TORRANCE CITY COUNCILMEMBER HEIDI ASHCRAFT ENDORSES BEN ALLEN FOR STATE SENATE

Cites Allen's Educational Record as Chief Reason for Backing

Santa Monica, CA -- Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District Board Member Ben Allen receives the endorsement of Torrance City Councilmember Heidi Ashcraft. "Like me, Ben Allen has served on a local school board. He has dealt with budget shortfalls while protecting critical education and extracurricular programs from financial cuts. Ben not only values having a high quality public education system, but he knows what it takes to build and maintain one. I wholeheartedly endorse Ben Allen for the State Senate," said Councilmember Heidi Ashcraft. Heidi Ashcraft was appointed to the Torrance City Council in 2013 to fill an unexpected vacancy and was elected to the seat as the top vote-getter in June 2014. She previously served on the Torrance Unified School District Board for three terms from 1995 to 2007. She and her husband, Dan, have been residents of Torrance for 36 years.    With her backing, Ashcraft joins a growing number of elected officials in the South Bay who are supporting Allen including Assemblymember Steven Bradford, former Assemblymember George Nakano, Manhattan Beach City Mayor Amy Howorth, former Manhattan Beach Mayor Portia Cohen, Manhattan Beach City Councilmember Mark Burton, Hermosa Beach City Councilmember Nanette Barragan, Redondo Beach City Councilmember Bill Brand, and former Redondo Beach School District Board Member Todd Loewenstein.     Ben Allen placed first among a crowded field in the open primary for the 26th State Senate District, held on June 3, 2014.             The 26th State Senate District consists of the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, El Segundo, Avalon, Lomita, Torrance, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills; the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Westchester, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Westwood Village, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Little Holmby, Sunset Hills, Beverly Grove, Mar Vista, Mid City West, Miracle Mile, Larchmont Village, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Fairfax, Carthay, Fremont Place, Hancock Park, and Windsor Square; and the unincorporated Los Angeles County communities of Marina Del Rey, San Clemente Island, Santa Catalina Island, Franklin, Centinela, and Ocean View.