Mark Ridley-Thomas

Mark Ridley-Thomas is a graduate of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor’s
and master’s degree from Immaculate Heart College. He went on to receive his doctorate from the
The University of Southern California.  His political career was preceded by five-years as a high school teacher followed by a decade as
the executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles.

Mark Ridley-Thomas was first elected to public office in 1991 to the Los Angeles City Council
and served there for nearly a dozen years. This was followed by two terms in the State Assembly
beginning in 2002 then election to the California State Senate in 2006.  In January 2008, he became Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.  He is married to Avis Ridley-Thomas and they are the parents of twin sons, Sebastian and Sinclair, both students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Website: Ridley-Thomas.lacounty.gov