The June 2 primary arrives in 71 days (yes, really), and The Eastsider is tracking what’s happening in local races. Here’s the latest:
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How to Laugh at Elections
Are City Council races laughing matters? That’s debatable, but this month, three Eastside candidates hosted fundraisers that sought to pair plentiful yuks with politics. On March 17, District 13 challenger Rich Sarian sold $10 tickets to a show at Lyric Hyperion featuring five comics. “Come out and enjoy a night of laughs while supporting our campaign,” he said in an email pitch. That followed a joke-filled March 8 fundraiser for incumbent Hugo Soto-Martinez at Zebulon Café, with $30 tickets. Over at De La Playa Records in Highland Park, there was a $22 fundraiser for District 1 incumbent Eunisses Hernandez. The March 11 lineup included former “Saturday Night live” cast member Melissa Villaseñor.
Endorsement Watch
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One of the most valuable endorsements in this deep blue region is the L.A. County Democratic Party. Some of its nods were made last week, and a trio of Eastside incumbents got the backing. They are: District 1 Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, District 13 rep Hugo Soto-Martinez, and LAUSD District 2 School Board Member Rocio Rivas.
Meanwhile, prominent environmental organization the Sierra Club doled out some endorsements in state contests. Incumbent Assemblymembers Jessica Caloza (District 52) and Mark González (District 54) got the backing, as did Sara Hernandez, who is seeking the open state Senate District 26 seat.
Here Comes the School Board Spending
Historically, LAUSD School Board races are shaped by massive independent expenditures from labor and other organizations (with IEs, groups can spend as much as they want, but by law cannot coordinate with a candidate’s official campaign). We’ve got the first inkling of that happening in the District 2 contest. According to City Ethics Commission filings, teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles spent $95,528 this month on signs, door hangers and telephone banking supporting incumbent Rocio Rivas, who faces veteran educator Raquel Zamora. Don’t be surprised if this escalates quickly—in the 2022 cycle, Rivas benefitted from $2.9 million in IEs.
Got an election tip or announcement about a local race? Email hello@TheEastsiderLA.com.
Jon Regardie is a veteran Los Angeles reporter, editor and columnist. @JonRegardie
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