Assistant Sheriff Todd Rogers enters race to replace Lee Baca.
By Brian Hews
With the sudden resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca being announced on Tuesday, current Assistant Sheriff Todd Rogers has told Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper in an interview that he will “indeed be a candidate” to replace Baca in the upcoming June primary election.
Rogers is also a longtime city councilman and past mayor in Lakewood, and has built a strong following from several local and area elected officials throughout the sprawling county.
Rogers told HMG-CN that he first heard that Baca was retiring on Monday, and said that his first reaction to the news that he “was in total shock.”
Rogers would not elaborate to comment if he and Baca have talked about his entry into the campaign, but Baca on Tuesday said in a press conference that he thinks Rogers should be considered to replace him in an interim basis as Acting Sheriff.
“My plan is to run for Sheriff and to be elected by the voters this June. I am 100% committed to this campaign to be the next Sheriff and to lead this amazing professional law enforcement organization,” Rogers said.
Lakewood Vice Mayor Todd Rogers. Photo from City of Lakewood.
Rogers said he will be “immediately” filing the legally required documents with the California Secretary of State and the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters office in Norwalk to open a campaign committee.
“This is going to take a tremendous amount of work, and my campaign starts today,” Rogers told HMG-CN.
Rogers said he will be hiring a full time professional campaign consultant and a fundraiser team to help oversee his election effort.
Rogers has been a hugely popular elected city councilman in the City of Lakewood for the past decade where he currently serves as Vice Mayor.
Rogers was elected to the city council in March 2001 and re-elected in 2005. In March 2009 and March 2013, running unopposed, he was returned to office for additional four-year terms. He served terms as Lakewood’s mayor in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010.
Rogers holds the rank of Assistant Sheriff in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He joined the department in 1985 and has had a variety of patrol, custody, and training assignments, including at the Carson, Pico Rivera and Lomita Stations, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Bureau and Regional Community Policing Institute.
Rogers also touts his experience as Captain of the Carson Station for six years. In addition to being one of Baca’s current top two assistants, he served as an Area Commander within the Department’s Field Operations Region II Headquarters and Leadership and Training Division.
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No, don’t run for L.A.County Sheriff. I was hoping you would run for U.S.Senate.
Barbara Boxer’s term is up. She wants a break. Rodgers should fill her spot. Senator Todd Rodgers. You get reelected by the knowledgeable Lakewood City Council. The council people know how good you are. Take the U.S.Senate seat.