Sierra Club Endorses Mike Bonin

Los Angeles District 11 City Council candidate Mike Bonin announced Wednesday he has won the support of the Sierra Club in his election bid.

The Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the region's premier and most respected environmental groups, said Bonin was the clear choice to protect an environmentally aware district that is home to some of the region’s most beautiful natural resources, such as the coast, the Santa Monica Mountains and the Ballona Wetlands.

"Mike Bonin understands the importance of championing and protecting our environment and our natural resources," said Joe Young, chairman of the Airport Marina Group, part of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, in a press release. "Mike Bonin will be a warrior for the environment, and Sierra Club knows he will be a good, strong partner in stewardship of this remarkable district."

Bonin said he was honored by the endorsement, and pledged to be a staunch defender of the environment.

"I consider our coast, our mountains, our wetlands, and our natural resources to be sacred gifts," Bonin said. "Being the councilmember for this district is a sacred trust, and I am honored that the Sierra Club has endorsed me to fulfill that mission."

Bonin said he was eager to continue work to protect open space and clean up Santa Monica Bay. He said he was particularly eager to reduce the city’s reliance on fossil fuels, promote solar energy and cool paving, increase alternative means of transportation and promote discovery of an access to his district’s environmental treasures.

The Sierra Club endorsement comes after Bonin secured an endorsement from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.

Club members say Bonin has a strong track record on environmental issues.  During the 1990s, Bonin helped create a capital improvement project that treated urban runoff and kept pollution from the Santa Monica Bay. He led efforts to convert a former oil drilling sight into a popular and heavily used recreation area. He has also worked to promote and expand recycling, ban plastic bags, and reduce fees for farmers’ markets. He is also a member of the Expo Metro Construction Authority, building mass transit to the Westside, and helped win a approval of a plan for a citywide network of bicycle lanes.