Former State Senator Connie Leyva Endorses Dr. Phlunté Riddle for California State Assembly District 41

Former State Senator Connie Leyva has endorsed Phlunté Riddle for Assembly District 41.

“As a working mom and now grandma, Dr. Phlunté Riddle knows the way to create safer and healthier communities is through access to quality education, better wages, housing, and clean air and water. I am proud to endorse Phlunté because she will be the strong voice working families need in our State Capitol,” said Leyva.

Leyva served in the California State Senate from 2014-2022 and chaired the Senate Education Committee. While serving in Sacramento, she fiercely advocated for working people and pushed for legislative solutions that created more equitable educational and career opportunities for all Californians. She led the fight for women’s rights, having passed our state’s most consequential legislation addressing sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination.

“I have long admired Senator Connie Leyva’s tenacity and fierce advocacy for women, students, and working families. Her work to expand abortion access, increase career technical education, and help families stay in their homes are issues I will champion as an Assemblymember,” said Riddle.

Dr. Riddle has received endorsements from Assemblymember Chris Holden, State Treasurer State Treasurer Fiona Ma, LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, Claremont City Councilmember Jennifer Stark, Pasadena Unified School Board President Michelle Richardson Bailey, Pasadena Unified School Board Member Dr. Yarma Velázquez Vargas, Burbank Unified School Board Member Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, Pasadena City College Trustee Sandra Chen Lau, Pasadena City College Trustee Tammy Silver, Pasadena City College Trustee James Osterling, Citrus College Trustee Cheryl Alexander, LA Community College Trustee Nichelle Henderson, Inglewood Mayor Jim Butts, Former Pasadena Mayor William Paparian, University of La Verne President Deborah Lieberman, Former Pasadena Unified School Board Member Elizabeth Pomeroy, Pasadena City Commissioner Jon Fuhrman, Pasadena City Commissioner Brandon Lamar, Former Monrovia Mayor Lara Larramendi, Pasadena Unified School District Principal and Teacher Delano Yarbrough (Ret.), Pasadena Unified School District Counselor Samella Yarbrough (Ret.).

Riddle spent nearly 30 years at the Pasadena Police Department, moving through the ranks as a patrol officer, detective, and community liaison. 

She broke barriers when she became the first African American female sergeant, lieutenant, and then sworn Adjutant to the Chief of Police in the history of the Pasadena Police Department.

In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her as a Board of Juvenile Discharge Hearings Commissioner with California’s Division of Juvenile Justice, which the California Senate confirmed with a 39-0 vote. 

Riddle owns a consulting company, where she trains executives helping them to solve generational communications challenges within organizations.

Dr. Riddle served the Foothill communities as Assemblymember Chris Holden’s District Director. She helped him expand the College and Career Access Pathways program that allows high school students to take college and vocational training courses. Together, she and Assemblymember Holden pursued solutions that work for expanding the Gold Line, mental health services, public safety, and cleaner energy.

Assembly District 41 is located in eastern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, including the San Gabriel Valley communities of Pasadena, Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, San Dimas, La Verne, and Claremont and Inland Empire communities of Upland, Phelan, Lytle Creek, Rancho Cucamonga, Wrightwood, and Hesperia.

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D) has held this seat since 2012 and is term-limited in 2024. In 2022, he won the district with 60% of the vote.