At current count, about eight people bothered to vote in the special election race to fill the vacant seat left by Nury Martinez in disgrace late last year. And if current numbers hold, those eight people advanced Imelda Padilla and Marisa Alcaraz to represent the district on the Los Angeles City Council.
Both have been around for a while and neither are particularly reform-minded.
Padilla, who unsuccessfully ran as the teachers union’s favored candidate for Los Angeles Unified School Board and once worked for Nury Martinez, received 25.55% of the vote. Padilla was the beneficiary of $98,117.18 in campaign donations and nearly $90,000 in spending from outside groups in support of her.
For voters looking to take a harm reduction approach to the damage City Hall always does, Padilla did receive endorsements from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles and the Central City Association. The latter group, which represents Downtown Los Angeles interests, said of Padilla, “Padilla knows that a thriving economy, full of opportunities for entrepreneurs in businesses of all industries, will make our communities more livable and create a brighter future for Angelenos in Council District 6 and across our great city.”
In second place right now is Los Angeles Councilman Current Price’s staffer, Marisa Alcaraz.
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The most interesting thing about Alcaraz’s run for City Council is that United Food & Commercial Workers Local 700, which represents grocery store workers, sent out a false mailer claiming the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión had endorsed her. According to the Los Angeles Times, the union admitted the “error” and apologized. Yes, I’m sure they’re super apologetic for an “error” which might well have steered votes to Alcaraz, who is currently just barely edging out third-place candidate Rose Grigoryan.
Alcaraz also benefited from some goofy mailers titled “Filipinos in Faith,” “Democrats in Faith” and “Latinos in Faith,” paid for by the oddly named “Clean Water Clean Government to support Marisa Alcaraz for City Council 2023.” The mailers were funded in part by the Cordoba Corporation, which has previously spent in support of Curren Price and noted corrupt clown and disgrace to Zacatecas, Mexico, Jose Huizar.
Finally, I should note that the city’s police union appear to have scored a nice win (for them). The union spent over $70,000 to defeat Marco Santana, currently in fourth place despite spending nearly $200,0000. No other candidate was targeted by that kind of opposition spending.
Overall, my main takeaway is, “Meh.” Padilla will probably be less bad than Alcaraz.
Sal Rodriguez can be reached at salrodriguez@scng.com