Sebastian Ridley-Thomas

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (born August 12, 1987) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represented the 54th Assembly District, which includes the Los Angeles County communities of Century City, Culver City, Westwood, Mar Vista, Palms, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, View Park, Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Mid City, and West Los Angeles.

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 54th district
In office
December 5, 2013 – December 31, 2017
Preceded byHolly Mitchell
Succeeded bySydney Kamlager
Personal details
Born (1987-08-12) August 12, 1987
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Los Angeles, California
Alma materMorehouse College

He was elected to office on December 3, 2013 to fill the 54th Assembly District seat vacated by Holly Mitchell upon her election to the California State Senate. He resigned from office December 31, 2017. Prior to his election to the Assembly in 2014, he was an aide for former State Senator Curren Price. He is the son of longtime Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Early life and education

Ridley-Thomas is the son of Avis Ridley-Thomas and Mark Ridley-Thomas, a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Morehouse College.

California State Assembly

During his tenure in the Assembly, Ridley-Thomas chaired the Elections & Redistricting and Revenue & Taxation committees,[1] as well as the Select Committee on Mental Health.[2] He was also a member of the Assembly Appropriations, Rules, Joint Rules, Health, Water, Public Safety, Local Government, Public Safety, Public Employment & Retirement, and Labor & Employment committees.[3]

Sexual harassment allegations and resignation

On December 27, 2017, Ridley-Thomas announced that he would resign from the State Assembly on December 31. He cited unspecified health problems in his statement and said he would need "an extended period of time to recuperate.[4]

In August 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported that Ridley-Thomas was "the subject of two sexual harassment complaints at the time he stepped down from the Legislature."[5] An Assembly investigation released on January 16, 2019 concluded that Ridley-Thomas likely made an unwanted sexual advance toward a female Capitol staffer two years prior.[6]

On October 13, 2021, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California announced that a federal grand jury had indicted Ridley-Thomas's father and former USC Dean of Social Work Marilyn L. Flynn for "a bribery scheme in which [Sebastian Ridley-Thomas] received substantial benefits from the university in exchange for [Ridley-Thomas's father] supporting county contracts and lucrative contract amendments with the university..."[7][8][9]

Electoral history

2014 California State Assembly election
See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 54th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (incumbent) 34,444 78.2
Republican Glen Ratcliff 9,585 21.8
Total votes 44,029 100.0
General election
Democratic Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (incumbent) 66,082 79.1
Republican Glen Ratcliff 17,506 20.9
Total votes 83,588 100.0
Democratic hold

2016 California State Assembly election
See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 54th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (incumbent) 83,889 83.2
Republican Glen Ratcliff 16,880 16.8
Total votes 100,769 100.0
General election
Democratic Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (incumbent) 146,723 81.6
Republican Glen Ratcliff 33,119 18.4
Total votes 179,842 100.0
Democratic hold

Notes
  1. "2015-16 Joint Handbook" (PDF). California State at Sacramento. 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  2. "California Legislature 2013-14" (PDF). California State at Sacramento. 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  3. "California Legislature 2013-14" (PDF). California State at Sacramento. 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  4. Hamilton, Matt (August 1, 2018). "Donation from prominent L.A. politician roils USC, which referred case to federal prosecutors". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. Ryan, Matt Hamilton, Harriet. "Donation from prominent L.A. politician roils USC, which referred case to federal prosecutors". latimes.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Gutierrez, Melanie Mason, Taryn Luna, Melody. "Ex-assemblyman likely made unwanted sexual advances on Capitol employee, investigation finds". latimes.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Mark Ridley-Thomas Charged Along with Former University Dean in Federal Grand Jury Indictment Alleging Bribery and Fraud Scheme". United States Department of Justice. October 13, 2021.
  8. Finnegan, Michael (October 13, 2021). "L.A. Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas and ex-USC dean indicted on bribery charges". Los Angeles Times.
  9. "Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas Indicted On Federal Charges Alleging Corruption". CBS Los Angeles (KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV). October 13, 2021.
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