Voting has opened up for the local election of Gardena’s city council in which March 3 will be the final day to cast your vote. You can already cast your vote at the 11-day voting centers which opened up voting the earliest on Saturday, Feb. 22 in which the 4-day voting centers will open up on Saturday, Feb. 29.
The eight candidates that are running for city council are incumbent Mark Henderson, retired educator Rachel Johnson (who has previous experience on city council), entrepreneur Gina Alexander, business owner Roy Kim, deputy district attorney Ben Tarzynski, president of Gardena Chamber of Commerce Wanda Love, teacher Paulette Francis, and regional manager Ochuwa Oghie.
Measure G will also be on the ballot which, if approved, will authorize a 3/4 sales tax increase to 10.25%. If it is not approved, the sales tax will remain at 9.5%. The revenue from an increased sales tax would go towards keeping public areas safe and clean, repairing streets and potholes, firefighter and paramedic services, maintaining 911 emergency response times, gang prevention programs, and senior services, according to the city of Gardena website.
Residents of Gardena will also experience L.A.’s new voting system that launched for the year of 2020. Residents can now vote at any voting center available as opposed to being assigned to a specific location. All of the voting centers in Gardena are listed below along with the hours of operation during voting periods and the specific area of the venue in which voting will take place:
Gardena High School
1301 W 182nd St, Gardena CA 90248
Hours: Feb. 29 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Signs will direct polling area location
310-354-5000
186th Street Elementary School
1581 W 186th St, Gardena CA 90248
Hours: Feb. 29 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Auditorium
310-324-1153
153rd Street Elementary School
1605 W 153rd St, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 29 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Auditorium
310-323-1029
Gardena Transit Administration (GTrans)
13999 S Western Ave, Gardena CA 90249
Hours: Feb. 22 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Whit Ballenger Conference Room
310-965-8888
Rowley Park
13200 Van Ness Ave, Gardena CA 90249
Hours: Feb. 22 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Gymnasium
310-217-9562
Gardena Mayme Dear Library
1731 W Gardena Blvd, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 22 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Meeting Room
310-323-6363
Denker Elementary School
1620 W 162nd St, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 29 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Auditorium
310-327-9420
Nakaoka Community Center
1670 W 162nd St, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 22 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Auditorium
310-271-9537
LA County Fire Station 158
1650 W 162nd St, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 22 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Apparatus Bay
310-217-8351
Rush Gymnasium
1651 W 162nd St, Gardena CA 90247
Hours: Feb. 29 – March 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 3: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Poll Area: Gymnasium
310-217-9598
The new voting machine will include digital touch-screen devices, headphone options, and a ballot printer that will print a paper ballot that the voter can verify before submitting. The voting machines will provide options to read or listen to ballots in 13 different languages and include more accessible features such as the ability to adjust font size, tilt screen angle, color, contrast, and the height of the screen for individuals in wheelchairs.
For more election information contact City Hall at 310-217-9565. You can view all of LA’s voting locations on a map by the accessing the link https://locator.lavote.net/locations/vc.
