As politicians play their version of musical chairs, it is having an effect on political races in the San Fernando Valley.
The death of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein prompted Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, to run for the U.S. Senate, which caused Assembly member Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, to run for Schiff’s seat in Congress — leaving her 44th Assembly District without an incumbent.
Likewise, the pending retirement of Rep Tony Cardenas, D-Pacoima, left Assembly District 43 open as its representative, Luz Rivas, decided to run for the congressional seat instead.
In the AD 44th’s March 5 primary contest, the rush to fill the void has drawn eight candidates: six Democrats, one Republican and a candidate with no party preference, Adam Summer, who opted not to participate in this story.
The boundaries of the district were redrawn during statewide redistricting in 2022, and the reshaped 44th now includes Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunland, Tujunga, North Glendale, Montrose, La Crescenta, Shadow Hills, North Hollywood, Burbank, Toluca Lake and Valley Village.
Democrats make up 51% of registered voters, with Republicans at 19% and those not registered with any party at 24%. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election in November.
The candidates were given questions to answer in an email. Some preferred to be interviewed. In some instances, the candidate’s website statements were used. Here’s what they said:
Elen Asatryan (D)
Asatryan, 42, is a businesswoman and a member of the Glendale City Council.
She’s running on her experience as a city council member and if elected would be the first Armenian woman to serve in the California state legislature.
As a council member, she touted her “proactive approach” to the housing crisis by connecting social workers to the unhoused, resulting in one of the lowest number of homeless compared to neighboring cities. To expand these policies in Sacramento, she would work to expedite access to shelter and services for the homeless.
“For some families in Los Angeles, it takes them anywhere between four to six weeks to get temporary housing. We need to streamline and expedite our resources,” she wrote.
She noted she worked with the Glendale Police Department to create a more diverse police force and helped the department to better understand the Armenian-American community. She was also supportive of the group Black In Glendale and helped them organize a candlelight vigil, she wrote.
On environmental issues, she was against expansion of the city’s Grayson Power Plant. If elected, she wouldexpand rebate programs for converting fossil fuel energy into green power, such as solar. She also would provide support for solar energy in multi-family buildings, she wrote.
She is a champion of women’s reproductive rights. Asatryan is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project L.A. County Action Fund, L.A. County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian and state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge.
Ed Han (D)
Han is a former military prosecutor and serves as a judge advocate in the Air Force Reserve. He teaches legal research and writing at UCLA School of Law. Previously, he worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California.
He emphasized his experience in fighting crime, and mentioned the proliferation of break-ins, gun violence and Fentanyl-related deaths. “I spent seven years as a federal prosecutor where I worked to get guns off our streets and prosecuted corruption cases,” he wrote.
He received an endorsement from the California Police Chiefs Association.
On homelessness, he said housing supply is a critical need. “We must address the housing crisis and dramatically increase the supply of houses, including affordable housing,” he wrote.
He said he will support abortion rights, protect our democracy and help small businesses. “I’ve dedicated my life to serving others, and that’s what we need in Sacramento,” he wrote.
Carmenita Helligar (D)
Helligar is a businesswoman and a nonprofit director and resides in Burbank. She serves on the Burbank Chamber of Commerce board. Helligar was Rep. Adam Schiff’s Woman of the Year in 2022 and in 2023 was named Distinguished Woman by Portantino. She is a member of the Black Women’s Democratic Club.
Here are her views on some issues as stated on her campaign website: On the state’s housing crisis: “I will actively work towards implementing policies that address the root causes of skyrocketing housing costs. This includes supporting initiatives for affordable housing, promoting responsible development, and collaborating with local stakeholders to find innovative solutions.”
In a written response to questions, Helligar said she supports universal healthcare for all parents, regardless of economic status, adding: “Universal childcare and dependent care would drastically help the economy in California.”
On the environment: Helligar writes she will advocate science-based policies to combat climate change and promote renewable energy. To reduce heat islands in cities, she wrote: “The removal of asphalt and planting of trees and gardens in our schools has been passed in our state Senate; it also needs to be passed in the state Assembly.”
She’s concerned about the state’s water quantity. “A large portion of our water supply goes to growing alfalfa. It should be illegal to grow here just like in other countries,” she wrote.
Steve Pierson (D)
Pierson, 52, a resident of Valley Village, is an entertainment media engineer and a SAG-AFTRA union member.
He will work to support the entertainment industry, he wrote. “I will push to expand our film tax credits and work to bring entertainment jobs back to California,” he wrote. “I will be a fierce advocate for keeping film industry jobs in California.”
He wants to see changes in the state tax structure to create new revenue streams and fix the “boom and bust” state budget cycle. One way is to modify the property tax laws by adding “a split roll property tax assessment that treats commercial real estate differently than homes,” he wrote.
On healthcare, Pierson supports a single-payer system, saying, “I will sign up as a co-author on the bill to establish CalCare, California’s Medicare For All plan.” Pierson will also fight to enroll more residents into the Affordable Care Act and MediCal.
He supports legislation for more temporary and permanent supportive housing. “As we look toward the future, we need to expand supportive housing that is geared toward our unhoused neighbors who face mental illnesses, substance use, and financial insecurity. As a young man, I struggled with substance abuse and dropped out of college to enter rehab. I was lucky to get the support I needed,” he wrote.
He says he won’t take donations from fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance companies and law enforcement groups. “I will be raising money through individual donations and grassroots organizations such as labor unions, environmental organizations, Democratic clubs and social justice PACs,” he wrote.
He was endorsed by the California Teachers Association, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, and former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Adam Pryor (D)
Pryor, a server from Sherman Oaks, could not be reached. His campaign website includes his stances on many issues. On homelessness, he advocates more wraparound services such as drug rehabilitation programs, educational support and mental health counseling. He wants to make it easier for developers to build affordable housing.
If elected he states that he would propose a reduction in the gas tax “to alleviate the financial strain on everyday Californians.” He also favors passing “comprehensive pro-family legislation such as paid family leave and a child tax credit.”
He supports universal healthcare that would provide coverage for every Californian, regardless of income.
Tony Rodriguez (R)
Rodriguez, 63, a construction manager who lives in Tujunga, has spent 26 years in the Army, retiring in 2005.
He calls himself “a very moderate Republican,” in the style of President John Kennedy, he said. “Regardless of party lines, we have to do the right thing. We have to work together.”
When not working, he volunteers with Voices of LAPD and does neighborhood cleanups. He was opposed to a condominium complex at the Verdugo Hills Golf Course.
If elected, he wants to work on increasing school choice for parents. And he believes that educators and school districts need to do a better job reaching out to parents, caregivers and students. “There should be transparency between the schools and the parents,” he said during an interview.
He favors more law enforcement in the district and is a big advocate of better training for police officers. “We need to make sure our officers are trained properly,” he said.
On homelessness, he wants an audit of Measure H and Proposition HHH funding. “We need to find out what happened to all that money and who it helps. We don’t know if it is helping or not. We need transparency as to where that money went,” Rodriguez said.
He signed a pledge saying he would not raise taxes. “I don’t think we need to raise taxes,” he said.
Nick Schultz (D)
Schultz, 35, is mayor of Burbank and a deputy attorney general.
He called homelessness “the great humanitarian crisis unfolding on the streets” and advocated support programs, case management and housing. While serving on the Burbank City Council, he said he’s helped the city reduce its unhoused population. “We should push for a shelter and wrap-around services in every California community to address this crisis,” he wrote.
He will use his experience in the Attorney General’s office to put forward policies that deter crime, but also created rehabilitation programs and equity in the criminal justice system, he wrote.
In addressing state budget deficits, he wants to close tax loopholes and scale back non-essential budget items but preserve funding for education, public safety and state workers. He advocates strong support for the local entertainment industry.
“I believe far too many Californians are left behind. I will also work to raise wages, address deep poverty, encourage investment in emerging technology, support organized labor and explore new incentives for entrepreneurship,” he wrote.
He was endorsed by Assembly member Laura Friedman, the outgoing holder of the seat, as well as numerous labor unions, including the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO).
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2024 Election: California Assembly districts 34, 39, 40, 42, 46, 51 and 55
2024 presidential primary election
Election Day: March 5, 2024. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Early voting: You can vote at the Los Angeles County registrar’s office beginning Monday, Feb. 5. The registrar’s headquarters are at 12400 Imperial Highway, Room 3002, in Norwalk. That office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Vote-by-mail: Ballots began going out Feb. 1. You can submit VBMs in three ways: By mailing them to the registrar’s office (VBMs include return envelopes with the correct address and postage already included); by placing them in an official drop box; or by dropping them off at any county Vote Center.
VBM deadline: VBMs sent via mail must arrive no later than seven days after the election, but they must be postmarked by March 5. The deadline to place VBMs in a drop box or deliver them to a Vote Center is 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Vote Centers: Vote Centers open 10 days before Election Day. This year, that’s Saturday, Feb. 24. You can vote at any Vote Center in Los Angeles County. Prior to Election Day, the Vote Centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, they will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
About the ballots: In California, the order races are listed on ballots goes from local to federal, meaning the nominees for president will be listed at the bottom. Except for presidential races, California’s primaries for “partisan” offices – now known as “voter-nominated offices” have a top-two system. That means the top two vote getters in a given race advance to the general election, regardless of political party.
To find a drop box or Vote Center and for more information: lavote.gov.
Name of race
State Assembly District 44
Candidates: The candidates are: Elen Asatryan, D; Ed Han, D; Carmenita Helligar, D; Steve Pierson, D; Adam Pryor, D; Nick Schultz, D; Tony Rodriguez, R; Adam Summer, NPP.
Term length: two years
District boundaries: Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunland, Tujunga, North Glendale, Montrose, La Crescenta, Shadow Hills, North Hollywood, Burbank, Toluca Lake and Valley Village.
Registered voters: 327,670
Key issues: homelessness, crime and public safety, state budget, entertainment jobs, schools, healthcare
Information: lavote.gov