<\/p>\n
Four people have filed paperwork to run against incumbent Hugo Soto-Martinez in the District 13 City Council race next June.<\/p>\n
Photo provided by the candidates<\/p>\n
A few months ago, District 13 incumbent Councilmember\u00a0Hugo Soto-Martinez<\/a>\u00a0appeared to have a free ride to a second term. That has changed, as\u00a0four people<\/a>\u00a0are 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.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the race:<\/p>\n
The Territory<\/p>\n District 13 is roughly shaped\u00a0like a deer with antlers<\/a>; it encompasses about\u00a0253,000 residents<\/a>\u00a0in Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Elysian Valley, Hollywood, Silver Lake, and parts of Echo Park and Glassell Park.\u00a0County statistics<\/a>\u00a0show that 81.5% of district households are renters vs. 63.4% citywide.<\/p>\n Last Time<\/p>\n The 2022 election was defined by the fierce criticism then-incumbent Mitch O\u2019Farrell faced over the sprawling\u00a0homeless encampment at Echo Park Lake<\/a>. Soto-Martinez won the runoff with 58% of the 66,000 votes. Like District 1 winner Eunisses Hernandez, he is a progressive\u00a0endorsed by<\/a>\u00a0the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.<\/p>\n In the Running for 2025<\/p>\n
Colter Carlisle<\/a>: The vice president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council and a former organizer for Democratic candidates rents an apartment\u00a0in the same building<\/a>\u00a0as Soto-Martinez. Carlisle\u2019s anchor issue, according to a campaign bio, is \u201cprotecting rent-controlled apartments from being destroyed in favor of luxury high rises.\u201d<\/p>\n Nikos Constant<\/a>:\u00a0An 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 \u201ccut the red tape,\u201d fix busted streets and stop building \u201cgeneric housing.\u201d (Disclosure: Constant sponsors The Eastsider\u2019s Civics Quiz.)<\/p>\n Dylan Kendall<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cThis district is backsliding,\u201d 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 \u201cinvesting wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n Rich Sarian<\/a>: The Silver Lake resident formerly ran the Hollywood Business Improvement District\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Soto-Martinez<\/a>: In his first term, the former union organizer\u00a0removed the chain-link fence around Echo Park Lake<\/a>\u00a0and pushed to declare Los Angeles a \u201csanctuary city.\u201d He has consistently voted against\u00a0increasing LAPD spending<\/a>\u00a0and opposed the department accepting a donated\u00a0robot dog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next Key Date<\/p>\n A Dec. 31 campaign finance deadline will help determine who has the cash to connect with voters.<\/p>\n Jon Regardie is a veteran Los Angeles reporter, editor and columnist. @JonRegardie<\/p>\n The Eastsider 2025 Year-End Fundraiser: Help Us Keep Telling Your Stories <\/p>\n Fifteen years ago, The Eastsider began as a one-man blog \u2014 just me, a notebook, and a phone. I covered community meetings, missing taco trucks, and the occasional coyote sighting.\n<\/p>\n Today, The Eastsider is powered by a small team of reporters and editors who bring you neighborhood-specific news every day \u2014 stories you simply won\u2019t find anywhere else.\n<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m asking for your support so we can continue providing trustworthy, independent local news in 2026. Your support keeps The Eastsider free for all.\n<\/p>\n — Jes\u00fas Sanchez, Publisher<\/p>\n
\n Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Error! There was an error processing your request.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Error! There was an error processing your request.
\n <\/p>\n