – Candidate for Congress, 25th District Laura...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Four years ago, Lancaster City Council Member Ken Mann successfully ran on a platform of reducing crime, curbing Section 8 fraud, solving the city’s water problem and getting Lancaster to become more fiscally responsible. This year, Mann is running on a similar platform. If reelected, crime will continue to be his top...
Read More »
LANCASTER – If you have attended, or watched on television, any Lancaster city council meetings in the past year, then you may recognize Michael Rives as the man who addresses the city council multiple times at each meeting. “I’ve attended every meeting and I’ve spoken at every meeting for the last year or year...
Read More »
PALMDALE – The Palmdale City Council has selected Councilmember Steven D. Hofbauer to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the City. Hofbauer’s term began on Jan. 4. Hofbauer, who also served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2009, was elected to his third term on the City Council on November 8, 2011. Prior to being...
Read More »
LANCASTER – John Kiramis, one of the candidates for Lancaster city council, has been in public service since he was 21 years old. After retiring as a police lieutenant in 2004, Kiramis said he missed public service and decided to run for city council in Foster City. He was later elected to Foster City...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Four people have qualified to run for Mayor and five people have qualified to run for Council in the next General Municipal Election for the City of Lancaster, according to a list released by the City Clerk Friday evening. The filing period ended at 5 p.m., Jan 13. The following is the...
Read More »
PALMDALE – According to the semifinal tally (with 100% of precincts reporting) , incumbent Jim Ledford garnered more than 70% of the votes to claim his 11th term as Mayor of the City of Palmdale. In the Palmdale Water District race, incumbents Linda Godin (Div. 3) and Raul Figueroa (Div. 4) are behind their...
Read More »
Starting at 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 8th, the processing of Local & Municipal election night ballots will be streamed live over the Internet, according to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office. Voters can view the live streaming footage of election night activities at RR/CC Headquarters in Norwalk at www.lavote.com. The video stream will give voters live...
Read More »
PALMDALE – Palmdale’s three mayoral candidates held their own at a debate Thursday night, fielding questions on a variety of topics that ran the gamut from the justice realignment act to whether or not they would march in a Palmdale gay parade. The event was hosted by the League of Women’s Voters Antelope Valley...
Read More »
PALMDALE – Draped in “Votes for Women” yellow sashes and flanked by the American, California, and Palmdale flags, the League of Women Voters Antelope Valley came together Tuesday to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of women’s right to vote in California. The event took place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale and...
Read More »
PALMDALE – Mayoral candidate Maggie Campbell says Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford has ignored her challenges for a public debate because he is afraid to face her. In a press release this week, Campbell said she challenged Ledford and opponent, Desmond Kester, to a political debate in writing last week in response to several requests...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Sandra Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of the University of the Antelope Valley, will be Lancaster’s new City Council member, occupying the seat recently vacated by Sherry Marquez, who resigned earlier this month due to family matters. Johnson was one of three women on the short list of candidates that Mayor R. Rex...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Mayor R. Rex Parris announced Thursday that he intends to consider three women for the City Council seat recently vacated by Councilwoman Sherry Marquez, who resigned earlier this month due to family matters. In a news release Thursday, Parris said he put considerable thought into choosing the three candidates — Cassandra Harvey,...
Read More »
PALMDALE – All five candidates for the Palmdale School District’s Governing Board have confirmed their attendance at a debate tonight, presented by the League of Women Voters Antelope Valley. Incumbent Robert “Bo” Bynum, businessman Warren G. Gatling, retired maintenance director Charles Mike McElfresh, teacher Maria G. Molina, and appointed incumdent Marcanthony Sanchez will share...
Read More »
LANCASTER – The Lancaster City Council voted Tuesday to accept the resignation of Council Member Sherry Marquez and declare a vacant council seat. “It’s not going to be the same without her,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “I’m going to miss her.” The Mayor’s sentiments were not felt by all at the Council Meeting....
Read More »
“Whether you know it or not, there are more people of color in city government of Lancaster today than in any time in history. And so this perception that people of color are not welcomed or not invited to take part in the leadership is simply wrong. It’s being perpetuated by people who have...
Read More »
PALMDALE – Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, mayoral candidate Maggie Campbell, AV College Board candidate Margaret Chavez and several other candidates have confirmed their attendance at the Meet the Candidates Mixer planned for Tuesday, organizer Patricia Shaw said Monday. The Mixer will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at the...
Read More »
LANCASTER – Council member Sherry Marquez submitted her resignation to city officials Tuesday. Marquez is reportedly stepping down to care for her ailing mother. Her resignation will be accepted by the City Council at its September 13th meeting. Marquez was elected to the Lancaster City Council in April 2008. Her resignation comes seven months...
Read More »
PALMDALE – The nomination period for the Palmdale municipal election closes at 5 p.m. on Friday. The General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Palmdale on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, for the following Officers: Mayor: Full term of two years 2 Members of City Council: Full term of four years The...
Read More »
LANCASTER — Mayor R. Rex Parris left the Lancaster Redevelopment Agency Board last month amidst complaints that his law firm’s purchase of a building in a redevelopment project area violated state law. Tuesday, City Council members appointed Kitty Kit Yee Szeto, an attorney at the R. Rex Parris Law Firm, to the vacant seat....
Read More »
