First published in the Feb. 2 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
State Sen. Anthony Portantino, who once served on La Cañada Flintridge’s City Council, announced on Monday he is running for Congress to succeed U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff in District 30.
“While Washington continues to be dysfunctional and our democracy is under daily attack, there is no time for on-the-job training or ineffective leadership,” said Portantino in a statement. “Congressional dysfunction is creating real, life and death consequences for us at home as our community suffers from gun violence, the impacts of climate change and politicians who want to push our economy to the breaking point. I am not afraid to take on special interests. But I’m also an optimist with a passion to serve and I want to continue working for you in Congress.”
In the state legislature, Portantino has championed increased funding for public education, the strongest climate change laws in the country and health care for all Californians. For more than a decade, he has fought the NRA in Sacramento and won, including passing legislation to ban the open carry of guns on Main Street, require gun owners to safely store their weapons and raising the minimum firearm purchase age to 21.
Portantino noted that he had the honor of following Schiff to the state Senate and is ready to follow him again, and said: “Congratulations to my friend, Congressman Adam Schiff, on his decision to run for the U.S Senate. Adam is the very definition of a tough act to follow. I admire his tireless commitment to our district, his courage and character for holding the Trump administration accountable and his confident, unflappable leadership during tumultuous times.”
Portantino represents California’s 25th state Senate District, which includes Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Sunland/Tujunga, Griffith Park and its adjacent Los Angeles neighborhoods and many communities along the 210 Freeway. His spouse, Ellen, is a an executive at NBC/Universal. Both he and his wife have lived in the congressional district since they settled in their first apartment on Los Feliz Boulevard. They now reside in Burbank.
