By OGNSC Staff | Los Angeles News Observer
As Inglewood continues its transformative era of growth, economic opportunity, and civic renewal, voters are presented with a slate of progressive, experienced leaders dedicated to ensuring this progress lifts every neighborhood. From City Hall to the local school board and regional water oversight, Mayor James T. Butts Jr., District 1 Council candidate Keokia Childress, School Board candidates Cheryl Williams and Joe Bowers, and West Basin Water Director candidate Carol Raines-Brown represent a unified commitment to accountable governance. Rooted in deep community service and proven public leadership, these forward-thinking candidates bring a shared vision: strengthening public safety and fiscal stability, championing affordable housing and local small businesses, expanding educational excellence as local school control returns, and protecting essential public resources for generations to come.
Mayor
James T. Butts Jr. is seeking reelection as mayor of Inglewood, saying the city’s transformation over the past decade has positioned it for continued growth while maintaining a commitment to public safety, fiscal responsibility, and neighborhood investment.
First elected in 2011, Butts said his administration has focused on strengthening city finances, expanding services for youth and seniors, revitalizing neighborhoods, and attracting economic development that has created jobs, broadened the city’s tax base, and elevated Inglewood’s national profile.
Butts said his five decades of public leadership and business expertise helped guide Inglewood from financial uncertainty to long-term fiscal stability. Under his administration, the city’s bond rating improved to AA+, and reserve funds now exceed the city’s annual operating budget.
His administration also added new housing, adopted rent control, upgraded infrastructure, and secured development of SoFi Stadium, the Intuit Dome, the NFL Network, YouTube Theater, and other major sports and entertainment investments.
His priorities for another term include maintaining safe neighborhoods, expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring that Inglewood’s continued growth benefits both current residents and future generations. Keokia Childress
Keokia Childress is seeking election to the Inglewood City Council representing District 1, saying the city is at a point where leadership grounded in accountability and community service can help build on its progress.
A resident of Inglewood for more than 40 years, Childress said her candidacy reflects a desire to give back to the city that helped shape her life, family, and business.
Her priorities include public safety, housing affordability, support for small businesses and local hiring, investment in children and families, and city government that is fair, transparent, and accessible.
Her commitment to community service began at age 16 in the City of Inglewood’s Parks and Recreation Department. She later managed Spa 313 Salon for 22 years, co-founded the Taste of Inglewood, and founded Keokia’s Kitchen, a restaurant and community gathering place.
For the past eight years, Childress has served as an Inglewood Housing Commissioner, advocating for residents and affordable housing opportunities. She has also organized backpack drives and other youth initiatives. Childress said those experiences, along with her background as a small business owner and community leader, have prepared her to serve as an independent voice for District 1 residents. Cheryl Williams
Cheryl Williams is seeking election to the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 1, saying her experience as an Inglewood Unified graduate and longtime community volunteer has prepared her to help strengthen the district’s future.
A graduate of Morningside High School, Williams also attended Woodworth Elementary School and Monroe Junior High School. Her father, Dr. Ernest Shaw, served on the Inglewood Unified Board of Education.
Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in Behavioral Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She built her career in the insurance industry, managing complex workers’ compensation claims, evaluating financial exposure, and making decisions requiring accountability, sound judgment, and responsible stewardship of resources.
Her community involvement includes helping establish the Morningside Monarchs Alumni Association, where she has supported scholarships, student recognition, educational opportunities, and academic achievement. She also serves as District 4 Inglewood Planning Commissioner, a scholarship board member for the Inglewood Century Heights Neighborhood Watch Association, and speech chairperson for the Inglewood Black History Celebration.
Williams said her priorities include fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, safe learning environments, transparency, expanded tutoring and literacy programs, STEM and career technical education, arts education, after-school programs, and student mental health services.
Joe Bowers
Joe W. Bowers Jr. is seeking election to the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education representing Trustee Area #2 as the district prepares to regain local governance after years of state receivership.
Bowers said his candidacy builds on more than a decade of education advocacy and a commitment to helping the district continue its progress through sound governance, fiscal responsibility, and student achievement.
His connection to the district is personal. His son attended Inglewood Unified schools, and his late wife served as president of the Board of Education.
Bowers co-founded the Education Equity Coalition, serves as the Inglewood Area Ministers Association’s liaison to the school district, participates on district committees, and has worked with educators, community leaders, and state legislators on school finance, governance, and education policy.
A Stanford University graduate with degrees in engineering and business, Bowers spent more than 25 years in executive leadership with IBM, Exxon Research and Engineering, The Coca-Cola Company, and other corporations. He later became a contributing editor for California Black Media, writing about education policy, school finance, governance, healthcare, economic development, and other public policy issues.
Bowers said his knowledge of Inglewood Unified’s history, financial challenges, and recovery has prepared him to help guide the district’s transition to restored local governance. His priorities are improving student achievement, supporting teachers and school employees, exercising sound fiscal oversight, listening to parents and the community, and preparing every student for success after graduation.
Carol Raines-Brown
Carol Raines-Brown is seeking election to the West Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, Division 2, bringing more than 40 years of experience as a community advocate, educator, minister, and public servant.
Raines-Brown previously served on the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education, representing more than 16,000 students and families. She currently works as a Community Outreach Organizer for the Los Angeles Unified School District Facilities Services Division, coordinating public engagement for school construction, campus modernization, ADA compliance, environmental projects, and voter-approved bond improvements.
Throughout her career, Raines-Brown has promoted transparency, fiscal accountability, educational excellence, and partnerships connecting students and foster youth with colleges, businesses, and career opportunities. She also served on the Executive Board of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association.
Raines-Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilberforce University, completed professional studies at Harvard University, is a master’s candidate at Pepperdine University, and received an honorary doctorate from St. Stephen’s Bible College.
If elected, she will work to protect safe, reliable, and affordable water, strengthen conservation and drought preparedness, expand environmental education and workforce development, and ensure every community has a voice in decisions affecting our water future.