Democratic Club

by Mary Larson

LW contributor

Leisure World voters are now in CA Senate District 36. This newly redrawn district encompasses all of coastal Orange County, including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. It also goes inland to include cities like Fountain Valley, Westminster, Garden Grove, Cypress and Buena Park. Huntington Beach is the largest city in the district.

This reconfiguration means that beginning in January 2023 Democrat Tom Umberg will not be the Leisure World representative in the California Senate, even if he wins re-election. He will be running in the 2022 Primary in the newly configured California Senate District 34. Democrat Kim Carr has announced that she will run for election in the 36th District. She is expected to get wide support, including from members of the SBLW Democratic Club.

Carr was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2018 and served as mayor in 2021. She is a third-generation Southern Californian. She has been active in local government for over a decade, including serving as a Public Works commissioner and member of the General Plan Advisory Board.

Carr has received praise for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic and innovative solutions to aid small businesses. She was a critical part of the response team that protected the wetlands and wildlife when an oil spill occurred off the coast of Huntington Beach. Carr also serves on the boards for a number of other government agencies as well as numerous local nonprofit organizations.

So far, the only candidate running against Carr in the 36th District race is Republican Janet Nguyen, the current representative in the Assembly. To date, the only known candidate to replace Nguyen in what will still be the 72nd Assembly District is Republican Diane Dixon, a Newport Beach Councilwoman. ••• LW Democrats and supporters can subscribe to the club’s free electronic newsletter to receive more information about candidates in other races and other issues. Email democraticclubsblw@gmail.