Santa Clarita, CA – Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich is endorsing Suzette Martinez Valladares for the 38th Assembly District open seat. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Christy Smith has announced her intention to run for the 25th Congressional District opening.
Antonovich served on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors from 1980 until 2016, and represented Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley
portions of the 38th Assembly District. Prior to being elected to the Board of Supervisors, he served in the California State Assembly from 1972 until 1978. Antonovich also served as Chairman of the California Republican Party from 1984 to 1986.
Background: An unlikely Republican story, Suzette grew up in the San Fernando Valley, the granddaughter of a farmworker who worked alongside Cesar Chavez in the vineyards near Bakersfield. She was blessed with loving parents who valued education, family and community responsibility. In 2012, Suzette became Executive Director of Southern California Autism Speaks. Her career is based on serving others, with a passion for early childhood education and advocacy.
After her mother’s passing in 2018, Suzette was asked to assume her mother’s role as CEO of Little Steps of Faith, a faith-based non-profit preschool that provides quality childcare to underserved families in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.
Suzette and her husband Shane were blessed with their first child, daughter Charlotte, in April 2017.
(California\’s 38th Assembly District includes the Santa Clarita and Simi Valleys as well as a portion of the San Fernando Valley.)