Imelda Padilla, the community relations manager, triumphantly announced her victory on Friday in the race for the Sixth District Los Angeles City Council seat. Her opponent, council aide Marisa Alcaraz, conceded just a few hours earlier.
In a statement, Padilla said, “My journey as a champion for the northeast San Fernando Valley began when I was 15 years old and joined the L.A. City Youth Council. That experience ignited my lifelong passion for organizing and serving the hard-working families, seniors, and youth of the Valley. So, today truly feels like the culmination of 20 years of hard work.”
According to the updated ballot results on Friday, Padilla was leading with 8,520 votes, while Alcaraz had 6,751 votes. This equated to a margin of 55.79% to 44.21% in favor of Padilla. The race was to fill the remainder of Nury Martinez’s term, which ends in December 2024.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office reported a voter turnout of 13.02% based on the semi-official results.
Padilla is expected to take office after the council’s three-week summer recess, which will last from July 7 to July 28.
However, Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion on Friday seeking to appoint Padilla to the Sixth District seat while the election results are being certified and declared in accordance with the City Charter. The council will consider the motion before the start of their summer recess.
In response, Padilla stated, “As we wait for the final results of this election to be certified, I feel incredibly encouraged by the semi-official returns released on Tuesday night. I am ready to serve as the next councilwoman for the communities of CD 6.”
In her statement, Padilla expressed her gratitude to her supporters and vowed to improve the community by focusing on cleaning up the area, building more affordable housing, supporting small businesses, strengthening public safety efforts, and ensuring the Valley is safe and prosperous for all residents.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez welcomed Padilla to Friday’s council meeting and praised her dedication and hard work. Rodriguez acknowledged the tendency to underestimate women from the Northeast San Fernando Valley but commended Padilla for her resilience and legacy of service to the community.
Alcaraz conceded the race to Padilla in an online statement through her social media channels. She expressed her gratitude to her family, friends, and supporters for their belief in her and her campaign. Alcaraz highlighted the hard work, passion, and community-centered approach of Team Alcaraz.
Padilla received the most votes in the April 4 primary, earning 25.65% of the vote. However, as she did not secure a majority, a runoff against Alcaraz was required. Alcaraz received 21.13% of the vote, securing the second position out of seven candidates.
The Sixth District includes Van Nuys, Arleta, Lake Balboa, Panorama City, Sun Valley, and the eastern parts of North Hills and North Hollywood. The council seat has been vacant since October when Martinez resigned due to making racist comments in a secretly recorded and posted meeting.
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