In a 12-0 vote, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson was elected president pro tem of the L.A. City Council this week. He will serve under Council President Paul Krekorian—who nominated him to the position.
First elected to the city council in 2015 to represent the Eighth district—which includes South L.A. Leimert Park and Baldwin Hills—Harris Dawson is now second-in-command to the council president and will preside over meetings in his absence.
Harris-Dawson will succeed Ninth District Councilmember Curren Price, who stepped down to defend his name after being charged with embezzlement. The Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee is expected to consider recommending Price’s suspension later this week.
Harris-Dawson indicated that he would be visiting Price’s district for input on how residents want to move forward, adding that he was confident that the City Council would be able to “navigate the situation and come out of it stronger.