The Antelope Valley Times

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Harvey to be nominated for potential council vacancy

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Cassandra Harvey
Cassandra Harvey

LANCASTER – Cassandra Harvey will be nominated for the Lancaster City Council seat, which will be vacated if Vice Mayor Ronald Smith wins a seat in the California State Assembly in November, Mayor R. Rex Parris announced at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Parris said he put considerable thought into the appointment of an individual who would best serve the community and add an even greater depth of knowledge and experience to the existing council.

“Cassandra Harvey is an incredible woman with a very impressive background,” stated Parris.  “First and foremost, she is a United States Air Force veteran, who actively served our country.  She is also a never-ending force of influence, inspiration and engagement within the community as she fills her numerous roles as a leader in our city. Representing two city commissions, the Lancaster Housing Authority, and multiple service and educational organizations throughout the Antelope Valley, Cassandra offers a distinct breadth of purpose and perspective to our city’s leadership.”

Harvey has been a resident of Antelope Valley since 1986, and has more than 24 years of business and financial experience in a variety of aerospace positions. Currently, she manages Northrop Grumman’s Process Management and Integration organization at its Palmdale site, supporting the company’s Aerospace Systems sector, as well as the Palmdale Manufacturing Center’s war fighters.

Harvey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation from Southern Illinois University (SIU), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Harvey serves as Vice Chair for the Lancaster Architectural and Design Planning Commission; a City of Lancaster Planning Commissioner; a Lancaster Housing Authority director; and a Lancaster Oversight Board member. She is involved with local school programs, as well as a number of community improvement programs led by various local organizations.

“I am honored to be nominated for this immensely important role,” stated Harvey.  “The city’s purpose is to serve our community. I stand with Mayor Parris and the council members in being committed to a successful future for Lancaster, one of sustainable economic growth and development in the community.”

(Information via press release from the city of Lancaster.)

* Smith is running against attorney Steve Fox for the District 36 seat on the California State Assembly. *

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35 comments for "Harvey to be nominated for potential council vacancy"

  1. Sorry to say he is. Old fearless deputy Smith, as my husband whose a real deputy calls him, is counting on the manipulated vote from the Lancaster City Clerks office to carry the day.

  2. Last time, there was a vacancy, I suggested that the Lancaster city council allow citizens to apply for the vacancy, submit resumes, and speak before the council and then the council could choose the replacement. I also mentioned to the council that they would end up picking whomever they wanted anyway, but, at least, we the citizens could feel we participated in the process.

    • Poor Ron, poor Cassandra and poor Rex. They should stay in their little back room at city hall with their city manager and clerk and hatch their small time plots. Getting out of the cover of darkness doesn’t seem to work very well thse days.

  4. Fox is the second Democrat I will have ever voted for. My wife and I cannot bring ourselves to vote for Smith. Yes, he is that bad. I voted for Smith twice in the past and he had proven himself to be little else than untruthful and just plain self-serving

  5. Can someone tell me what the issues are concerning Mr. Smith? It seems there are recurring mentions as to his veracity as well as his employment as a deputy. We moved here over a year ago and do not know anything regarding the man other than what we read on his web sight.

    • The issue people seem to have with Ron Smith (at least from what I’ve read on this forum) is that he often claims to be a sheriff’s deputy in the sense that he was out fighting criminals on the mean streets, when in fact he was actually a court bailiff.

      I also read a document someone posted here that described a court shootout where Ron Smith ran away to “guard” the back door.

      This is the issue that everyone seems to focus on. Whether this issue has anything to do with Ron Smith’s competency as a State Assemblyman is up for interpretation.

      I have yet to decide between Ron Smith and Steve Fox, and I probably won’t do so until I’m in the booth. My first choice was Tom Lackey and he got booted from the race early.

      • Ron Smith vs Steve Fox

        It looks like the voters have a choice between a trash can full of dog crap and another trash can full of vomit this year!

        • A lot of people bad mouth Fox, but they never say what exactly Steve Fox has done to deserve it. I know when the bond for a Palmdale AVC campus was approved by the voters, Fox fought for it. And then was accused of being contrary on the college board. (the college board took those millions, and built up the Lancaster campus)I guess if you fight for what the people voted for, but the guys in power DON’T want, that makes you bad. Who knew?

    • I will tell you the issues re:Ron Smith. First, he always claims to be a deputy. Smith was an LA County Marshall. The Marshalls were absorbed by the Sheriff’s Department in 1994. Marshalls were never required to go to patrol as deputies are, although they were certainly permitted to if they wanted. Smith chose not to, and never worked a day in his life patrolling the streets of this Valley. Then there is the story of him running from a court room when the $hit was hitting the fan. You would be hard pressed to find ANY deputy in this Valley who has any brotherhood type feelings toward Smith. One woman went so far as writing to the opinion page of the AV Press last weekend, claiming she was tossed out of the rodeo by deputies, for handing out campaign literature. She claims she heard deputies saying if the propaganda was “from Ron Smith’s camp” it would have been OK. I wasn’t there, but I’m going to say here and now this woman is full of crap. She was most likely violating some other rule(s) or she was being disruptive, but like I said above, it would be nearly impossible to find a deputy in this Valley who would toss a woman from the rodeo simply because she wasn’t passing out Ron Smith fliers. No deputies in this Valley would risk that for him. Trust me. On the other hand, go to the 3rd floor of the local courthouse any day of the week, and you will see Steve Fox, looking like a stereotype dirtbag attorney, disheveled, necktie half undone, hair uncombed, etc. He can commonly be seen exiting the men’s bathroom, with one side of his dress shirt un-tucked, the other side tucked in, looking like he just rolled out of bed. We have two crappy choices. I’ll hold my nose and reluctantly vote for Smith, but you make your own choice.

        • The worst you can come up with against Fox is his wardrobe? Sounds like valley voters! Hold your nose and vote for a guy who always dresses slick. Mainly because he thinks he’s channeling Sinatra.
          Smith’s son and wife don’t even like him.
          I’ll take a untucked shirt any day over a pretend cop who spends his time playing ballet with a bunch of 10yr old girls, when he’s not drooling over anything in a skirt!
          Don’t even get me started on the tax payer dollars Smith and the Lancaster city council have blown through! 100’s of millions! And for what? To set his buddy’s up with their own businesses? All subsidized with our tax dollars! Give me a break. Or a badly dressed “anyone but”!

    • trust me with most of what you read about him is true! several years ago there was a recall for Smith because of some shady things that went on in city hall but that fell through because they could not get enough signtures for a recall to happen. after his first term as councilmen he stated he was going to run for assembly and was back by a carpetbager but backed out becuase of the George/Sharon Runner politcal wheel. He is not for the people, just to line his pockets and serve those who have the power in this town!

      • Is recall Ron rewally running? I’ve only seen 1 Smith election sign and it’s probably not his because it says “integrity”.

  6. Like I said. Smith is toast!! His lying, bullying and personal wealth building at taxpayer’s expense has caught up with him.

    • It’s getting close to the election, so maybe the editors of this site will open a Readers speak entry on the propositions and the candidates. Should be a best seller.

  7. Any vote for “I was really a deputy Smith” is a vote for deceit, deception and pocket lining. I’m a Republican and I’ll take Fox over Ron Smith anytime. Better e Democrat than someone of Smith’s ilk.

  8. This person hasn’t done a thing for our community. She is just a token for us minorities, thanks? She stated she didn’t have time now she is going to be a council woman? Sandra show her what a wise, strong, intelligent woman is about, you have earned your seat.

    • I guess you missed this paragraph of the article:

      “Harvey serves as Vice Chair for the Lancaster Architectural and Design Planning Commission; a City of Lancaster Planning Commissioner; a Lancaster Housing Authority director; and a Lancaster Oversight Board member. She is involved with local school programs, as well as a number of community improvement programs led by various local organizations.”

      Mrs. Harvey is not a “token” for “us minorities”, she is a smart successful example for the ENTIRE community.

      BOTH Sandra and Cassandra are strong intelligent leaders who contribute to our community, yet you attempt to pit one against the other. This is divisive and sad. What have you done for this community besides portray yourself as a crab in a barrel on this forum?

      You should be ashamed!!!!

  9. Let the [removed] king appoint everyone and save the $$ spent on that phony odd month election his city clerk plays with.

  10. Another Republican not voting for Ronny recall. Sorry Casandra, no trip to D.C. with Rex for you.

    • It will probably be pretty close this time with the assembly seat. There is a democrat majority in both cities now and enough Republican people are pissed at Ron that they will hold their noses and vote for Steve. If Ron wins it will be by a very slim margin

      • “Democratic majority”, based on what data do you make that claim?

        I’ve seen no data that indicates that the AV has flipped to the Democratic side, do you have a link to Cook survey of political preference?

        • an AV Press article a few weeks ago and it stated that Obama carried both cities in 2008. He carried Palmdale easily and Lancaster by a tiny margin. Lancaster has something like 19,000 registered Dems to 18,000 registered GOPs and the margin in Palmdale is like 25,000 Dems to 21,000 GOPs.

          The article also said that the GOP were still the majority in the AV if you count the rural areas such as Antelope Acres, Acton, QH, Lake LA, Littlerock, Pearblossom, Leona Valley, Lake Elizabeth etc.

          but just because youre registered in a party doesnt mean you vote that way. An example is Linda Jones losing the Assembly race to Steve Knight despite Obama winning the area. I personally know tons of Dems in this valley who vote GOP and will be voting for Romney/Ryan but voted for Obama last time and not for Jones.

          The problem with Ron is that he pissed off lots of GOPs in this valley, maybe enough that Fox will get their vote and surprise everyone.

          Star Mofatt is toast though. she wont win in Santa Clarita or any of the AV neighborhoods west of the 14 freeway and probably only half of those east of the 14 freeway. many local Dems dont like her and dont trust her.

          • I will hold my nose and vote for Deputy Dog Smith, the prospect of Steve Fox in the assembly is just too much to contemplate.

          • I can see people voting for Lackey. I may not agree with him on some of his politics, but he’s a good, honest man whom you can trust.

            But there is NO WAY that I could possibly understand ANYBODY voting for Ron Smith, the self-admitted lap dog of the local power brokers and proven liar.

            @Palmdale_Steve: A vote for Ron is a vote against the community’s interests. May I suggest that you reconsider such reckless partisanship-based loyalty for a bought and paid for politician?

      • I’m a Republican NOT voting for Smith. I believe he’s a proven liar and cheat who should stay in Lancaster so that only a portion of the AV need put up to him.

        • A Fox is what? A true liberal tax and spend Democrat. Like we need more of that in Sacramento?

          Deputy Dog Smith may be all you say, but Fox represents sending someone who is dead wrong on just about every pocketbook issue to Sacramento.

          Look at Fox’s record in any office he’s held in the AV and you’ll find a record that is terrible and disruptive.

          • Pure partisan BS, P_S, and you know it. Fox is a fiscal conservative and that hasn’t changed since before he switched from being a Republican.

    • Any vote for Fox is a vote for an increase in the Democratic majority in the CA Assembly. If you think Democrats have done a good job, by all means give them more of a majority and vote for Fox.

      While Deputy Dog Smith may not be who I’d like to see running, I voted for Lackey, there’s absolutely no way I will vote to increase the power of the Democratic machine in Sacramento.

      Holding my nose, I will vote for Smith.