The following information was provided by the candidate and has not been verified by The Eastsider. You can find more candidate profiles and election information in the Eastside Election Guide. Primary Election Day is June 2, 2026.
Biography
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Colter Carlisle is a renter and vice president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, where he advocates for pro-renter and anti-displacement policies.
Raised in a low-income union household in Illinois, he moved to East Hollywood at 18. Colter has worked on more than ten Democratic campaigns nationwide, including Barack Obama’s 2008 Iowa caucus and organizing for Bernie Sanders.
He is running for Los Angeles City Council to fight the cost of living by protecting rent-controlled housing, expanding food assistance, defending immigrant communities, streamlining city permitting for small businesses, disaster-proofing Los Angeles, and strengthening neighborhood councils and local democracy.
Priorities
Protect renters and prevent displacement.
Colter will champion policies that preserve existing rent-controlled homes, curb demolitions for speculative luxury development, and expand anti-displacement protections for residents.
Fight the cost of living for working families.
He will strengthen the social safety net by expanding food assistance, cutting bureaucratic fees, and making it easier for small businesses to operate in Los Angeles.
Promote public safety.
Colter will prioritize public safety by ensuring Los Angeles maintains a fully staffed police force while improving coordination with city services, investing in prevention and mental health response, and making sure neighborhoods and small businesses feel safe day-to-day.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Build a more resilient, disaster-ready city.
He will focus on preparing Los Angeles for climate emergencies and natural disasters by investing in resilient infrastructure and community preparedness.
Revitalize local democracy.
Colter is committed to empowering neighborhood councils, increasing transparency, and giving residents a greater voice in City Hall decisions.Three questions
The Eastsider put the same three questions to all City Council candidates on the Eastside this year:
1) If elected, will you utilize Municipal Ordinance 41.18 to address tent encampments in District 1?
I do not support criminalizing people for being unhoused. However, public spaces must remain safe, clean, and accessible. I would use 41.18 only in limited circumstances involving immediate public safety, sanitation, or access issues, and only after outreach teams have offered shelter, housing, and services. The goal is resolving encampments by moving people indoors and restoring public spaces, not issuing citations or displacement.
2) The LAPD currently has 8,665 sworn police officers, down from a peak of approximately 10,000. Mayor Karen Bass said she intends to bring the ranks back up to 9,500 officers. Do you support the mayor’s aim to add officers?
Yes. I support increasing LAPD staffing to improve response times, neighborhood presence, and public safety. Many communities are experiencing longer waits for emergency calls, which puts residents at risk. Adding officers should focus on community policing, patrol staffing, and retaining experienced officers, while continuing investments in mental health and prevention programs. Public safety works best when residents can rely on timely, professional police response.
3) Every council office has discretionary funds. How will you spend that money in the first year of the next council term?
I would prioritize discretionary funds for direct, neighborhood-level needs with immediate impact. That includes food access programs, tenant outreach and eviction prevention, sidewalk and street safety improvements, and support for small businesses. I would also invest in neighborhood councils and trusted community organizations that deliver services on the ground. Discretionary funds should be used transparently and guided by resident input.
397 Monthly Reader Sponsors and Counting!
Join the nearly 400 readers who make monthly contributions to The Eastsider..
Even a small monthly contribution will create a more stable source of revenue, giving us confidence to expand staff and provide you with more of the community news you can’t find anywhere else.
—Jesús Sanchez, Publisher