My Political Journey

By Tonya McKenzie

Los Angeles County Commissioner

On March 1, 2021, I started my four-year tenure as a Los Angeles County Commissioner. It is an appointed position, delegated by an L.A. County Supervisor, voted on by the people. When I got the call, I had to step back and analyze how I even got to this place. I am being appointed to a position that is charged with promoting better human relations in Los Angeles County by working to transform prejudice into acceptance, inequity into justice, and hostility into peace. This important position says a lot about my leadership and capabilities. It also says a lot about the work that I have done in the past to get me to this point.

I became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Omega Kappa Chapter in 1995. The women who were a part of bringing us through the organization taught us the fundamentals of working hard, not taking any shortcuts, and being action-oriented. This has been the theme of my activism, leadership and political aspirations. In 2010, I chartered Omega Kappa Zeta grad chapter in Northern California.

At California State University, Northridge, I ran and was elected as a student body Senator. After college, I worked to become the Associate Executive Director of the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA and was elected as the first African American to the Board of Directors for the Oakley Chamber of Commerce. Living and working in Contra Costa County gave me a platform to advocate for what I was truly passionate about. Being a gun violence and sexual assault survivor, lit a fire in me for the advocacy of our youth. I was appointed in 2007 to the Contra Costa County Youth Council for District 5 by Supervisor Federal Glover.

In 2016, I founded my company, Sand & Shores, a public relations and leadership firm. Being active in the business community here in Redondo Beach, California, I was elected as the first African American president of the North Redondo Beach Business Association. In 2017, I was appointed to the City of Redondo Beach GPAC (General Plan Advisory Committee) by City Councilwoman Laura Emdee. We work to send zoning and other recommendations to the Planning Commission to enact for the future of the city. In June 2018, I was awarded the Ambassador of the Year for the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and sworn in by Assembly member, Al Muratsuchi as the first African American woman to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Early 2020, I cochaired the very first Dr. MLK Jr. Celebration in the Redondo Beach city’s history and my firm handled the public relations and marketing efforts. It was an amazing event and a highlight of my career. 2020’s COVID-19 shutdown prompted my appointment to the City of Redondo Beach’s Crisis Council. Recently, I was awarded a fellowship from Everytown, where I will serve as a national spokesperson and policy advocate for commonsense gun laws.

So, how did I get to a place where Supervisor Janice Hahn appoints me to an L.A. Commission position? I would say that it has been a lot of hard work, dedication, many firsts, and the willingness to serve the communities in which I live to improve the quality of life for our youth and residents alike. My motto: Leave this world better than you got it.