With incumbent Supervisor Sheila Kuehl signaling she won’t run for reelection, former Santa Monica Mayor and Assemblymember Richard Bloom has indicated he will run for Kuehl’s Third District County Supervisor seat.
“Supervisor Kuehl has been and will continue to be a champion of progress on the Board of Supervisors. Her impact has been profound and her legacy as a State Legislator and Supervisor will bring benefits long into the future,” Bloom said.
“I am running for L.A. County Supervisor because I want to build on Supervisor Kuehl’s progressive legacy and tackle the many critical issues that we face. I will fight for humane solutions to our housing and homelessness crisis. Along with investment in affordable housing, that will mean doubling down on improving our public health, mental health, and justice systems. It also means committing to equitable economic recovery and growth as we strive not to return to ‘business as usual’ but to create a more just LA County with opportunity for all. And, of course, I will continue to be a champion for addressing the causes of the climate crisis, holding polluters accountable, and for preserving and improving our natural open spaces.”
By the time Khuel’s term expires, the district represented by the next supervisor may look different than the one she currently serves. By August, an independent redistricting commission will redraw the Board of Supervisor district lines. Nonetheless, despite the uncertainty, Bloom is moving ahead with his campaign.
Bloom previously served as the state representative for Assembly District 50, which includes Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, and other westside neighborhoods that also fall within the County’s Third District. As a Santa Monica City Councilmember from 1999 to 2012, Bloom saw the coastal city through a range of economic conditions. As mayor, he oversaw Santa Monica’s recovery following the Great Recession, pushing to increase jobs and grow Venice’s “Silicon Beach.”
As a councilmember and mayor, Bloom pushed policies and initiatives that sought to protect the environment. He served on the California Coastal Commission, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Board. In the State Assembly, Bloom introduced conservationist legislation that ended performances and breeding of captive orcas. Prior to his time in public services, Bloom practiced family law and served as Executive Director of two non-profits.
