Race to represent State Assembly District 79 NBC 7 San Diego [Video]

There are a half-dozen State Assembly seats representing San Diego up for grabs this election. Among them: District 79, which spans from Southcrest to Spring Valley and El Cajon.

Colin Parent, a La Mesa city councilmember, and LaShae Sharp-Collins, a community engagement specialist with the San Diego County Office of Education, are vying for the seat. They are both Democrats. The district was represented by Shirley Weber and then her daughter, Akilah Weber, for more than a decade. (The younger Weber is now running for State Senate.)

“I believe in public service. And I think through effective public policy, we can really improve the lives of the people we represent,” said Parent. “There’s really no substitute in terms of training for serving in the legislature to serving in local government.”

Sharp-Collins served as district director for Shirley Weber.

“I’ve already done this work. And it’s important that I continue on with the legacy of being the moral compass …