A number of Japanese American and other Asian American candidates, both incumbents and newcomers, were on the June 2 ballot in Gardena and Torrance, with mixed results.
In the election for two seats on the Gardena City Council, incumbent Rodney Tanaka led with 7,170 votes (39.26%), followed by Jeff Fukasawa with 5,700 (31.21%).
Tanaka was appointed to the City Council in 2017 and elected in 2022. He has served three times as mayor pro tem. He is a retired assistant chief of the Gardena Police Department.
Fukasawa, a first-time candidate, is the founder of Commline Inc., which specializes in RF communications equipment.
Also running were Julie Nystrom, meals service coordinator for the Gardena Home-Delivered Meals Program (2,008 votes, 10.99%); Valerie Loduem, chair of the Gardena Human Services Commission (1,838 votes, 10.06%); and Alan Chan, a senior-level IT leader (1,549 votes, 8.48%).
In the race for city treasurer, Kale Morita led with 5,894 votes (54.31%) and Tahron Jackson was second with 4,959 (45.69%). The position is currently held by Guy Mato.
Morita is a former member of the Gardena Planning and Environmental Commission and current member of the Gardena Economic Business Advisory Commission. He is also a paralegal for The Blanchard Law Group, APC. Jackson is a forensic accountant and investigator for Los Angeles County.
In the race for Torrance mayor, City Councilmember Sharon Kalani was ahead with 20,854 votes (51.12%) to incumbent George Chen’s 19,944 (48.88%).
First elected to the City Council in 2018, Chen was elected the first councilmember to represent District 2 in 2020 and was elected mayor in 2022.
In District 1, challenger David Kartsonis, small business owner and former member of the city’s Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission, was ahead of incumbent Jon Kaji, 3,768 votes (60.64%) to 2,446 (39.36%).
Kaji, who is president of Kaji & Associates, was elected to the City Council in 2022 and chairs the Finance and Governmental Operations Committee.
In District 3, incumbent Asam Sheikh was ahead of challenger Mike Mauno, a former City Council member, 3,227 votes (59.39%) to 2,207 (40.61%).
In District 5, Betty Lieu, president of the Torrance Unified School District and wife of Rep. Ted Lieu, led with 4,793 votes (59.30%), followed by Michelle Brooks, a former Peace Corps senior leader, with 2,335 (28.89%) and Harry Ward, a doctor and veteran, with 954 (11.80%).
The seat is currently held by Aurelio Mattucci, who is slightly ahead in the race for city treasurer against former Mayor Mike Griffiths and Charles Deemer, a member of the Torrance Water Commission. The current treasurer is Tim Goodrich.