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35th State Senate District
Candidate Forum
The 35th District State Senate race sees former Congresswoman Laura Richardson and Compton Councilwoman Michelle Chamber face off in November 2024. Carson Accountability & Transparency and the Carson Chamber of Commerce are proud to give voters an opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the issues important to you. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Christopher R. Hallenbrook, associate professor of political science at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Christopher R. Hallenbrook, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science at CSUDH
Professor Hallenbrook studies political theory with an emphasis on the history of political thought. His primary research focuses on political obligation (our duty to obey the state) in 17th and 18th Century Anglo-American thought. He focuses on the origin of obedience and when the obligation to the state is dissolved, especially in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. He also applies political theory to questions of public policy, including gun control and global climate change.
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Professor Hallenbrook frequently facilitates and comments upon US politics. He was a panelist questioning candidates in a WVIA Congressional Debate for Pennsylvania’s 9th District in 2018 and moderated a candidate forum in Carson, CA in 2022. He’s provided expert interviews to The LA Times, KNX radio, and FOX56 WOLF.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Michelle
Chambers
With over 30 years of public service experience, Michelle Chambers has dedicated her career to creating positive change for our communities. As a City Councilmember, Michelle fought for workers’ rights, better city services, higher wages, safer neighborhoods, and more affordable communities. As an aide to Janice Hahn in Congress, she helped deliver federal services and resources to our community. And as a manager in the California Department of Justice, she worked with communities to improve public safety, protect civil rights, and guarantee reproductive freedom for all.
Chambers comes from a union family and is a former union member herself — so she understands firsthand the power of organized labor and will always fight for working families. Michelle and her husband Todd are both former AFSCME members, her sister is a union nurse, and their father was a 40-year member of the UA Pipefitters
As a Compton City Councilmember, Chambers served on the following Boards and Commissions: The Public Safety Task Force Commission (CA Contract Cities), the Los Angeles County Sanitation Board, Sex Trafficking Task Force, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Los Angeles County Transportation Committee (appointed by Supervisor Holly Mitchell), League of California Cities, Southern California Association of Governments, and CDP 64th Assembly District Delegate.
Laura
Richardson
Laura is a lifelong Democrat. She began her career in public service long before she was ever elected to office. She served as a legislative staffer at the local, state, and federal levels.
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In 2000, Laura was elected to serve on the Long Beach City Council. After six years, she would go on to serve in the California State Assembly, representing the 55th District. Unfortunately, while serving in the Assembly, her mentor and former boss, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, suddenly passed away, and Laura was asked to run for her seat in the House of Representatives. Laura ran a successful campaign that appealed to the residents of the 37th Congressional District and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007, where she served three terms before redistricting significantly altered California’s congressional map, resulting in the loss of African American representation for the first time in decades.
Throughout her time in public office, Laura worked hard and earned a reputation for bringing money and resources into her district. She’s proud of her legislative record and her committed staff that worked to resolve resident casework for disabilities and social security that changed lives.
Laura currently lives in San Pedro, where she is still involved in the community and continues working to empower residents, better neighborhoods, and enhance local businesses and the economy.