Los Angeles County and 29 cities within it will host elections today. Nearly 100 city council seats are up across the region, from Bell to Beverly Hills, Glendora to Gardena, South El Monte to South Gate.
This election is special as it may be one of the last held during an odd-year cycle, thanks to passing of Senate Bill 415 last year. The new regulations from this bill will require cities in California with low voter turnout (AKA, the majority of California cities) to hold their elections at the same time as state-wide elections, meaning either June or November of even years.
Development issues are a driving force across Los Angeles County, from Measure S in the City of L.A, to public outcries in Glendora over towering apartment buildings along Route 66, to Measure C in Redondo Beach, which, if passed, would slow the process of a $400 million makeover of the waterfront. There are also several cities struggling with corruption issues, including both Gardena and South El Monte with vacancies due to their mayors being arrested. In Huntington Park, a current sitting councilmember is under investigation by the District Attorney’s office. Stepping down in the middle of a term has also left vacancies in Norwalk and L.A. City District 7, causing a large number of candidates to file for both of these open seats. Let’s take a look at what else is happening across Los Angeles County:
Ballot Measures
Los Angeles County has one measure that plans to prevent and combat homelessness through a 1/4-cent tax – Measure H. If passed, L.A. County’s sales tax would increase from 9.25% to 9.5%, then go back to 9.25% after 10 years. The extra funds from the tax would be used to implement the county's 47-point plan for addressing homelessness, which includes providing housing and mental and substance abuse counseling. For Measure H to pass, two-thirds of voters must support it.
There are also 13 local ballot measures throughout the cities – from marijuana regulation/taxes in Bellflower and Los Angeles, to hotel taxes in Bell, to halting development in Los Angeles, to answering one single question in San Fernando – should the Treasurer be appointed or elected? Read them all here.
City Council Elections
City of Azusa
Three candidates are running for Mayor, including incumbent Mayor Joseph Rocha and current councilmember Uriel Macias. Three candidates running for two council seats, including incumbents Robert Gonzales and Edward Alvarez, and newcomer Andrew Mendez. Mendez has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of thieves who stole 76 of his campaign signs.
City of Beverly Hills
Incumbents John Mirisich and Nancy Krasne face a crowded field of eight challengers for three open seats, with incumbent William Brien not seeking re-election. Recently, voters in this city have taken a stronger stance against developers by choosing to reject a 375-foot tower proposal and approving an initiative that would slow down the process of approving future development projects.
City of Cudahy
Incumbents Jack Guerrero and Chris Garcia face eight challengers for two open seats. Choosing to label Cudahy as a sanctuary city has predominated the talks in recent council meetings. Councilman Garcia recently criticized Councilman Guerrero for ‘betraying his Latino constituents’ by bringing ‘white supremacists’ group to the meetings. Guerrero argues if the city chooses to become a sanctuary city, it may cause possible fiscal repercussions.
City of Gardena
A vacant seat for mayor is open after Paul Tanaka’s departure in summer 2016, when he was sentenced to prison on federal corruption convictions. ALL FOUR current city councilmembers have filed to run for the Mayor’s seat, along with former councilmembers Ron Ikejiri and Rachel Johnson. If current Councilmembers Medina and Henderson do not win the Mayor’s seat, they will remain on the council to finish their terms.
The eight candidates running for the two open seats on the Gardena City Council won’t have to worry about incumbents (since they are all running for the mayoral seat), though none of the eight have served in elected office before. The winners will replace Councilmembers Tasha Cerda and Terrence Terauchi.
City of Glendora
Two seats are up in Glendora, with both incumbents on the ballot for re-election facing three challengers. Current Mayor Gene Murabito announced in early February he would no longer campaign for re-election, saying he would be unable to give the job the time it needs and instead pursue an unnamed opportunity. He then announced again in late February that he was back in the race.
City of Huntington Park
Two seats are up, with both incumbents running along with four challengers. Councilmember Karina Macias is seeking re-election, amid investigations by the L.A. County District Attorney’s office into her role as a political consultant. Macias raised money from companies that had interest in doing business in the city - businesses that were later awarded contracts by Macias and the council.
City of La Mirada
This will be the first election in which voters will choose their councilmember by district, instead of at-large. Five districts have been drawn, with the 1st and 2nd district seats up. The districting came about after a threat to sue by the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, stating that Latino representation on the council was disproportionate. Only two Latinos, Steve De Ruse and Gabe Garcia, have served on the council in the city’s 56-year history.
In District 1, four newcomers are hoping to gain the seat, which covers the northwest corner of the city. Diane Gramajo, a business owner and president of the La Mirada High Boosters Club, is the only Latino candidate to file in this district -- the only district in the city with a majority Latino population.
In District 2, incumbents Pauline Deal and Andrew Sarega are running for the seat, with no other challengers. The winner of this seat will remain on the council, and the other will leave the council.
Candidates and residents alike are upset from recent negative mail attacking candidate John Lewis in District 1 and Councilwoman Pauline Deal, running for the District 2 seat. The mailer was sent by an independent committee, Residents for a Better La Mirada, with major funding from La Habra-based Diamond Construction and Design. Sitting councilmembers, along with candidates and residents find the negative mail to be disappointing and unusual for their city.
Elections for Districts 3, 4, and 5 are still scheduled to take place in March 2019.
City of Los Angeles
The Mayor’s seat along with all of the odd districts are up in the City of L.A. City Councilmembers elected will hold office for 5 and a half years instead of the usual four-year terms (ending 2022). All incumbents are running to keep their seats, except in District 7, which is open. The district's former councilman, Felipe Fuentes, left abruptly last year to become a lobbyist.
There are 20 candidates running for this open seat, and if none receive more than 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to the general election on May 16. The 20 candidates are diverse: Dale Gibson is a stuntman with credits in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Art Miner is sports bar owner, Bonnie Corwin is a bookkeeper, and Michael Schaefer has run in many different elections.
Leading the field in funds raised and endorsements are three candidates, Non-Profit Director Monica Rodriguez (endorsed by Mayor Garcetti), Policy Advisor Karo Torossian (endorsed by Councilman Krekorian) and current LAUSD Board Member Monica Ratliff (endorsed by the LA Times).
City of Manhattan Beach
Incumbents Mark Burton and Tony D’Errico face six challengers for three seats on the City Council: former council members Steve Napolitano and Richard Montgomery; planning commissioners Nancy Hersman and Chris Conoway; realtor Joseph Ungoco; and former educator Diane Barkelew Wallace. Many residents in the city are divided over development issues and keeping their hometown feel.
The candidates elected will serve a shorter term of three years and eight months, as Manhattan Beach is changing its election cycle to sync with statewide elections.
City of Norwalk
No incumbents have filed to run for re-election in Norwalk, meaning three of the five seats on the council will be filled with new members in March. The council has operated with just four members since Marcel Rodarte stepped down in July to become Executive Director of the California Contract Cities. In addition to electing council members for two full-term seats, voters will choose among three candidates to fill the remainder of the term of former Rodarte.
Twelve candidates have filed to fill these three open seats.
Running to finish Rodarte’s term are Margarita Rios, a public-school police sergeant, Ken Menchaca, an intervention worker; and Alberto Uribe, a 24-year-old supermarket human resources coordinator.
The other nine candidates are running to fill Mike Mendez’s and Cheri Kelley’s seats. Candidates include Esperanza “Espie” Free, who is running with the support of Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, Jennifer Perez, a Norwalk Planning Commissioner and the daughter of a former Norwalk Mayor Bob Arthur, and Tony Ayala, who brings the endorsements of Senator Tony Mendoza and Assemblyman Ian Calderon.
City of Paramount
Though Paramount is about 80% Latino, four of the five current councilmembers are white. The discovery of toxic, cancer-causing emissions from metal processing plants has triggered outrage among residents, inspiring two to run for city council. The current Mayor, who is not up for election, told constituents in November they may have put too much trust in the SQAMD report. Two incumbents facing are two challengers.
City of Pasadena
Incumbent Victor Gordo is running against two challengers for his seat in District 5, one of the city’s most ethnically and socially diverse districts. Gordo has the endorsements of The San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Pasadena News Now. Challenger Krystal Lopez-Padley received more than a third of her funding from Dale Gronemeier, a civil rights attorney and activist for progressive issues in Pasadena. The other challenger, Aida Morales, has raised only a small amount for her campaign.
Donors have given more than $150,000 into the race for Terry Tornek’s vacant seat in District 7. Appointed incumbent Andy Wilson raised more than $80,000 by the end of January, with 25% of those contributions coming from 12 paying members of Innovate Pasadena, the non-profit Wilson co-founded.
City of Redondo Beach
Eight candidates running for three seats in the districted election. Current Mayor Steve Aspel is running to keep his seat against three challengers, one of which is current councilmember Bill Brand. Eric Coleman, also running for Mayor, has some interesting things to say.
In District 1, two newcomers are challenging a newly appointed incumbent, Marth Barbee. Two candidates are competing to replace termed-out Councilman Bill Brand in District 2, ground zero for long-running development battles over the harbor, pier and power plant site.
Three first-time candidates are running for the District 4 seat held by Stephen Sammarco, who will not seek another term. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to a May 16 runoff.
City of San Gabriel
Seven candidates are running for three seats – incumbents Chin-Ho Liao and Jason Pu running to keep their seats, and Kevin B. Sawkins is not seeking re-election but instead running unopposed for City Treasurer. The incumbents are being challenged by former councilman Mario De La Torre, local business owners Scott Bowles and Denise Menchaca, educator A.J. Faure and San Gabriel County Water District board member Eric L. Chan.
The only challenger close to raising as much money as the incumbents is local business owner Denise Menchaca. She also ran in the city’s 2015 election, losing to Councilmember Juli Costanzo by 2 votes.
City of South El Monte
South El Monte is holding an election to fill the vacancy created after former Mayor Luis Aguinaga pleaded guilty to a federal bribery count. A recent letter written by Aguinaga admits that he and a contractor he took bribes from were joined for drinks by an unnamed city council member. This letter could spark questions around what other elected officials in the city may be involved in the seven-year bribery scheme that is sending Aguinaga to prison. Read more here.
City of West Hollywood
Longtime incumbents John Heilman and John Duran are in the lead with campaign contributions, running against eight challengers to keep their seats on the council. Billboard companies and their owners and employees donated a total of $15,500 to incumbents Duran and Heilman and to the independent expenditure committee supporting them.
If either incumbent were to lose, there is a chance the council would no longer have an LGBT majority.
The outcome of local elections play a huge role in our day to day lives. If you live in Los Angeles County, please get out and vote! Find your polling place here.