CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KERO – Marq Hawkins, who grew up in Compton with friends Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Yella, is running for mayor of Cal City against current Mayor Kelly Kulikoff.

• Hawkins has organized a meet-the-candidates event for Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at 10447 South Loop in California City. The event is also available on Zoom. For more information, visit the event website. For more events, visit Hawkins’ website.
• Kelly Kulikoff, the current mayor of California City, announces that he is running for re-election.
• Duane Vasquez, founder of I Love Cal City, says he is currently running for mayor.
• Jesse Hightower, the former Cal City Police Chief, is running for one of two seats on the City Council. Other candidates for City Council include: former City Clerk Socorro Chavez, Shawn Bradley, Quiana Sandres-Spears and Michael Hurles. LaShelle Cooper is also running for City Council. Cooper is currently a council member. She filled the seat vacated by Karen Macedonio.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MESSAGE:

You might think that with all the chaos in California City, no one would try to take over the leadership of this high desert community… but you might want to think again.

I’m Steve Virgen, your local reporter…

Not only is incumbent Mayor Kelly Kulikoff running for re-election, but there are at least two other candidates in the race.

“I was the guy in the group who stayed in school and made some kind of academic contribution. We were all ‘blerds,’ black nerds, but we somehow understood the importance of what we were doing,” says Marq Hawkins.

Hawkins, who is running for mayor of California City, grew up in Compton, where he was a founding member of World Class Wreckin’ Cru, the group that also included Dr. Dre and Yella, who later rose to fame with NWA.

Hawkins also says that Ice Cube was one of his mentors during his time in LA… and said they both had a passion for success…

“To set a good example for our community and the hip-hop community,” says Hawkins.

Hawkins tells me he will help Cal City change its tone.

He says he wants success for the desert city. A difficult task.

Voters recently rejected a bill that would have provided financial support for police and fire departments. In addition, several questions in the recent grand jury report were not resolved.

“Something has to change. The city needs a new direction. It needs new leadership,” Hawkins says.

Kelly Kulikoff says he plans to continue serving as mayor.

“I have the knowledge and ability to balance this budget,” Kulikoff says.

Duane Vasquez, founder of I Love Cal City, tells me he is currently running for mayor.

He worked for the city’s golf course and was one of 19 employees laid off due to budget cuts.

The deadline for submitting the necessary documents to run for mayor is Friday at 5 p.m.

“I just feel like no one has stepped into the race for mayor yet who I believe can actually make a difference and move us forward,” Kulikoff says.

Hawkins has organized a candidate meet-and-greet event for Monday and is also inviting candidates running for a seat on the city council.

Jesse Hightower, who was fired as police chief in April, is running for one of the two seats on the council.

Hawkins tells me he might rap during his campaign. He joked with me, using a diss similar to that of Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar.

“Kelly, not us. Kelly, not us. … No, I won’t do that to him.”

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