With no challengers, Luz Rivas is a shoo-in for San Fernando Valley’s Assembly District 43 – Daily News

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas is looking for a third term in Sacramento, and judging by the fact that no one is challenging her, well, she’s going to get it.

Still, the San Fernando Valley assemblywoman has to put her name in the ring for what will be a newly drawn seat.

Rivas, a science educator, Democrat and graduate of MIT and Harvard, was first elected to state Assembly District 39 in 2018, then reelected in 2020.

It’s been a fruitful tenure, as she has gone on to be appointed to several committees ranging from natural resources to tax and revenue.

In the June 7 primary election she is running to represent the newly redrawn District 43. The dramatically reshaped 43rd Assembly District, until now, centered in Burbank-Glendale, will encompass heavily working-class communities, with a few more upscale areas on its edges. It will include Sylmar, Arleta, Sun Valley, San Fernando, Panorama City, Mission Hills, Pacoima, North Hills East, North Hollywood West and Valley Glen.

According to the California Secretary of State data, she received $100,040 in contributions between January and April 23 of 2022, and spent $103,210 — and had ending cash of $545,535.

“District 43 is predominantly Latino, which works in her favor,” said Mark Gonzalez, chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. “It’s well over 68 percent Democratic, so she is a good, safe Democrat. She has some strong accomplishments in that area and as an incumbent is certainly someone to be reckoned with.”

He notes that she “has a strong record of youth advocacy and access to quality education, mostly widening the path for girls in science. That’s something obviously someone running for office can see. She is fortunate she doesn’t have a challenger, let alone a Democratic challenger, so she can focus her attention on the efforts of her district.”

All California districts have been realigned, effective Jan. 1, 2023, in a redrawing of political districts that occurs every decade on city, state and federal levels.

“The 43rd Assembly District continues to struggle with affordable housing, access to healthcare, career opportunities and problems with homelessness,” Rivas said. “California’s housing market is pricing out the people who live in our communities and forcing families to live in homes with three, sometimes more, families.”

Rivas wants to create greater access to well-paying jobs.

“Too many people are being forced to commute to get paid and provide financial support to their families,” she said. “We need to bring jobs back to the district and provide additional resources that will benefit this community.”

Rivas, who is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Labor Federation, has introduced several bills during her two-term tenure.

Since January, she has introduced bills to combat the causes that compound homelessness; create an early alert system warning of extreme heat events; prohibit seabed mining in state waters to help preserve a delicate marine ecosystem and ocean recreation, tourism and fishing industries valued at more than $27 billion annually; and prohibit sale of single-use vape and tobacco filters in cigarettes and cigars to encourage less wasteful alternatives.