The front entrance of Carson City Hall. Photo by Iracema Navarro.
By Iracema Navarro, Politics Editor, and Brenda Fernanda Verano, News Editor
This year’s election in the city of Carson is historic, as it is the first municipal election in which city council candidates will represent districts, as opposed to being elected at-large.
One of the four city districts is District I, North Carson, which is where California State University, Dominguez Hills is located. It features current
city councilmember Jawane Hilton, CSUDH professor Charles Thomas and attorney Vincent Kim.
The shift to at-large elections for city council was spurred by a 2019 lawsuit on behalf of the Southwest Voters Registration Education Project.
The lawsuit alleged the city was in violation of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 by having at-large elections.
On Aug. 4 of this year, the council, in a 3-2 vote, approved changing the city from at-large to district voting in the Carson municipal elections.
The upcoming elections will determine the mayor and city council members for District 1 and 3. District 2 and 4 will be decided in the 2022 elections. Elections for the positions of mayor, city clerk, and city treasurer will continue to be voted at-large.
Here is a quick look at the candidates campaigning to provide a direct representation for District 1 for the city of Carson.
Charles Thomas
Age: 49
Professional occupation: Attorney/ College professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills
Time lived in the city of residence: 16 years
What would you bring to the city council that sets you apart from the other candidates?
I am both a licensed attorney and educator on the CSUDH campus. Moreover, my practice area is Real Estate transactions, which is also where I focus my scholarship. I also have experience serving on the Carson Planning Commission from 2015-2018 and over a decade in Commercial Real Estate Finance. This combination of skills and experience set me apart from the other candidates.
Do you support the proposed increase in sales tax in Carson,Measure K?
As currently written, I do not support an additional tax on our residents during a pandemic. The pandemic has economic consequences that include strains to childcare and often job loss. Adding an additional tax at this time is inappropriate. I believe it was intended to be a “trigger tax” which would have become effective only if the County or State raised tax rates, to ensure that any additional tax would go to benefit the people of Carson. Unfortunately, that is not what is before the voters. For this reason, I am against it.
What can the city do to minimize the projected second wave of COVID-19 cases?
The City could strongly consider piloting a grocery delivery service for residents. This would serve two important goals – first it would provide our seniors and others vulnerable to COVID-19 the ability to order groceries and have them delivered without leaving their homes. Secondly, it would provide important data on the viability of a grocery delivery model for luring a smaller-scale grocer like Yummy.com.
What are your thoughts on the relationship between the city of Carson and CSUDH?
There are missed opportunities for true collaboration between CSUDH and the City of Carson. The City seems to forget the DH campus exists and fails to leverage the campus resources like the Innovation Incubator, that offers local entrepreneurs the space to explore company feasibility and/or growth. Similarly, CSUDH fails to take a “thought leader” position in Carson. The University wants to expand into lifelong learning and building a presence in the minds of Carson residents would be essential to achieving those goals.
What is the biggest issue facing the city of Carson?
Not only do I have a vision for smart growth, I have the plans to implement them too. What I propose in this City is “Inclusive Zoning Policy” – which in a few words, recognizes the charge higher density has on our parks, roads and infrastructure – and demands that developers contribute in meaningful ways. We currently have no policies or regulations in place in this regard. Similarly, we must fight to protect mobile homeowners. This is a housing policy rooted in helping the current residents of Carson.
What is an issue facing District 1?
District #1’ s largest issue is access to quality grocery store options. The only full-service grocery store is Walmart Neighborhood Market at Avalon and Del Amo. Many residents travel several miles, often outside the City, to go grocery shopping.
As a Carson Planning Commissioner, we approved a retail project at the corner of University and Central that includes a 14,000 sq.ft. footprint for a grocery store. However, to get it built, we need an entrepreneurial mindset in making the economic case to grocery chains along with a grassroots campaign to demonstrate what the local residents want.
What can the city of Carson do to address the systemic racism in this country?
This is an elusive goal for any community. Legislation has limits in changing the souls of their residents. We should spend our time better understanding systems of oppression that create systemic racism. I believe in the adage, “when you know better, you do better.” There is far more that unites us than separates us as human beings. I urge to stress understanding and communication as essential to the work of dismantling systemic racism.
Jawane Hilton (Incumbent)
Age: 40
Professional Occupation: Carson Councilmember
Time Lived in city of residence: 40 years
What would you bring to the city council that sets you apart from the other candidates?
I’m on the frontline. I know only exactly what’s going on in the community. I don’t just come out during election time. I’m out every day, walking amongst the people. I know exactly what the community needs, I know exactly what the community wants. I’ve been the voice for the residence and I believe that distinguishes me from everyone. You will not find a more approachable and accessible candidate than councilman Jawane Hilton. Everybody knows that if there is an issue, they can reach out to the councilman and it can be rectified.
Do you support the proposed increase in sales tax in Carson, Measure K?
I want to let the people decide. It is a tax, I do believe, living in a difficult moment as far as financially. We’re at the age of maybe a great recession or a depression. However, the only reason why we put it on the ballot was to let the people decide because if the county comes behind us and puts a tax, they will get that tax money not the city.
What can the city do to minimize the projected second wave of COVID-19 cases?
I think the main thing that we can do is practice our social distancing. Make sure we increase our testing locations and test in sites in the community. All that we can do is make sure that we open slow and not just make it about people struggling and anything like that. We have to kind of open, open back up slow. A lot of members say just open up but we can’t do that because the science is saying there’s going to be the third wave.
What are your thoughts on the relationship between the city of Carson and CSUDH?
I’ve partnered with Cal State Dominguez Hills on a number of issues. Even was instrumental in helping them achieve their green light to make sure that they did everything the city attempted to see the university but I was one who spoke with the president and I know how valuable the university is to the city as a whole but they’ll be extremely valuable to District 1.
What is the biggest issue facing the city of Carson?
One of the issues that the city is facing is balancing the budget after COVID. Most of the small businesses are currently on life support. It’s going to take the city to make sure there that we put proper funding mechanisms placed to help businesses whether it is to streamline, the process of business finance, helping them be able to have pop places opening up outside of their business. The city has to do major work in order to keep our small businesses and help our small businesses grow.
What is an issue facing District 1?
The district has direct representation, they will have someone to hold completely accountable for what is going on in the district. I will be able to focus more on my area, of course, I will still represent the city at large.
I have to say the food desert that we are attempting to address. The food desert here in North Carson, there’s not a quality grocery store that sells fresh fruits and fresh vegetables in District 1. I mean we do have the Walmart Neighborhood Store but they don’t sell all the quality things that people may need. One of the biggest things that we need to address is the food dessert.
What can the city of Carson do to address the systemic racism in this country?
We have to make sure that we are informed with the community police. I personally held a rally and a march against systematic racism. One of the things Carson can do is make sure that we have a community partnership with the police because that’s the bulk to make sure we have policies that will address the systematic racism within the city of Carson.
Vincent Kim
Age: 65
Professional Occupation: Attorney at Law
Time lived in city of residence: Two years
What would you bring to the city council that sets you apart from the other candidates?
First, I’m going to listen to the people. So that means I will reflect all people’s opinions and complaints to the policy of the city council.
Do you support the proposed increase in sales tax in Carson,Measure K?
I oppose because my intention is, if elected, what I am going to do first is the economic growth of Carson. So I am going to attract many businesses to Carson because I heard many complaints from the voters so I am going to attract many businesses and increase the revenues. So, by increasing the revenues, I think we don’t have to pay higher taxes.
What can the city do to minimize the projected second wave of COVID-19 cases?
We have to take every cautious measure to prevent the COVID-19 and as a city we will implement all the policies following the city, state, and COVID-19 measures.
What are your thoughts on the relationship between the city of Carson and CSUDH?
I think it is very very important to have a good relationship with the school because that’s our resources for the young people to have a job in Carson and then they can grow their opportunity in Carson. Also the school, the relationship will need to be very close to Carson so we can try to bring good students.
What is the biggest issue facing the city of Carson?
I think we have a fiscal deficit in the Carson revenues. We have to work on it, we have to make a plan.
What is an issue facing District 1?
I think it is an entire city issue. District 1 and the whole city, the fiscal deficit is the issue. We have to have a beneficial fiscal year instead of a deficit year.
What can the city of Carson do to address the systemic racism in this country?
Well you know, I choose Carson because it is a diverse community and all the races are kind of evenly distributed. That means Carson needs some kind of unity and I think Carson can be an example. The city united with all kinds of people can be an example everywhere in the United States.
