Hollywood Unlocked CEO elected to Stockton City Council
Jason Lee, the founder of the entertainment news and gossip site Hollywood Unlocked , has won the District 6 seat on Stockton's City Council.
"THANK YOU!!!" he posted on Instagram late Tuesday night. "Deeply honored to have earned the support and trust of my neighbors, the voters of my hometown, and you."
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"Now I begin the work of creating safer and stronger communities, improving our quality of life and charting our next chapter. Heck, forget the next chapter. We will write a whole new book!" he continued. "Stockton–thank you."
Lee, who grew up in Stockton, moved to Los Angeles in the early '00s. He appeared on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" in 2015 and was a recurring cast member on the sketch series "Wild 'N Out."
He later launched the "Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee" podcast, which had him hanging out with celebrities like Kanye West, Kevin Hart and more. He's known for his friendships with Rihanna, Cardi B and Tiffany Haddish.
On election night he proclaimed victory over incumbent candidate District 6 Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley. He received 3,505 votes (56.2%) to Warmsley's 2,727 votes (43.8%).
Warmsley, a clinical therapist, was first elected to the seat in 2020.
Warmsley released a statement obtained by The Record after the first round of results were announced:
"I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to lead our beautiful district. Your support has been invaluable, and I am truly honored to serve you. As we await the final vote tally, let us all embrace patience and trust in the power of democracy. Together, we will continue to build a vibrant and thriving community. Thank you once again for your confidence in me."
In March, Lee won the primary for the seat. Stocktonia reported he won 42% of the vote among the six candidates in the running.
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The outlet also reports that both Lee and Warmsley were "under investigation for their finances" as the Fair Political Practices Commission has opened investigations into both of them. Reportedly on July 8, a complaint claimed they "failed to share enough income and investment information."
It also reports that the CEO's company has been involved in lawsuits regarding its business practices over the years.
Earlier this year, The Stockton Record reported that Lee announced his run for office in December 2023, months after the council unanimously denied his nonprofit Hollywood Cares a $1 million grant.
For months, Lee stumped on the platform that he wanted to give back to his hometown.
"My ONLY intention has always been to help my city. I love Stockton and I want others to love it just as much. I got tired of watching the folks at city hall play with the lives of my family and my friends. Now they will have to turn the page because anybody who knows me knows I don't 'go along to get along,'" he wrote on Instagram .
There are also questions on whether Lee resides in the Northern California city. Candidates must live in the city for at least 30 days leading up to the election, according to the outlet. In March, The Stockton Record reported Lee listed his residence in Encino in campaign finance forms.
However, Lee also slammed these claims by revealing in May he "moved back home to Stockton full time" in 2023 and only comes to L.A. twice a week for his job.
While on the campaign trail, Lee has stayed true to his story of becoming a self-made success.
The 47-year-old grew up on Scribner Street in Southeast Stockton and explained that he bounced around various foster homes and the Children's Home of Stockton.
"[I] worked at Stagg High School for two years. A school I graduated from, I went to when at probation helping at-risk youth and realized the playground-to-prison pipeline was real. Left there to work for a union helping healthcare workers," he explained . "Now I own Healthcare Unlocked helping low-income families get access to $0 quality health insurance. Met Queen Latifah at the county fair which inspired my current career unlocking Hollywood."
