Culver City Observer -

Culver City Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas praises United States Senator Barbara Boxer for her three decades of political leadership in the nation's Capitol as a member of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

Sen. Boxer has announced she plans to retire from the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas said, "Senator Boxer has left an indelible mark on many aspects of California life through her advocacy for a clean environment and the responsible stewardship of our natural resources to her support for working families and their need for good paying jobs, affordable access to healthcare and quality education for their children. She made Washington, D.C. policy-making fit the real world needs and realities of California residents from the Bay Area to the South Bay.

"Senator Boxer has long been a role model for women in politics, government and the private sector. She has been unwavering in her support for women's reproductive rights and access to family planning services. She is a crusader for women's rights, an aspect of her public life I'm confident will never change. She has been a groundbreaking and effective. Senator Boxer is a public servant for the common good.

"Senator Boxer won't be leaving the U.S. Senate until 2016, so I look forward to working closely with her over the next two years to improve education for our students, widen the path to college for high school graduates, encourage private sector development and boost our local and state economies to create new jobs and expand employment opportunities for our state's residents – particularly our veterans, continue our state's progress in healthcare access and expand our services to provide food and shelter for homeless men, women and children."