A just-vacated seat on the Los Angeles City Council is up for grabs and California State Assemblyman Warren Furutani wasted little time in expressing his desire to occupy it.
“I was born in San Pedro and have lived in the 15th Council District for almost 20 years,” said Furutani, in a release. “I’m an L.A. guy and I’m very excited at the opportunity to work closely with the community on important issues like job creation, gang prevention, education, transportation, air quality and improving the great neighborhoods of San Pedro, Watts, Wilmington, Harbor City and the Harbor Gateway.”
Furutani is angling for the seat left vacant by Janice Hahn, who was elected to Congress in a special election yesterday.
If elected, Furutani would be the first Japanese American to serve on the L.A. City Council, and only the second Asian American after Michael Woo, who served on the council from 1985 to 1993.
Born in San Pedro, Furutani is fourth-generation Japanese American. His grandfather was a mechanic on Terminal Island in San Pedro who repaired tuna boat motors. During World War II, his grandparents and father were forced to leave their home in 48-hours and were sent to an internment camp in Rohror, Arkansas. His parents met in camp and later married. After the war, they returned to San Pedro to start their family.
