AD-50: Lara Is Apparent Frontrunner

Ricardo Lara is an openly gay, Latino candidate for California's 50th Assembly District. The 50th Assembly District is in Los Angeles and contains the entire cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Commerce, Cudahy, Lynwood, South Gate, and Walnut Park. Lara is the District Director for the only openly gay Latino Assemblymember in California history, John Perez who represents the 46th Assembly District. Lara is supported by HONORPAC, the LGBT Latino political action committee in the June 8, 2010 Democratic primary.

UPDATE 09/09/09 17:06 (CORRECTION): Lara is the Communications Director for Assemblymember Kevin DeLeon, in the 45th District, not District Director for Assemblymember Perez in the 46th.

This is interesting, because in 2006 Lara initially ran against his future boss in the 46th District but was convinced to step aide and clear the field for Antonio Villaraigosa's cousin (Perez). However, now that the 50th District seat (currently held by Hector de la Torre) will be an open seat in 2010 the two former rivals appear to have joined forces to double the Latino LGBT representation in the California Assembly.

According to HONRPAC, Lara apparently has raised over $100,000, the most money of the three Democrats declared to be running for the seat, with Carmen Avalos, [UPDATE 09/11/09 18:06 (CORRECTION)] (a de la Torre staffer) (City Clerk of South Gate and Chair of the Cerritos Community College Board of Trustees) his most formidable rival. The other Democrat Art Chacon, is a member of the Central Basin Municipal Water District. FPPC records show Lara with about $70,000 on hand.

MadProfessah will be keeping track of this race very carefully. It's very important that openly LGBT members be elected to replace retiring members of the California LGBT Legislative Caucus, especially people of color which reflects the diversity of California.