2019 Los Angeles special elections explained

The 2019 Los Angeles special elections were held on March 5, 2019, and June 4, 2019. Voters elected candidates in a nonpartisan primary, with runoff elections scheduled for May 14, 2019 and August 13, 2019. One of the fifteen seats in the City Council were up for election while one of the seven seats in the Board of Education were up for election.^[1]

Two seats were up for election due to the vacancy of two members, councilman Mitchell Englander of District 12 and Ref Rodriguez of Board District 5, who both resigned in the wake of felony charges against them.^{[2] [3]} The Board District 5 did not have an appointed representative unlike Council District 12, who had previous councilmember Greig Smith installed to finish the term.^{[4] [5]}

Municipal elections in California are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.

City Council

District 12

Candidates

• John Lee, chief of staff of vacated councilmember Mitchell Englander
• Loraine Lundquist, educator and scientist
• Scott Abrams, director of constituent service offices for Congressman Brad Sherman^[6]
• Carlos Amador, human rights and civil rights advocate^[7]
• Jay Beeber, executive director of Safer Streets L.A.^[8]
• Annie Cho, entrepreneur^[9]
• Jeffery Daar, attorney^[10]
• Frank Ferry, former mayor of Santa Clarita^[11]
• Jack Kayajian, administrator for the office of City Attorney Mike Feuer^[12]
• Stella T. Maloyan, executive at Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy^[13]
• Raji Rab, pilot and flight instructor
• Brandon Saario, actor
• Navraj Singh, small business owner
• Joshua Michael Yeager, Chatsworth Neighborhood Council member^[14]

Did not make ballot

• Jason Aula
• David F. Balen
• Michael Benedetto, President of the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council
• Pamela Bolin, Northridge West Neighborhood Council member
• Daniel Garcia, principal at Praetorian Resource
• Jose Luis Gonzalez, recreation facility director
• Hugh Schurtz, consultant and spokesperson
• Daniel Tsurif, vice president of Artist Management & Digital Strategy at BRXND
• Serena Oberstein, former L.A. Ethics Commissioner^[15]

Withdrew

• Charles Sean Dinse, police senior lead^[16]
• Brandii Grace, game designer and educator

Results

LAUSD Board of Education

District 5

Candidates

• Jackie Goldberg, former Assemblymember for the 45th district, Councilmember for District 13, and board member for District 3^[17]
• Heather Repenning, director of external affairs for Mayor Eric Garcetti^[18]
• Allison Bajracharya, former operations and strategy chief at the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
• Ana Cubas, professor at East Los Angeles College and founder and president of Latina Public Service Academy^[19]
• Cynthia Gonzalez, principal at Diego Rivera Learning Complex
• Graciela Ortiz, Huntington Park councilwoman and social worker^[20]
• Rocio Rivas, community representative^[21]
• Salvador "Chamba" Sanchez, professor at Los Angeles City College, community activist and former janitor union organizer
• David Valdez, Los Angeles County arts commissioner^[22]
• Nestor Enrique Valencia, City of Bell councilmember^[22]

Did not make ballot

• Laura Garza, politician and garment worker^[23]

Withdrew

• Erika Alvarez, teacher^[24]
• Eduardo Cisneros, director of National Census Program and former field director for former Board member Yolie Flores^[25]
• Scott Cody, teacher, Instructional Support Specialist, and adjunct professor at USC Rossier School of Education^[26]
• Bennett Kayser, former Board member^[24]
• Fidencio Joel Gallardo, City of Bell councilmember^[24]
• James O'Gabhann III, teacher^[24]
• Justine Gonzalez, president of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission^[25]

Results

Notes and References

1. Web site: L.A. County election results. Murphy, Ryan. June 4, 2019. Los Angeles Times.
2. Chou, Elizabeth. "LA councilman Mitchell Englander stepping down…" Los Angeles Daily News, October 11, 2018
3. Web site: Ref Rodriguez Pleads Guilty To Felony And Misdemeanor Charges, Resigns From LAUSD Board. Stokes, Kyle. July 22, 2018. LAist.
4. Web site: 100,000 LAUSD students have no representative. Here are 5 things to know about Board District 5, vacated by Ref Rodriguez’s resignation. Romero, Esmeralda Fabián. LA School Report. August 6, 2018.
5. Web site: Former L.A. Councilman Greig Smith tapped to fill vacant seat until election. January 15, 2019. Los Angeles Times. Reyes, Emily Alpert. Zahnizer, David.
6. Web site: LA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: From Aliso Canyon to the homeless, Scott Abrams says he’s ready to resolve issues. May 20, 2019. Chou, Elizabeth. Los Angeles Daily News.
7. Web site: Meet Carlos Amador, a Formerly Undocumented Immigrant Running for LA City Council. Simón, Yara. Remezcla.
8. Web site: LA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: As a leader, Jay Beeber wants to ‘preserve this way of life’. Chou, Elizabeth. May 20, 2019. Los Angeles Daily News.
9. Web site: LA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: For Annie Cho, CD12 leadership starts with listening and advocacy. Chou, Elizabeth. Los Angeles Daily News.
10. Web site: Can a Democrat win an L.A. City Council seat long held by Republicans?. May 19, 2019. Moore, Maloy. Reyes, Emily Alpert. Los Angeles Times.
11. Web site: Former Santa Clarita mayor announces candidacy for Los Angeles City Council. The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. January 5, 2019. Lunetta, Caleb.
12. Web site: LA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: Jack Kayajian wants to tackle CD12 issues with ‘behind-the-scenes’ experience at City Hall. May 20, 2019. Los Angeles Daily News. Chou, Elizabeth.
13. Web site: Stella Maloyan,Nonprofit Executive and Community Activist to Run for L.A. City Council’s 12th District. July 3, 2019. RAG Mamoul.
14. Web site: LA's City Council District 12 Seat Is Up For Grabs. Here Are The 15 People Vying To Fill It. Ogilvie, Jessica P.. April 1, 2019. LAist.
15. Web site: Judge bars former ethics panel member from running for L.A. City Council. Los Angeles Times. March 28, 2019. Reyes, Emily Alpert.
16. Web site: LA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: Sean Dinse wants to go beyond LAPD experience to bring leadership. Chou, Elizabeth. May 20, 2019. Los Angeles Daily News.
17. Web site: Jackie Goldberg wins L.A. Unified school board seat in special election. Burke, Michael. EdSource. May 15, 2019.
18. Web site: HEATHER REPENNING CAMPAIGNS FOR LAUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION. Callwood, Brett. LA Weekly. January 4, 2019.
19. Web site: Ana Cubas, hija de padre jornalero, quiere asiento en la junta de LAUSD. es. February 26, 2019. Rivera, Seline. Daily Press.
20. Web site: Huntington Park Councilwoman Graciela Ortiz Announces Candidacy for LAUSD Board District 5. July 28, 2018. Los Cerritos Community News.
21. Web site: LAUSD’s Spanish-speaking parents engage candidates in forum ahead of school board special election. Plachta, Ariella. February 14, 2019. Los Angeles Daily News.
22. Web site: Meet the candidates for the LAUSD board seat left vacant by Ref Rodriguez. Los Angeles Daily News. March 3, 2019.
23. Web site: NY to LA, Marchers Demand US Hands off Venezuela. Friedman, Mark. March 13, 2019. Random Lengths News.
24. Web site: A Field Guide To The March 2019 Primary Election For LAUSD School Board. December 6, 2018. Stokes, Kyle. LAist.
25. Web site: 10 candidates will be on the ballot in March to fill LAUSD’s vacant school board seat. LA School Report. December 5, 2018. Romero, Esmeralda Fabián.
26. Web site: 17 Candidates File to Run for LAUSD Area 5 Board Seat. December 4, 2019. La Comrade.