Culver City Observer -

Newly-selected Vice Mayor Daniel Lee is launching his campaign for California State Senate District 30 this Friday at an online event on Facebook.

"This nation has to change and it might as well start with us here in California," said Lee, who became the first African-American member of the Culver City Council in 2018. "Los Angeles County is a microcosm of income inequality and the 30th district is the epicenter of this economic dichotomy."

Lee, who was sworn in as Vice Mayor of Culver City at Monday's Council meeting, is seeking the post vacated by Holly Mitchell after she won a seat on the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

For eight years, Mitchell had represented California's 30th State Senate district, which includes Culver City, Inglewood, Cheviot Hills, the Crenshaw District, downtown LA and Ladera Heights.

Lee, the first official candidate for the State Senate seat, is a veteran, a passionate activist and social worker with many local supporters. He calls himself "a true progressive who believes in a just transition bringing accountability to the table."

His campaign website said Lee "doesn't take money from polluters, police, or developers." His Facebook event will be held this Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Political observers believe that Assembly member Sydney Kamlager who won re-election for the 54th district last month will also be contending for the open senate seat.

Another contender is Cooper Hefner, son of the late Playboy founder. This past July he announced that he formed an exploratory campaign to run as a Democrat for Mitchell's seat if she were elected to the Board of Supervisors.

According to state laws, Governor Gavin Newson has until the end of December to call for a special election to fill Mitchell's senate seat for the next two years. The special election will likely be held in the first quarter of 2021.