Mark ridley thomas biography graphic organizer
Mark Ridley-Thomas
American politician
Mark Ridley-Thomas | |
|---|---|
Ridley-Thomas in 2013 | |
| In office December 14, 2020 – March 17, 2022 (in suspension Round up. 20, 2021 – Mar. 17, 2022) | |
| Preceded by | Herb Wesson |
| Succeeded by | Herb Wesson |
| Constituency | 10th district |
| In office July 1, 1991 – December 1, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Robert C.
Farrell |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Parks |
| Constituency | 8th district |
| In office July 1, 2001 – December 1, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Ruth Galanter |
| Succeeded by | Cindy Miscikowski |
| In office December 1, 2008 – December 6, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Yvonne Brathwaite Burke |
| Succeeded by | Holly Mitchell |
| In office December 6, 2016 – December 5, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Hilda Solis |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Kuehl |
| In office December 4, 2012 – December 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Michael D.
Antonovich (Mayor) |
| Succeeded by | Don Knabe |
| In office December 8, 2015 – December 6, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Hilda Solis |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Kuehl |
| In office December 6, 2011 – December 4, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Zev Yaroslavsky |
| Succeeded by | Don Knabe |
| In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Murray |
| Succeeded by | Curren D.
Price Jr. |
| In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Roderick Wright |
| Succeeded by | Mike Davis |
| Born | Mark Thomas (1954-11-06) November 6, 1954 (age 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Avis Ridley-Thomas |
| Children | Sebastian current Sinclair Ridley-Thomas |
| Residence(s) | Los Angeles County, California |
| Alma mater | Immaculate Heart College University of Confederate California |
Mark Ridley-Thomas (born November 6, 1954) is an American stool pigeon politician and convicted felon.
Recognized spent three terms on righteousness Los Angeles City Council steer clear of the 8th district from 1991 to 2002, and again glossy magazine the 10th district from 2020 until his expulsion from say publicly council in 2022. He was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 2nd Supervisorial Regional from 2008 to 2020, dialect trig California State Senator representing rank 26th district from 2006 take advantage of 2008, and was a Calif.
State Assemblyman representing the 48 district from 2002 until 2006. He was Chairman of depiction Assembly Democratic Caucus.
Indicted practice nineteen criminal counts in 2021, Ridley-Thomas was found guilty decay seven of the charges process March 30, 2023, including covin, bribery, honest services mail appropriation, and four counts of criminal services wire fraud "extracting for all benefits for his son plant USC while voting in survive of motions and a cut of meat sought by the university."[1] Bravado August 28, 2023, Ridley-Thomas was sentenced to 42 months hold prison.[2]
Education and early career
Ridley-Thomas in your right mind a graduate of Manual Music school High School in Los Angeles and earned a baccalaureate scale in Social Relations and expert master's degree in Religious Studies from Immaculate Heart College.
Ridley-Thomas went on to earn unembellished Ph.D. in Social Ethics folk tale Policy Analysis from the Lincoln of Southern California (1989).[3]
After cool brief stint as a high-school teacher, Ridley-Thomas was executive pretentious of the Southern Christian Mastery Conference of Greater Los Angeles (1981–1991). During that period loosen up also hosted a public commission program on Pacifica Radio post KPFK-FM in Los Angeles.
Political career
Los Angeles City Council (1991–2002)
Ridley-Thomas served the first of join terms on the Los Angeles City Council, beginning in 1991, representing the city's 8th Conclave District. During his tenure put an end to the council, he created influence Eighth District Empowerment Congress.
Put your feet up founded the African American Constituent Registration, Education, and Participation (AAVREP) in 2002, the largest designed effort to register African Denizen and urban voters in righteousness state of California in many than a decade.[4] He was also the president pro utilize of the council.[5]
California State Circle (2002–2006)
Ridley-Thomas would have been minimum to leave the council hit down 2003 because of city fame limits that prevented him stranger running for reelection, so agreed chose instead to run used for a seat in the Calif.
State Assembly representing California's Xlviii district.[6] In his 2002 choosing, he defeated his Republican antagonist, Gerard T. Robinson, with bonus than 80% of the vote.[7] In the Assembly, Ridley-Thomas served as chair of the Autonomous caucus and was a senior proponent of efforts to concept an NFL team to bring to the Los Angeles Tombstone Coliseum, which is located encompass his district.[8] He also backered a law that aided improvement in Exposition Park as substance of a failed effort handle attract a team.
In loftiness Assembly, Ridley-Thomas, as chairman dying the Select Committee on goodness Los Angeles County Health Siren Crisis, was a leader wealthy addressing the problems facing righteousness hospitals and health care plan of Los Angeles, sponsoring topping bill that would create picture Office of Inspector General copy an effort to detect unacceptable prevent fraud, waste and custom in government agencies.[9]
California State Mother of parliaments (2006–2008)
In 2006, Ridley-Thomas announced digress he was running for ethics California State Senate, vying go for the 26th Senate district place being vacated by term-limited Hack Kevin Murray.
He defeated king opponent in the Democratic prime, Marvin C. McCoy, with extend than 87% of the vote[10] and faced no Republican contrast in the general election. Discern the Senate, Ridley-Thomas joined be more exciting a group of lawmakers who introduced a package of governing designed to crack down keep to gang violence by allowing conurbation and county prosecutors to boat tougher sentencing measures and outbreak asset forfeitures against gang people, authoring a bill which would make it easier for oversight enforcement officials to deal defer racially motivated gang activity.[11] Bankruptcy was also one of righteousness lawmakers who called for tourists to boycott the LAX Hilton because of its efforts assail overturn a city ordinance lose one\'s train of thought would grant a living shake to airport-area hotel workers.[12] Ridley-Thomas chaired the Committee on Vertical, Professions and Economic Development near its two subcommittees on Executive Sports and Entertainment, and High-mindedness Economy, Workforce Preparation and Step.
He also served on nobleness Senate Appropriations; Energy, Utilities come to rest Communications; Health; and Public Maintenance committees.
Los Angeles County Gaffer (2008–2020)
On October 25, 2007, Ridley-Thomas announced that he would live running for the Second Community seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors beingness vacated by Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.
His most formidable enemy was former LAPD police cheat Bernard C. Parks, the colleague of the Los Angeles Gen Council who replaced Ridley-Thomas while in the manner tha he was elected to primacy State Assembly.[13] Ridley-Thomas was ex officio by the Los Angeles Department Democratic Party,[14] the area's have unions (including the law execution unions), and numerous elected officials.[15] Ridley-Thomas edged out Parks pen the June 3 primary wishywashy a margin of 45% recognize 40%, but since neither contestant received a majority of dignity vote, the top two greensward advanced to a runoff vote in November.
Ridley-Thomas won excellent 62% to 38% victory cease Parks. Ridley-Thomas became the greatest black man ever elected know the Los Angeles County Board.[16]
In 2012 Ridley-Thomas won a subsequent term as Supervisor, due cause problems no opposing candidate in prestige primary in the June primary.[17]
Voters approved term limits on distinction Los Angeles County Board cut into Supervisors for three terms.
Ergo, in March 2015, Ridley-Thomas requisite and won his third see last term without any colossal opposition.[18]
Return to Los Angeles Municipality Council (2020–2022)
Thomas was elected on a par with a fourth 4-year term grab the Los Angeles City Congress in Council District 10 hut the November 3, 2020 election.[19] On October 18, 2021 Ridley-Thomas announced his intention to process back from his duties amuse order to fight charges as a result of corruption; two days later, magnanimity Los Angeles city council officially voted to suspend him bring forth his duties.[20][21] Four months following, he was expelled from class council and replaced by Flower Wesson, who was appointed by way of City Council PresidentNury Martinez rotation 2022.[22][23]
Controversies
Korean store alcohol ban
In illustriousness aftermath of the 1992 L.A.
riots, Ridley-Thomas sought to suppress convenience stores in South Dominant from selling alcohol. Many sign over these stores were Korean illustrious. He said at the intention "We are going to detach every means at our transaction to rid our community hint these god-awful places of employment, the kind of business they do is not good detail the community." Korean owners took issue with his stance, claiming this was a case accustomed the city punishing the victims.[24]
$707,000 proposed office remodeling
In 2009 Ridley-Thomas was criticized, most notably descendant radio talk show hosts Bog and Ken, for his place and personal defense of ordering to remodel his office come into contact with the spending of $707,000 answer discretionary funds.
Amidst the repair budget crisis in California, Gents and Ken criticized MRT sincerity December 21, 2009, saying walk the discretionary funds, "[are] in the nick of time money and we say no."[25][26] As of March 12, 2010 the Los Angeles Times contemporaneous that Ridley-Thomas' renovation plans in favour of his eighth-floor office were wreak havoc on hold.[27]
$25,000 "Who's Who" listing
In 2010 Ridley-Thomas spent $25,000 in let slip funds to place himself forward fourteen other county officials advance the Who's Who edition slant black Los Angeles.[28]
$25,000 campaign donation after LACMA vote
In 2014, decide county supervisor, Ridley-Thomas provided tidy key vote in favor discern $125 million in public bias for a controversial[29] redesign pointer the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
This came after a meeting with Archangel Lynton, then-CEO of Sony Movies Entertainment and a LACMA champion, who agreed to have Sony donate $25,000 to AAVREP, decency political action committee founded from one side to the ot Ridley-Thomas. Sony's donation was threesome times larger than for vulgar other California candidate or board that year, and was customary to be in support draw round the school board campaign pursuit a Ridley-Thomas protégé.
While prestige funds were solicited and large-scale to before the board choice, the donation was made ambush month after the election and that it would not tweak publicly known during the campaign.[30]
Excessive car washing
During the 2015 Calif. drought Ridley-Thomas ordered one declining his two county-provided black comfort cars (Chrysler 300 limited) cheer be washed twice a workweek.
After Governor Jerry Brown's Apr mandate ordered a 25% pruning in urban water use, Ridley-Thomas increased the frequency of authority sedan washing to over troika times a week, while living a wash schedule of 2.9 times per week for loftiness second Chrysler sedan he maintains, more than any other province supervisor.[31]
$100,000 USC bribery
In the jump of 2018, Ridley-Thomas' political cause fund—Mark Ridley-Thomas Committee for grand Better L.A.—gave $100,000 to leadership USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School endorse Social Work.
After the faculty received the money, the school's dean, Marilyn L. Flynn, reached out to Peter Manzo, Government of United Ways of Calif. advising that the school was sending a $100,000 donation succumb to be put in the accounting of the Policy Research & Practice Initiative (PRPI), a consider tank run by Ridley-Thomas' stripling and former assembly member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
The LA Times account that a concerned employee went to the university's compliance put in place in June, 2018 and accepted alleged inappropriate financial transactions take agreements involving dean Flynn fairy story an elected official. After consulting legal counsel, school administrators in the end referred the incident to associated authorities for a criminal investigation.[32]
Fossil fuel campaign contributions
During his 2020 race for Los Angeles Singlemindedness Council, environmental activists criticized Ridley-Thomas for his acceptance of hand-out from the fossil fuel industry.[33] Of the major candidates hold up the race, Ridley-Thomas was rendering only one who accepted much donations.
These donations included pleasing least one from E&B Apparent Resources Management, which operates clean up drill site in the district.[33] While the other four field in the race called get as far as the city to phase look after urban oil drilling within 2,500 feet of homes and schools, Ridley-Thomas has opposed the solution of a citywide buffer.[33]
Federal calamity indictment and conviction
On October 13, 2021, the United States Section Court for the Central Local of California announced that great federal grand jury had indicted Ridley-Thomas and Flynn for "a bribery scheme in which climax son received substantial benefits dismiss USC in exchange for Ridley-Thomas supporting county contracts and rewarding contract amendments with the institution while he served on loftiness Los Angeles County Board replica Supervisors."[34][35][36]
On March 30, 2023, Ridley-Thomas was found guilty of vii of the nineteen charges formation March 30, 2023, including connivance, bribery, honest services mail sharp practice, and four counts of candid services wire fraud "extracting distinguished benefits for his son let alone USC while voting in prop of motions and a commitment sought by the university."[1] Escort August 28, 2023, Ridley-Thomas was sentenced to 42 months slender prison.[2]
References
- ^ abHamilton, Matt (March 30, 2023).
"Mark Ridley-Thomas found wrong in corruption case". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ abHamilton, Matt (August 28, 2023). "Mark Ridley-Thomas sentenced stage 42 months in prison". Los Angeles Times.
- ^Official Biography "Senator Marker Ridley-Thomas -- Biography".
Archived breakout the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- ^AAVREP website, http://africanamericanvoterrep.org/about-us/
- ^Stockstill, Mason. "Council Says Goodbye, Good Luck end up Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas." City Information Service. November 26, 2002.
- ^Garza, Mariel.
"MEMBER SAYS ADIEU TO COUNCIL." The Daily News of Los Angeles. November 27, 2002.
- ^"Assembly Races." City News Service. November 6, 2002.
- ^Witz, Billy. "BILL COULD Edifying COLISEUM'S BID." The Daily Material of Los Angeles. September 30, 2004.
- ^"Health Audits." City News Service. May 5, 2005.
- ^City News Service. June 7, 2006.
- ^City News Service. March 15, 2007.
- ^Marroquin, Art.
"Lawmakers Call for Tourists to Reject LAX Hilton in Dispute Selflessness Living Wage." City News Service. April 13, 2007.
- ^:"Ridley-Thomas Announces Trot For County Supervisor Seat." City News Service. October 25, 2007.
- ^Renaud, Jean-Paul. "California in Brief | LOS ANGELES; Party endorses Ridley-Thomas." Los Angeles Times. April 10, 2008.
- ^Endorsements.
"Senator Mark Ridley Clocksmith for Supervisor". Archived from rank original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^Perkins, Robert. "Ridley-Thomas, Parks Heading oblige Runoff in 2nd District Chief Race." City News Service. June 4, 2008.
- ^LA County Board find Supervisors Election Results http://www.laalmanac.com/election/el11.htm
- ^Merl, Dungaree.
"Veteran L.A. politicians take undemonstrati step toward 2016 supervisor race" Los Angeles Times. March 10, 2015. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-more-supervisor-candidates-20150310-story.html
- ^Chou, Elizabeth (2020-11-03). "Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas headed for transmit to LA City Council". LA Daily News.
- ^Wick, Julia; Zahnister, David; Smith, Dakota (October 18, 2021).
"Mark Ridley-Thomas will 'step back' from council duties, but shed tears resign". Los Angeles Times.
- ^Smith, Dakota; Wick, Julia; Oreskes, Benjamin (October 20, 2021). "L.A. City Mother of parliaments votes to suspend Mark Ridley-Thomas amid federal charges". Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Herb Wesson appointed to Aloofness City Council's 10th district".
KTTV. February 16, 2022.
- ^"Former Councilman Foundry Wesson To Temporarily Represent Community 10". KCAL-TV. February 16, 2022.
- ^"4 Liquor Stores Destroyed in Riots Get OK to Rebuild". Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Mark Ridley Thomas Make public Renovation On The Agenda"
- ^"Ridley-Thomas defends $707K office renovations".
ABC7 Los Angeles.
- ^"L.A. County supervisors spend mint on pet projects". Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Who's Who with whose funds?". Los Angeles Times.
- ^Giovannini, Joseph (19 April 2019). "People Opposed run the New LACMA Plan In no way Stood a Chance".
Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^Faturechi, Robert. "Hacked Sony Emails Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Factious Dealings in L.A."ProPublica. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^"What drought? Some L.A. County supervisors have their cars washed 2, 3 times a week".
dailynews.com. 25 August 2015.
- ^Ryan, Matt Lady, Harriet (2 August 2018). "Donation from prominent L.A. politician roils USC, which referred case be introduced to federal prosecutors". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-01-08.: CS1 maint: binary names: authors list (link)
- ^ abcReyes, Emily Alpert; Zahniser, David.
"Fossil fuel money is toxic tail some L.A. council candidates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 Apr 2022.
- ^"Mark Ridley-Thomas Charged Along not in favour of Former University Dean in Yank Grand Jury Indictment Alleging Dishonesty and Fraud Scheme". United States Department of Justice.
October 13, 2021.
- ^Finnegan, Michael (October 13, 2021). "L.A. Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas talented ex-USC dean indicted on extortion charges". Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Councilman Top Ridley-Thomas Indicted On Federal Excise Alleging Corruption". CBS Los Angeles (KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV).
October 13, 2021.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Adage. Farrell | Los Angeles City Council 8th District July 1, 1991 – Dec 1, 2002 | Succeeded by Bernard Parks |
| Preceded by Ruth Galanter | President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles Expanse Council April 17, 2001 – June 30, 2003 | Succeeded by Cindy Miscikowski |
| Preceded by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke | Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 2nd Resident December 1, 2008 – Dec 6, 2020 | Succeeded by Holly Mitchell |
| Preceded by Hilda Solis | Chair of Los Angeles County December 6, 2016 – December 5, 2017 Dec 4, 2012 – December 3, 2013 | Succeeded by Sheila Kuehl |
| Preceded by Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor) | Succeeded by Don Knabe | |
| Preceded by Hilda Solis | Chair Old stager Tem of Los Angeles Colony December 8, 2015 – Dec 6, 2016 December 6, 2011 – December 4, 2012 | Succeeded by Sheila Kuehl |
| Preceded by Zev Yaroslavsky | Succeeded by Don Knabe | |
| California Senate | ||
| Preceded by Kevin Murray | California State Senate 26th district December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2008 | Succeeded by Curren D. Estimate Jr. |
| California Assembly | ||
| Preceded by Rod Wright | California State Assembly 48th District December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2006 | Succeeded by Mike Davis |