Antonovich testified before the State Assembly Local Government Committee yesterday in support of Assembly Bill 251, but the bill was defeated in committee.

[view:node_ad=5]Assembly Bill 251 would have added and additional member to the MTA board, who would represent the northern section of the County, which includes Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley.

“A position on the MTA board would give us more representation and a voice on what happens out our way,” said Santa Clarita City Council member Marsha McLean, speaking for herself and not for the entire council.

The MTA is in charge of dispersing funds for transportation projects throughout L.A County and those who hold more votes on the board hold more clout in determining where the funds go.

Currently the four sections represented on the board are the Southwest Corridor Sector, the Southeast Long Beach Sector, the San Gabriel Valley Sector and the North County/San Fernando Valley Sector.

These sectors each have one vote on the board and are in addition to the four members who represent the City of Los Angeles. There are also five L.A. County Supervisors who hold a vote in MTA matters.

“Add the two Supervisors whose districts are primarily L.A. City, and the city starts with six votes on almost every issue with easy access to a seven-vote majority,” said Antonovich in his oral testimony before the Assembly Local Governments Committee.

The North County/San Fernando Sector currently covers cities from Agoura Hills to La Canada, and reaching all the way to the Antelope Valley.

Now that the bill was defeated Antonovich’s Communitacions Deputy Tony Bell says they’ll have to find other solutions for the northern county.

“We will look at every possible avenue and move forward proactively to ensure that the North County has proper representation on the MTA board.”

To see what Antonovich had to say in his oral testimony click here .