<\/p>\n
The June 2 primary arrives in 71 days (yes, really), and The Eastsider is tracking what\u2019s happening<\/a> in local races. Here\u2019s the latest:<\/p>\n
How to Laugh at Elections<\/p>\n Are City Council races laughing matters? That\u2019s 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. \u201cCome out and enjoy a night of laughs while supporting our campaign,\u201d he said in an email pitch<\/a>. That followed a joke-filled March 8 fundraiser<\/a> for incumbent Hugo Soto-Martinez at Zebulon Caf\u00e9, 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<\/a> included former \u201cSaturday Night live\u201d cast member Melissa Villase\u00f1or.<\/p>\n Endorsement Watch<\/p>\n
One of the most valuable endorsements in this deep blue region is the L.A. County Democratic Party. Some of its nods<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, prominent environmental organization the Sierra Club doled out some endorsements<\/a> in state contests. Incumbent Assemblymembers Jessica Caloza (District 52) and Mark Gonz\u00e1lez (District 54) got the backing, as did Sara Hernandez, who is seeking the open state Senate District 26 seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here Comes the School Board Spending<\/p>\n 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\u2019s official campaign). We\u2019ve 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<\/a>\u00a0this month on signs, door hangers<\/a> and telephone banking supporting incumbent Rocio Rivas, who faces veteran educator Raquel Zamora. Don\u2019t be surprised if this escalates quickly\u2014in the 2022 cycle, Rivas benefitted from $2.9 million in IEs.<\/p>\n
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