In the Running
By GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU ENGLISH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Friday, March 28, 2008

Gavin Hachiya Wasserman seeks a seat on Torrance City Council.

GWEN MURANAKA/Rafu Shimpo
Gavin Hachiya Wasserman, candidate for Torrance City Council, addresses supporters during a campaign event Thursday at the Torrance Marriott. The event was hosted by Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley.

Gavin Hachiya Wasserman picked up the endorsement of Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley as he seeks a seat on the Torrance City Council.

“The best prevention to avoid political corruption is to elect good, honest people, Gavin is certainly that,” said Cooley, during a fundraiser Thursday at the Torrance Marriott.

Wasserman, 35, faces a crowded field with 14 candidates filing papers to run for four open seats in the June 3 election. If elected, Wasserman would be the first Japanese American since former Assemblymember George Nakano served on the council. Nakano was among those who attended the fundraiser, hosted by Cooley.

“I want to make a difference and council is the most direct and effective way to do it,” said Wasserman. “Even in the pro­cess of campaigning, you get out there and empower people. I’m gonna fight real hard to win this, but I know along the way I’m gonna do some good at the same time.”

Wasserman, the son of Judge Fumiko Hachiya and Ron­ald T. Wasserman, is an attorney. He and his wife, Linda, are expecting their first child in June. He is a member of Japanese American Republicans, a volunteer with the Go For Broke Oral History program and a board member of the Ted Tanouye Memorial Foundation.

Among Wasserman’s supporters at the event were Jim Standifer, who worked on the Tanouye memorial, which honors the Medal of Honor recipient at his alma mater, Torrance High School.

“Gavin’s a fine man and I sure hope he gets on the council,” said Standifer.

Wasserman has received endorsements from John Chiang, State Controller; Supervisors Don Knabe and Mike Antonov­ich, L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca and Assemblymember Ted Lieu. He said he hopes to set an example for other young Asian Americans to become involved in politics.

“We have a huge Asian population in Torrance and not a lot of representation,” said Wasserman.

“The real bottom line is my roots in Torrance are really deep, my future is here in Torrance. I’m not going to wait for change to do something.”