The sheriff is one of the most powerful elected officials in L.A. County. Eight candidates are vying to replace incumbent Alex Villanueva, who is running for reelection.
In a powerful demonstration of his extensive grassroots support from L.A. County Democrats in the race for Los Angeles County Sheriff, LAX Police Chief Cecil Rhambo was formally notified by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) that he earned a recommendation for endorsement from the Screening and Early Endorsement Recommendation (SEER) Committee.
The first Black person to hold the public defender post, Brown led the L.A. County Public Defender’s Office for five years, managing over 700 defense attorneys.
In a statement released with his endorsement, Brown commented: “I’m excited to endorse my friend, Chief Cecil Rhambo, for L.A. County Sheriff. As someone who worked directly with him on the L.A. County prison realignment process a decade ago, I know that Chief Rhambo is committed to making our criminal justice system more compassionate and transparent and protecting the rights of the accused.
LAX Police Chief Rhambo to Run for L.A. County Sheriff
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Rafu Wire and Staff Reports
LAX Police Chief Cecil W. Rhambo Jr. announced Monday that he will challenge Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva in next year’s election.
Cecil Rhambo Jr.
Rhambo was sworn in as chief of airport police on Nov. 6, 2019. He retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2014 at the rank of assistant sheriff. In his 33 years with the Sheriff’s Department, he developed expertise in areas including municipal patrol, emergency management, community partnerships and employee union relations.
As an assistant sheriff, his responsibilities included LA Metro’s rail and bus lines, experience that he said serves him well as Los Angeles World Airports builds an Automated People Mover train system, which will connect to Metro’s regional rail system when completed in 2023.
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Calling Sheriff Alex Villanueva “the Donald Trump of L.A. County,” LAX Police Chief Cecil Rhambo Monday announced he will challenge the incumbent in next year’s election. Before becoming airport chief in 2019, Rhambo spent 33 years with the Sheriff’s Department, rising to assistant sheriff.
Rhambo, 62, may be Villanueva’s toughest challenger yet, given his resume. He’s hired a veteran Democratic strategy firm to run his campaign.
Four other people have registered as candidates in what is expected to be a crowded field against the embattled Villanueva.
If elected, Rhambo would become L.A.’s first Black and first Korean American sheriff. He clearly intends to use his race and ethnicity during the campaign. “I’ve been a Black and Asian man long before I was a cop, so I know what it’s like to walk down the street as a person of color,” Rhambo said in his