LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement:
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my good friend Congressman Doug LaMalfa. He was an upstanding colleague, warm and engaging, and a fierce advocate for his constituents. Working across the aisle, we had many issues we disagreed upon but collaborated where we could, always with great respect for one another.
“When I was Speaker of the Assembly, I went and spent a day with him on his family's rice farm. I think he was pleasantly surprised that a Democrat would spend this time in his deep red district.
“While on the farm, he invited me to take a picture on the harvesting machine. Then he said, ‘Now, harvest this plot.’ And I did. We laughed about that day for years to come. I smile as I remember him and his nickname for me -- ‘Bass-o-matic’.
“Later on, I welcomed him when he was elected to Congress and enjoyed years of his friendship. I will always remember him as a leader who worked hard for his community, remembered where he came from and fought for his constituents in the state we both call home.”