Candidate for
State Assembly Member; District 51

ABOUT STEVE

A Democrat, Steven C. Bradford is currently a City of Gardena Councilmember serving his fourth continuous four-year term on the City Council. First elected in March 1997, Steve holds the distinction and honor of being Gardena's first African-American elected to serve on the City Council. At 49, he is currently the most senior member of the City Council and has served as Mayor Pro Tem three times in past 12 years.

Steve's family moved to Gardena when he was nine years old. He attended Purche Avenue Elementary School, Henry Clay Junior High School, and Gardena High School. From there he went onto San Diego State University and California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Paralegal Certificate.

Respected for his straightforward communication technique, Steve is both well known and liked for his quarterly Up-Close Open Council Office Sessions, which offers opportunities for his residents and local business owners to provide him with vital input.

Professionally, Steve served as a marketing representative with IBM from 1983 through 1990. He then took a leave of absence to pursue his desire of becoming a public servant on the Gardena City Council. He was unsuccessful on his first run, but that didn't stop him from trying again. Before making a run for office again, Steve served as program director and recycling coordinator for the Los Angeles Conservation Corps until 1994. From there he went onto serve in the City of Compton as the Director of Solid Waste. Still with an eye on public service, Steve was tapped to be the District Director for the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald's where he worked on many important legislative issues.

Armed with his experiences in student government and serving on the student body council, as well as on the job training from having worked on several political campaigns and having worked in Congress, in 1997 Steve gave another try to running for City Council. The timing proved right because this time the residents of Gardena voted him into office making him the first black to ever hold the title of Councilmember from that city.

12 years later, Steve is currently the Region Manager for Public Affairs with Southern California Edison. And in his spare time, you can find Steve providing much needed leadership to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity as their National Director of "Bigger and Better Business."

Steve is responsible for putting Gardena on the map with its popular free Jazz Festival held annually in August at a local park and featuring well-known internationally recognized recording artists.

Steve's commitment to the community is exhibited by his active involvement as a member of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena, He's served as the chair of the Black History Month Celebration Committee, a PTA member, an assistant Troop Leader in the Boy Scouts of America, and even as president of the Hollypark Homeowners Association. With what little free time he has left, Steve gives as a volunteer coach in Gardena's youth sports programs. All of which has put him into a class of his own where he continues to be recognized for his exemplary leadership.

AWARDS

2003 Trailblazer Award, Gardena Black History Month Celebration Committee 2003 Hoodie Public Servant of the Year, 100.3-The Beat 2003 Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Democrat of the Year, Los Angeles County Democratic Party 2004 Community Leadership Award, National Leadership of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. 2005 Man of the Year, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity AFFILIATIONS

California Cities for Self-Reliance Joint Powers Authority Independent Cities Association ( ICA) South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority Alternate City of Gardena Delegate California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) League of California Cities ( Los Angeles County Division) Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Gardena Black History Month Celebration Committee Gardena Jazz Festival Committee Gardena Finance Committee