Kevin de León, embattled LA Councilman, seeks reelection.
Kevin de León Plans to Seek Reelection in 2024
LOS ANGELES—Despite facing calls for his resignation after his involvement in a racially charged recorded conversation that led to the resignation of former Council President Nury Martinez, Kevin de León defiantly announced on Sept. 20 that he intends to run for reelection in 2024.
In an engaging interview with Politico, de León expressed confidence in his continued support from his constituency.
“When my friends and allies turned away from me, my constituents stood by my side,” Mr. de León told Politico. “This experience deepened my understanding of the relationship I have with my community and what drives me. That’s why I’m still here. And that’s why I’m running.”
Two prominent local politicians, Wendy Carrillo and Miguel Santiago, have already announced their bids for the seat.
“Enough is enough. People are hurting. Kevin de León’s involvement in the racist tapes scandal was so extreme that everyone, from local constituents to President Joe Biden, called for his resignation,” stated Mr. Santiago in a Wednesday morning statement. “Council member de León should not be announcing his re-election today; he should be announcing his resignation.”
Mr. Santiago also accused Mr. de León of neglecting his district, pointing to the increase in homelessness and evictions in the 14th District, and criticizing the “abysmal” city services in Mr. de León’s area.
In a June interview with City News Service, Ms. Carrillo cited the “circumstances and situation around the leaked audio recordings” as one of the reasons for her council seat candidacy.
She expressed disappointment in having two consecutive council members with tarnished reputations, referring to the corruption scandal involving Jose Huizar, the former council representative of the 14th District.
“District 14 is not actively involved in finding solutions. It is also the epicenter of our country’s homelessness crisis,” added Ms. Carrillo.
The leaked audio recording, which occurred almost a year ago, exposed discussions between Ms. Martinez, Mr. de León, then-Councilman Gil Cedillo, and L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera on how to protect their districts and increase Latino representation on the council.
They expressed frustration with proposed maps from the city’s redistricting commission and strategized on creating favorable districts for themselves while disadvantaging other colleagues.
Since then, Ms. Martinez resigned, Mr. Cedillo lost his reelection bid against Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, and Mr. Herrera stepped down from his position.
Mr. de León previously acknowledged that the conversation was “wholly inappropriate” and expressed regret for appearing to condone insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private.
The leaked audio sparked intense criticism and led to weeks of protests at City Hall. Angelenos from across the city demanded Mr. de León’s resignation, including numerous elected officials.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated in an October 11 briefing, two days after the recording surfaced, that President Joe Biden was “glad to see one of the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should.”
“The language used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable,” said Ms. Jean-Pierre. “It was appalling. They should all step down.”
Despite facing continued calls for his resignation, Mr. de León has been stripped of major committee assignments by the council and largely shunned by his colleagues.
An attempt to recall Mr. de León failed in April due to insufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot.
“Through thick and thin, our community remains focused on important battles such as homelessness, supporting local businesses, and protecting working families,” said Mr. de León in response to the failed recall attempt.
Although he has lost his committee assignments, Mr. de León has led presentations honoring key figures and cultural events and has successfully passed motions with the help of a few colleagues.
The 14th District encompasses Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, downtown L.A., El Sereno, and parts of Northeast L.A.
The primary election for the seat will take place in March, with a runoff in November if no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote.
What factors have influenced Kevin de León’s decision to seek reelection despite calls for his resignation?
E the release of the audio recording, there has been intense pressure for Kevin de León to step down from his position as council member. Numerous individuals, including President Joe Biden, have called for his resignation due to his involvement in the racially charged conversation. However, despite these calls, de León has announced his intention to seek reelection in 2024.
In an interview with Politico, de León expressed confidence in his continued support from his constituency. He acknowledged that while his friends and allies may have turned away from him, his constituents have stood by his side. He believes that this experience has deepened his understanding of his relationship with the community and what drives him to serve them. It is this strong connection and sense of purpose that motivates him to stay in office and seek reelection.
However, de León’s decision has not been met with unanimous approval. Wendy Carrillo and Miguel Santiago, two prominent local politicians, have already announced their bids for the seat. Santiago, in a statement, criticized de León’s involvement in the racist tapes scandal and called for his resignation. He argued that de León should not be focusing on reelection but should instead be addressing the concerns of the community and stepping down from his position. Santiago also accused de León of neglecting his district, pointing to issues such as the increase in homelessness and evictions and the lack of adequate city services in the area.
Carrillo, in her candidacy announcement, cited the leaked audio recordings as one of the reasons for her decision to run for the council seat. She expressed disappointment in having two consecutive council members with tarnished reputations, referring to the corruption scandal involving former council representative Jose Huizar. Carrillo also highlighted the lack of involvement in finding solutions and the district’s role as the epicenter of the homelessness crisis in the country.
The leaked audio recording, which surfaced almost a year ago, revealed discussions between Nury Martinez, de León, Gil Cedillo, and Ron Herrera on how to protect their districts and increase Latino representation on the council. They expressed frustration with proposed maps from the city’s redistricting commission and strategized on creating favorable districts for themselves while disadvantaging other colleagues.
As the 2024 reelection campaign approaches, it remains to be seen how the ongoing controversies surrounding Kevin de León will affect his chances. The divided opinions within the community reflect the challenge he faces in maintaining his support and credibility. Only time will tell whether the voters will choose to reelect him or opt for a new representative who they believe will better address their concerns and prioritize their interests.
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