MEET TEAM AD-52

Hugh Esten

Hugh Esten is a longtime writer, good-governance advocate, and public servant. Hugh’s work for fair redistricting in Los Angeles preceded the leaked audio recordings in 2022 that revealed city insiders scheming to deprive Black residents of representation. Capping two years of reform efforts that Hugh guided, L.A. voters in 2024 established truly independent redistricting commissions for City Council and for L.A.’s School Board. Hugh’s focus on city ethics contributed to passage of 4 additional charter amendments to strengthen ethics and other reforms. Hugh lives in Highland Park. He is running for delegate with the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Dr. Suzie Abajian

Dr. Suzie Abajian is a dedicated educator with 24 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. Serving the public with expertise and integrity is her passion. Suzie has served as a school board member and elected city clerk. Along with devotion to public education, Suzie is a champion for fair elections and voter engagement. Committed to community health and equity, she also serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Advocates. Suzie’s work reflects her belief in developing leadership, serving the community, and making a measurable difference. Suzie is the proud parent of an inquisitive four-year-old. Suzie is running for delegate as a member of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Brian Kohan

Brian Kohan is a community organizer, nonprofit board member, and engineer in the aerospace industry. He is a proud Angeleno of the past 15 years and lives in Elysian Valley. Brian has organized community-based solutions to homelessness in Northeast L.A. for the past 5 years. He is a fierce advocate for housing, public education, safe transit, and environmental justice. Brian has been knocking doors and running field campaigns for Democrats for 20 years. He is running for delegate as part of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Samara Bay

Samara Bay is a California native who's lived in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, raising her family in Eagle Rock while working in activism and the arts. She runs workshops on leadership based on social-justice principles for high school and college students as well as for folks in tech, business, law, education, and in organizations working for cultural change. She is running for delegate as part of the team of Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Stewart Lozano

Stewart Lozano is a public health nurse and a recent first-time grandparent. Having worked for years as a diabetes educator, he believes every person has the right to affordable, comprehensive care without exception based on socioeconomic status. His passions are universal health care, greener communities, and a more just society. He is active in East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD) and a longtime member of the Sierra Club. Acting locally for a greener environment, he participates in Save San Pascual Park. The park is in Highland Park near his home and sits on the municipal borders with Pasadena and South Pasadena. He is running for delegate with the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Chris Wood

Chris Wood is a working-class actor and proud union member. Since 2018, he has lived in Silver Lake. In addition to his professional work, he has volunteered regularly with organizations that alleviate difficulties faced by homeless neighbors, including food, water, shelter, showers, and health services. As another step forward in advocating for his entire community, he is running to be a state Democratic Party delegate as part of the team of Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Jazmin Garcia

Jazmin García is a community organizer for housing, environmental justice, and public education. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Jazmin was raised in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. As a long time resident of East L.A., she has advocated for local issues in her community. These include cleanup of the decades-long contamination from the Exide battery plant, access to services for immigrants, and safe routes to school for students of all ages. She lives in City Terrace and is running for delegate with the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Mimi Hess

Mimi Hess works in the nonprofit sector as a public partnership strategist and fundraiser. She has secured over 4 million dollars in grants to create new programs, services, and job opportunities for people with disabilities and people who have formerly been incarcerated. She is a vocal advocate for public education and has two children in public schools in Echo Park. Mimi is running for delgate as part of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Carlos Medina

Carlos Medina is a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and civic engagement. He previously served on the board of the League of Women Voters L.A. Since 2014, he has served on the board of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, a major provider of affordable housing and healthcare. Since 2002, Carlos has been a member of Democrats for Neighborhood Action (DNA), a grassroots club serving Los Feliz and Silver Lake. For the past year, he has served as DNA president. Carlos lives in Los Feliz. He is running for delegate with teammates on the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Paul McDermott

Paul McDermott is a 40-year educator in L.A. public schools and at CSUN. Paul is a champion of quality public education and equal rights. He is a board member of the Pasadena Foothills chapter of the ACLU and board member of the Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA), chairing the scholarship committee. Paul is also a life member of the Sierra Club and takes part in efforts to preserve open spaces, limit fossil fuels and plastics, and stop climate destruction. He is running for delegate as part of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Theresa Montaño

Theresa Montaño is a grassroots community activist and Chicano/a Studies professor. Dr. Montaño has devoted over 40 years to public education. She currently serves on the L.A. County Board of Education and with the California Latino School Board Association. A longtime unionist and labor advocate, she is a member of California Faculty Association and active in the Ethnic Studies movement. Theresa lives in Eagle Rock. She is running for delegate with the team of Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Dave Metz

David Metz, an award-winning public-school theater educator in Los Angeles, was recently appointed to serve on the LAUSD Board of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee. As a researcher and practitioner, David has made significant strides in enhancing language access for English learners and promoting inclusive education for students with disabilities. A vocal advocate against privatization, David is dedicated to ensuring that public funds are effectively allocated to public schools. He is proud to be running as a member of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats team.

Veronica Montenegro

Veronica Montenegro is a native Angeleno with deep roots in the Eastside and Northeast L.A. She has worked in public health for more than 30 years. Her leadership includes policy advocacy and coalition-building within Latina/o and LGBTQ+ communities and among high-risk youth. She has focused on violence prevention, HIV and AIDS prevention, and substance-abuse treatment. Veronica has also worked on housing security as a necessary but overlooked component of health equity. She has volunteered time with City of Hope and contributed to assistance programs to improve the experiences and outcomes of cancer patients and to prevent medical debt. Veronica lives on the border of Silver Lake and East Hollywood. She is running to be a delegate along with members of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats.

Bianca Torres Murray

Bianca Torres Murray is an advocate for criminal justice reform and works as a legal researcher, specializing in labor and employment law. She lives in Echo Park. A proud graduate of UC Berkeley, she recently earned a B.A. in Ethnic Studies while mentoring other students interested in civic engagement. Passionate about equality and human rights, she has worked on projects at UCLA and in the law clinic at Loyola Law School. She has also earned recognition as a John R. Lewis Scholar and HOPE Latina Future History-Maker. Bianca is running for delegate as part of the Grassroots Progressive Democrats team.