Sheila Rossi

is the Grassroots Candidate

Supported by South Pasadena’s Residents,

Community Leaders, and Commissioners

Sheila has raised less than $16,000, having turned down corporate donations and drawing over 90% of her contributions from South Pasadena residents. Her opponent has raised over $54,000, with over 90% of contributions coming from outside of South Pasadena, including individual and corporate donations from real estate investment firms and developers - as verified by unredacted campaign finance filings that can be found here.

Sheila realizes we are at a critical time in our history as we plan for state-mandated development and believes city leaders need to be focused on the needs of the community rather than outside, big money interests.

As the grassroots candidate, Sheila developed and wrote her own platform through her 17 years of experience volunteering and engaging directly in South Pasadena. Her children helped create her website, providing photography, graphic design, and technical support. Sheila’s campaign is volunteer driven. She does not pay for professional canvassers or a field manager. Instead she canvasses door-to-door with friends, having knocked on nearly every door in District 2. If she’s missed your door, please reach out to meet her!

See the list of local residents, community leaders and commissioners that endorse Sheila.

SELECT ENDORSEMENTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS

ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

* Mom’s Demand Action is a Candidate Distinction and does not represent an endorsement

Sheila Rossi - Candidate for South Pasadena City Council, District 2

Sheila Rossi, a long-time resident and dedicated community advocate, proudly announces her candidacy for South Pasadena City Council District 2. As the only Democrat in the District 2 race, Sheila has a broad base of support that runs across the political spectrum. With over two decades of community service and leadership, Rossi is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future for South Pasadena while preserving its unique charm and sense of community.

Rossi's 17 years in South Pasadena have been marked by extensive community service. Rossi currently serves as Vice-Chair of both the South Pasadena Finance Commission and the Finance Ad Hoc Committee, providing fiscal oversight and responsibility for our community well-being. She served on the Executive Board of the South Pasadena Educational Foundation and actively campaigned for the passage of Measure S (2009, 2013) & SP (2016) as a member of those committees. She has also been a member of the South Pasadena Arts Council, WISPPA, AYSO, co-chaired the LAC/USC Holiday Gift Giving Event with National Charity League, and served as a Girl Scouts leader.

Campaign Committee

Mary Urquhart

Dean Serwin

Bill Cullinane

Larry Abelson

Sherry Plotkin

Alberto Ocon

Jerilyn Schmidt-Chun

Nick Taylor

Marsha Lau

Odom Stamps

Lauren Weinberger

John Adamson

Jacqueline Ficht

Bryan Samuels

Delaine Shane

Sunah Shin

Gavin Rossi

Alison Smith

Priorities

Government Accountability: A Call for Community-Centric Leadership

Our government's primary responsibility should be to address the evolving needs of our community. In 2019, I witnessed city leadership misuse code enforcement, breach ethical boundaries, and wield government power against a single mother impacted by the city's negligent public works management. Instead of addressing the underlying infrastructure issues that led to a 36-hour sewage spill from the city's main sewer line, the city accrued over half a million dollars in legal fees. This not only caused irreparable harm to a beloved community volunteer and her three children but also left the city non-compliant with a multi-million dollar environmental consent judgment from the State.

This blatant abuse of power and disregard for residents compelled me to investigate further. What I found was a growing dysfunction within city hall: dismantled departments, weakened internal controls, disempowered oversight commissions, misuse of the Brown Act, disregard for the Public Records Act, excessive permitting delays, plans to outsource public safety and community services, and a pervasive sense of discontent and fear among residents.

Over the next four years, I collaborated with community advocates to restore our city's integrity. Our advocacy led to crucial leadership changes to stabilize City Hall. However, council members who promised change instead obstructed meaningful reforms. The 2020 Finance Ad-Hoc's recommendations for internal financial review and controls were dismissed, hindering efforts to stabilize city finances.

We now face a critical juncture as we prepare for development to meet the State's housing requirements. Our community and local economy have yet to fully recover from the pandemic's impacts. The finance department remains in disarray, failing to produce financial reports for over seven years, impeding sound long-term planning. Residents, developers, and business owners experience costly delays in the planning and permitting process. Staffing shortages in crucial departments persist, capital improvement projects remain unfinished, and appropriate community engagement and commission oversight have not been restored. Distrust in the community planning process and frustration with infrastructure delays remain high.

As we look to the future, it is imperative that we unite as a community to ensure South Pasadena grows in a way that welcomes new residents and opportunities while preserving and enhancing the small-town qualities we cherish. Together, we can build a brighter future for all.

Sheila Rossi - Candidate for South Pasadena City Council Walks in July 4th Parade

Walking in the parade, July 4, 2017

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