Councilmember Williams Kicks Off Campaign for State Assembly

[Updated] Telling supporters that her goal was to represent a diverse range of communities in the district, Pasadena Councilmember Felicia Williams kicked off her campaign Tuesday for the 41th State Assembly District to replace current Assemblymember Chris Holden, who has reached his term limit. 

Among the guests and supporters were retired Pasadena Police Chief Jason Clawson,  PUSD Board member Jennifer Hall Lee, PCC Trustee Tammy Silver, Fire Chief Chad Augustin, and State Senator Anthony Portantino. 

“I’ve known Felicia for the last decade,” said former Chief Clawson, “and I lived in her district, and she supported us, and it’s time to give back that support.”

State Senator Portantino offered, “I’ve always been impressed with her. I mean, she went to Stanford, she is extremely talented, and this district needs somebody with that intelligence, and this is a great district. I represent a big chunk of it , and it demands that we have great leadership, and she fits the bill. 

Portantino continued, “I think the 41st District needs a successor  to Mr. Holden who is going to meet the demand and be equal to the talent and the intelligence of the District.” 

Williams, who changed her political party affiliation from Democrat to “No Party Preference” in 2020, has been criticized for voting against “hero pay” for supermarket workers during the pandemic.

She also agreed, in a unanimous vote with the rest of the City Council, that the Council as a body should remain neutral on a rent control initiative which eventually passed. Her critics claim she opposed Measure H, but Pasadena Now could not find any statement by Williams “on the record” opposing Measure H.

Pasadena Now did locate statements by Mayor Victor Gordo, Andy Wilson and John Kennedy opposing Measure H and Councilmembers Jess Rivas and Jason Lyon supporting the initiative.

Williams also voted in favor, along with the majority of the City Council, of directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance that would have allowed local candidates to raise unlimited funds. The issue went to Legislative Policy, where opponents came out en masse against unlimited campaign financing.

The ordinance never came back to the City Council and the state-mandated limits were imposed.

Williams told Pasadena Now she changed her party designation “to better serve all of her constituents equally, especially given the increasing polarization in the Country. Picking up trash and building parks are not political, nor should they be.”

Williams said she re-registered as a Democrat in 2022 after listening to concerns.

“These issues are extremely complex and every step of the way I have been thoughtful and listened to everybody. Leadership means making difficult decisions, not taking the easy way out. I am proud of my record and I am here for everyone, whether we agree or disagree. That is democracy!”

Williams cited her work with the City Council’s unanimous decision Monday to set a policy goal of 100% carbon-free power by the end of 2023. 

Williams said she spoke with City staff members to create an “affordable solution that we could live with, and we worked it out, and that’s democracy.” 

Williams elaborated, saying, “For a number of voting decisions on the city council, whenever we try to make a decision, a lot of times our hands are tied by the state, whether it’s housing, homelessness, land, use, or the environment. There’s a lot of state legislation that has unintended consequences. 

“And part of the reason why I’m running,” she continued, “is to bring a little more thoughtfulness and deliberation to our legislation so that we can have balanced legislation, and that also does not go to extremes.”

California’s 41st State Assembly district is one of 80 California State Assembly districts, and  encompasses most of the San Gabriel Mountains and various foothill communities. The district is anchored by Pasadena, its largest and westernmost city.

The next state election is March 5, 2024.