The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a high school student for the District 4 seat on the Redondo Beach City Council.
Julian Stern, 18, nearly ran as a write-in candidate for the March 5 municipal election. Because he was only 17 at the time of the filing period, it was unclear whether he could legally file the paperwork he needed to get on the ballot.
Ultimately, he was allowed to file. Stern's name will be on the ballot.
Don Szerlip, who chairs the Chamber of Commerce's candidate political action committee, called Stern "the best candidate" for District 4.
"We are giving him our unqualified endorsement and support," Szerlip said Thursday afternoon at a news conference.
Stern, who is currently a student at Environmental Charter High in Lawndale, has received the endorsement of Redondo Beach District 5 Councilman Matt Kilroy, former Mayor Greg Hill and former school board member Carl Clark, Szerlip said.
"Belying his age, Julian displays a mature demeanor and is relaxed and respectful in conversation with business executives, government officials and constituents alike," the chamber said in a news release. "There is little doubt that, if elected, Julian will invest his time and energies to guide the City's future in a positive direction."
For his part, Stern said his goal is to focus on the city's efficiency, quality of life, transparency, responsiveness and economic development.
"In order for a city to be prosperous, in order for a city to be a destination, in order to tackle any issue faced in the city, the city must first have a strong economic base on which to stand," Stern said in prepared remarks at the news conference. "Let's keep this city on the right track and not let it deviate."
According to the Chamber of Commerce, businesses in District 4—including those along Artesia Boulevard and in the South Bay Galleria—generate more than 40 percent of the city's sales tax revenues.
In addition to its endorsement of Stern, the chamber also announced that it was endorsing Michael Jackson for the District 2 council seat. Jackson and Susan Kowalski are challenging incumbent Councilman Bill Brand for the chance to represent the harbor and pier area, as well as other parts of South Redondo Beach.
"As a small-business owner and a veteran of more than 25 years working in aerospace, Michael's focus is not myopic," the chamber wrote in a news release. "He is looking to restore balance and common sense to City Hall and focus on tackling the issues that local government is supposed to address."
Jackson is also the incoming chairman of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber did not specifically endorse anyone for the District 1 race; however, it recommended Jeff Ginsburg and Kimberly Fine.
For the mayoral race, the chamber recommended the three current councilmen running for mayor—Steve Aspel, Pat Aust and Matt Kilroy. Candidate Eric Coleman was not among the recommendations.
According to Szerlip, the chamber's PAC held multiple meetings to determine its endorsements.
If law had been interpreted correctly, newly registered voter Julian would be voting for one a bonafide candidate.
Additioanlly, if AES rebuilds, they will develop the remaining 38 acres as "mixed use", which is code for condos. So we get a new polluting powerplant AND CONDOS (with a postage sized park). Think of the "heart of the City" scam part 2 in disguise. Second, he is unqualified, a kid with no University education, no working experience, nothing but a high school degree. He HAD the advantage of not having baggage by being corrupted by special interests (as are most politicians), but that has evaporated with the Chamber endorsing him.
The Chamber either has an axe to grind aginst the other two candidates or they really are that stupid. I pay a lot in taxes and politics is a serious business, the Chamber is a joke.
I willI give him kudos for having the guts to run for office, but that is all he should receive. He should go to College or technical degree, or whatever, learn how to critically think, experience life as an adult for a decade, then I will take him seriously. Being a councilman takes serious skills and leadership. He has none of these. His candidacy is just plain silly.
Agreed with the old fart comment. lol Love the fact you are for Measure A. You have my vote for Mayor, plus my wife, and my 180 RB friends!
It seems to me that you have dismissed his running purely on age or who is endorsing him. Or could it be that you don't like his view on the one single issue that you seem to be involved with in the harbor? If you not stuck on this single issue and are interested in having good people on the dais from parts of the city other then just the south end of town you may want to speak to Julian. Thank you.
For my friend Alex, I have to disagree that a college degree makes a person qualified. There are plenty of people with college degrees who lack common sense, and plenty of people without them who are brilliant. That said, I DO believe that "life experience" as an adult is a preferred prerequisite for anyone seeking public office. And even so, that still doesn't mean that a person learned anything from their "life experience." However, I also believe that a person has a better shot at navigating their way through the political muck and mire, facing challenges in working with colleagues, businesses and community members with whom they might not agree, if the candidate has some real, substantive experience dealing with people from a variety of different levels - like homeowner, parent, community organizer/activist, employee, boss, breadwinner, partner/spouse, caregiver, patient, volunteer, etc.
Now who really thinks that Michael Jackson is going to be unbiased representation for the residents when he's the incoming president of the Chamber? THAT is a no brainer. If we want more special interest power running our city and lining the pocketbooks of developers and elected officials, vote for Jackson. Have residents bothered to look at where the majority of his money came from? Definitely not from District 2 families and businesses. Hello? And this is who the Chamber thinks is best. Enough said Nothing against Julian. He'd be better off without the Chamber's endorsement.
Mary Ann Keating
Let's work together to Build a United Redondo Beach instead of a divided Redondo. Thanks again Mary Ann!