The period to choose the candidate who will occupy the position to represent the District 6 in the Los Angeles Council ends this Tuesday, June 27.
The special election takes place after the resignation of former councilor Nury Martínez, after being involved in a scandal over racist comments in audio that was leaked and exposed by the media.
The candidates seeking to represent District 6 are Imelda Padilla and Marisa Alcaraz.
Before the first round of the elections, Telemundo 52 interviewed both candidates to find out their position on issues of general interest.
Marisa Alcaraz
The special election to choose who will take the chair of the councilman that Nury Martínez left will be next April 4. Enrique Chiabra spoke with the candidate Marisa Alcaraz.
Marisa Alcaraz, 38 years old, grew up in the San Fernando Valley. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and did her master’s degree at the University of Southern California (USC). She has worked for workers’ rights, on laws to legalize street vendors and increase the minimum wage for employees.
Alcaraz describes herself as a “strong supporter of unions and of work and increased wages.”
His father, a Mexican immigrant, was a member of the carpenters union, and taught him to “understand the value of these jobs.” For her part, her mother is a retired nurse, and she says her father’s experience has helped her understand what working families face.
Alcaraz is a single mother and assures that “as a mother, I want the environment to be better for our children.”
Currently serving as the director of environmental policy for the city of Los Angeles, her task is to seek more resources for parks and increased use of renewable energy.
His three campaign priorities are: the homelessness crisis, affordable housing and public safety. He agrees with a greater police presence but holding the officers accountable for their actions.
“I think it would take a balanced approach to policy development for District 6,” Alcaraz said.
For more information visit their website: https://www.marisaforla.com/
Imelda Padilla
Imelda Padilla is one of the candidates to become the new councilor of the 6th district of Los Angeles, to occupy the seat that was left empty. After the turbulent departure of Nury Martinez.
Imelda Padilla, 35, was born in Van Nuys and raised in Sun Valley. She was a student in the Los Angeles Unified School District, later graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, and doing her master’s degree at California State University, Northridge.
She has worked as a community organizer and has held various positions with non-profit organizations and political entities.
As a child she suffered from a disease in her bones which made her more resilient. “I have always been a person who defended ourselves from bullies and as I became more involved in my studies and in my community, that passion to defend ourselves from bullies was part of my fight for justice.”
His government platform is based on seven points, including removing obstacles to creating more homeless housing. “There is a lot that we have to go through to be able to build houses, a lot of red tape, and I am ready to reduce that red tape to do the houses.”
Seeing District 6, which includes vibrant neighborhoods in the central and eastern San Fernando Valley, flourish economically is another of his goals. “A lot of infrastructure dollars are going to come to this area and I want to make sure that while those funds are coming in, good jobs are coming to the area as well,” Padilla said.
If elected, Padilla’s mission is to refresh the worn-out local political leadership and not repeat the actions that led to former councilwoman Nury Martínez losing her position. “The first thing is to admit that it affected us, that we have to talk about it, let off steam, because first with letting off steam one begins to heal.”
For her the key is to be available to her community. “I am a candidate who wants to be accessible and have a team that is accessible. I want people to have the confidence to speak up, and tell us their story so we can help them,” she said.
For more information visit their website:
How to vote in the elections for District 6?
Persons eligible to vote may mail their ballot or drop it in one of the designated drop boxes.
In addition, the Los Angeles County Recorder’s office has opened a polling place for those who wish to vote in person.
These are the hours:
- June 17 – June 26: 10 am – 7 pm
- Election Day, June 27: 7 am – 8 pm
To find a polling place visit this link.
