COLIN PARENT TO RUN FOR ASSEMBLY, AKILAH WEBER TO SEEK STATE SENATE SEAT

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By Miriam Raftery

April 6, 2023 (La Mesa) Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber has announced Thursday that she will run for the 39th State Senate seat held by termed-out Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, after Supervisor Nathan Fletcher dropped out of the race amid accusations of sexual misconduct.  

Today, La Mesa City Councilman Colin Parent announced that he will run for Weber’s 79th State Assembly seat.  Since Parent’s term on the Council ends in 2024, his announcement also means La Mesans can expect to have a new face on the City Council after the 2024 elections.

Akilah Weber

“I am pleased to announce my candidacy for state Senate. Since 2021, it has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of the 79th Assembly District,” said Weber.  “As an assemblymember, I have successfully fought to improve access to quality healthcare, strengthen our education system, protect our environment, and further economic prosperity. As state Senator for District 39, I will continue this fight.”

Weber, a Democrat, is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and founder of the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children’s Hospital.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Weber served on the La Mesa City Council, where she filled a vacancy created when her mother, former Assemblymember Shirley Weber, was appointed to serve as Secretary of State. She was the first African-American elected member on the Council, where she worked to implement the city’s climate action plan, also championing formation of a Community Police Oversight Board and the La Mesa task force on homelessness.

In the Assembly, Dr. Weber has authored 12 bills that have been signed into law, including legislation to protect the health of K-12 students, expand access to contraceptive care, keep customer service jobs in California, and improve medical practices for victims of domestic violence. Dr. Weber is the Co-Chair of the Assembly Ethics Committee. 

Dr. Weber grew up in the Oak Park neighborhood of San Diego. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and her medical degree from the University of Rochester Medical School. Dr. Weber completed her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Chicago Cook County Hospital and her fellowship in Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

 Dr. Weber lives in La Mesa with her two boys, Kadir and Jalil

Beginning with the 2024 election, District 39 will include much of central and eastern San Diego, La Mesa, Spring Valley, El Cajon and adjacent areas.

Read more about her candidacy at her website:  https://drakilahweber.com/

Colin Parent

Parent is Vice Mayor of the La Mesa City Council, where he has served as a Councilmember since he was first elected in 2016. On the Council, he has been an advocate for construction of affordable housing, sustsainability, and transit-friendly development

“I am excited to announce my candidacy to represent the people of District 79. I believe that public policy has the power to improve people’s lives, and that elected officials have an obligation to be clear-eyed about what’s not working,” says Parent. “Today, a lot of things aren’t working, and people are continuing to struggle. The California State Assembly is the best place for me to use my experience and knowledge to push for better outcomes for our communities. If elected to the State Assembly, I will be a fierce and effective advocate for our region. I’ve never been afraid to speak truth to power, and to call for change where it’s needed.”

Parent was born and raised in San Diego County. He graduated from Valhalla High School, obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of California, and a Juris Doctorate from the New York University School of Law.

If he wins, Parent will return to Sacramento where he previously served during Governor Jerry Brown’s administration as Director of External Affairs for the California Dept. of Housing and Community Development.  Later, he served as Director of Policy at the San Diego Housing Commission. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel for Circulate San Diego, a nonprofit that advocates for public transit,safe walkable neighborhoods, and affordable homes.

He also co-founded the San Diego Leadership Alliance, a group the prepares young people for civic leadership.  As a board member of the League of Conservation Voters, he chaired the first-ever coalition to grade environmental records of elected officials in the City of San Diego.

He is endorsed by Assemblymembers David Alvarez and Tasha Boerner Horvath, as well as by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Chris Ward. 

Ward says Parent would be “an effective leader in advocating housing and transportation solutions.”  Horvath praises his record of “getting things done” and says he will advance policies to “reduce homelessness, improve local schools, build affordable housing, combat climate change, and lower barriers to college” as well as focus on equity issues.

You can learn more about Parent’s candidacy at his website, www.ColinParent.com.  

 

 

 


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