(The Bulletin) – It’s time to vote, Compton. It’s time for the city to go forward. On June 2, the City of Compton will face its moment of truth. This primary election is bigger than the never-ending potholes issue that has dogged the city for years.
Yes, this election is much bigger than the revolving door called the city manager’s office. It eclipses any alleged unauthorized or improper use of a city-issued credit card. And it most certainly is larger than a missing in action city attorney.
What this election is about for Compton residents is change. It’s about trying to move the city forward instead of being stuck in neutral while clinging on to the past of a stagnant government.
The people of Compton deserve better. They deserve a well-oiled machine called their city council to find ways to upgrade Compton into a bonafide world-class city without having to take a backseat to neighboring cities.
There will be no more hiding behind the truth for Compton residents this time around. There is no need to voice complaints at city council meetings if you don’t vote.
Residents of the city will either vote for change or keep things the way they are. There will be no straddling the fence when it comes to this election.
In 2024, voters were asked who they thought would best represent them in District 1 and District 4, as well as the City Clerk’s Office. Overwhelmingly, Compton residents voted to keep Lillie P. Darden (District 4) and Deidre Duhart (District 1) in their respective seats as city councilmembers.
And with longtime city employee Alita Godwin going into retirement, Satra Zurita has picked up the mantle as City Clerk. Two years ago, voters got a whiff of some of the same as well as a fresh face in Zurita as the city clerk.
However, when you dive into the numbers of the 2024 citywide election, the results would show a distorted truth. Darden easily beat challenger Joel Estrada in the District 4 race, picking up 56 percent of the vote, while the runner-up was the choice of 43 percent of residents.
Duhart had a much tougher time in her District 1 race against Jasper Jackson, barely edging out her foe. Duhart received 50.1 percent of the vote. Jackson came in second with more than 49 percent of the vote. In those two races, Compton voters showed the bare minimum interest.
According to the final results tallied by Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Darden got 3,089 votes compared to Estrada’s 2, 413 votes. The low turnout was also reflected in the District 1 race. Duhart’s win total was 3,148 compared to the 3,132 votes that Jackson picked up.
These statistics matter because when you look at the total number of residents in Compton, the races in the first and fourth districts represent voter apathy. According to the data compiled by The Ballot Book, there are 95,740 people living in the city. However, just 51, 625 people are eligible to vote in Compton.
That’s a huge discrepancy. This time around, residents are asked to choose candidates in the second and third districts as well for city treasurer and city clerk. If the residents want change, this is their opportunity to make their voices heard.
