Venice For Change: Bowen and Hahn Kick Off CA36 Campaigns At Separate Events In Torrance

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bowen and Hahn Kick Off CA36 Campaigns At Separate Events In Torrance

Bowen greets a supporter

Debra Bowen and Janice Hahn collectively drew hundreds of activists and supporters to separate campaign kickoff celebrations this weekend at campaign headquarters within 4 miles of each other.

Staff from both campaigns claimed over a hundred supporters and activists came to the respective events.

Hahn's event was crowded into a small storefront in a stripmall off of PCH, and mostly populated with local activists from the San Pedro and Wilmington area (her home district on the LA City council) along with a healthy representation from LA City politicos. CA Assembly speaker John Perez, who's endorsed Hahn, gave the opening remarks. Hahn spoke for a few minutes as camera from NBC, ABC and FOX rolled, then spent the rest of the afternoon greeting supporters while a DJ played and pizza was consumed.

Hahn talks to activists

Four miles away, at Ted Lieu's old campaign headquarters, Assembly member Betsy Butler, who's district overlaps much of CA36, introduced Debra Bowen to the crowd. Activists from Venice, Mar Vista, El Segundo, the Beach Cities, Torrance, and San Pedro listened to Bowen's opening remarks. Bowen spent the rest of the morning fielding questions then talking to attendees as campaign staff busily signed up volunteers.

Bowen gives remarks to a diverse crowd of supporters

If Hahn's kickoff felt like a party and media event, Bowen's felt more like a homecoming for the candidate, as Bowen greeted many supporters as long lost friends. According to Bowen's campaign, the "official" campaign kickoff will happen sometime after the March 8th special election.

If there was any doubt that the race to replace Jane Harman really comes down to two candidates, I think events this weekend puts that debate to rest.