Four people have filed paperwork to run against incumbent Hugo Soto-Martinez in the District 13 City Council race next June.
Photo provided by the candidates
A few months ago, District 13 incumbent Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez appeared to have a free ride to a second term. That has changed, as four people are now trying to topple him. If no one gets a majority of the vote next June, the top two finishers will advance to the November general election.
Here’s a look at the race:
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The Territory
District 13 is roughly shaped like a deer with antlers; it encompasses about 253,000 residents in Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Elysian Valley, Hollywood, Silver Lake, and parts of Echo Park and Glassell Park. County statistics show that 81.5% of district households are renters vs. 63.4% citywide.
Last Time
The 2022 election was defined by the fierce criticism then-incumbent Mitch O’Farrell faced over the sprawling homeless encampment at Echo Park Lake. Soto-Martinez won the runoff with 58% of the 66,000 votes. Like District 1 winner Eunisses Hernandez, he is a progressive endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
In the Running for 2025
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Colter Carlisle: The vice president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council and a former organizer for Democratic candidates rents an apartment in the same building as Soto-Martinez. Carlisle’s anchor issue, according to a campaign bio, is “protecting rent-controlled apartments from being destroyed in favor of luxury high rises.”
Nikos Constant: An attorney and Silver Lake Neighborhood Council board member with punk rock roots, Constant rides a skateboard in a campaign video. He prioritizes the need to “cut the red tape,” fix busted streets and stop building “generic housing.” (Disclosure: Constant sponsors The Eastsider’s Civics Quiz.)
Dylan Kendall: “This district is backsliding,” says the former Hollywood Chamber of Commerce staffer in a campaign video. An arts advocate who founded two nonprofits, Kendall complains about trash and graffiti, and touts the need to bolster the economy by “investing wisely.”
Rich Sarian: The Silver Lake resident formerly ran the Hollywood Business Improvement District’s clean and safe program and, as a member of the Hollywood Police Activities League board, helped create a food warehouse in a former Vine Street pawn shop.
Soto-Martinez: In his first term, the former union organizer removed the chain-link fence around Echo Park Lake and pushed to declare Los Angeles a “sanctuary city.” He has consistently voted against increasing LAPD spending and opposed the department accepting a donated robot dog.
Next Key Date
A Dec. 31 campaign finance deadline will help determine who has the cash to connect with voters.
Jon Regardie is a veteran Los Angeles reporter, editor and columnist. @JonRegardie
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