Former New Frontier president runs for City Council in 2015

Veteran Los Angeles community activist and former New Frontier Democratic Club President Bobbie Jean Anderson has earned the endorsements of incumbent City Councilman Bernard C. Parks and Congresswoman Maxine Waters in her bid for the 8th District City Council Seat in 2015. “I am running because I was asked to run, I was sought out,” Anderson told the Sentinel during an exclusive interview on Monday March 3. “Councilman Parks called me and informed me that people had unanimously suggested that I would be the best person to succeed him.” Parks will be termed out as 8th District Council member.

Anderson filed to run for the seat in September 2013.

“After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that Bobbie Jean Anderson is the best candidate to preside over the 8th council district in 2015 because of her long time residency, strong ties to the Democratic Party, and her very courageous representation of the district during the redistricting process,” explained Councilmember Parks.

She is a former three-term New Frontier president from 2000-2002 and current Trustee of the prestigious club.

Anderson first became prominent in 1989 when she joined several homeowners who were victims of eminent domain due to the expansion of the I-110 freeway.

Contesting that Caltrans was dealing in bad faith with the owners, Anderson along with then Assemblywoman Waters, led 150 homeowners to fight for fair market values of their homes and appropriate relocation benefits for tenants.

The event catapulted Anderson into the community and political activist that she is today.

Subsequently she earned the appointment to the LAPD Commission in 1993 by late Mayor Tom Bradley and was reappointed by Mayor Richard Riordan.

Recently she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Barbering and Cosmetology Board in October 2012.

She has also been elected Delegate to the five Democratic National Conventions beginning in 1992 and ending in 2012.

She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party; trustee and past three-term President of New Frontier and currently serves as Communication and Publicity Chair.

A retiree of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office 2003 and retired Field Representative for Assemblyman Mike Davis-48th District, Anderson has been a resident of the 8th District for more than 30 years.

Anderson ran unsuccessfully for the California State Assembly in 1996 that was won by Rod Wright and while this will be her second contest for public office, she has received the rare support of the incumbent.

“I am excited and honored to even be considered by Councilmember Parks to replace him on the city council. He has done many great things in South L.A. and I am humbled by his trust in me to preserve his legacy and continue to make sure that South L.A. gets its fair share of city services.”