District 6 Martinez resigned with ‘a broken heart’
Kevin De-Leon also under pressure to resign
“A special election can be crucial for CD 10”
The scandal over the recording of racist conversation among LA city councilors has taken a new turn with the resignation of Nuri Martinez (District 6) city councilor.
A “new phase” could bring the start of a leadership change in the city council, and the expectation that the situation is more likely to lead to a special election early next year is going to make sense.
For now, a special election will be possible in the 6th district early next year. Initially, District 6 was supposed to be unfolded in 2024.
In District 1, Gil Cedillo has already lost the preliminary. If even Kevin Dreon (14th district) resigns, the special election will be even more likely. In the end, in line with the November verdict of Mark Ridley-Thomas (MRT), voters must choose three councils in the districts, including the 10th district in Koreatown.
“The time has come for residents and voters needs to speak up to decide the fate of the 10th district,” said lawyer Grace Yoo, who ran for the unsuccessful 10th district election in 2020. She said “special election should signal to clean up corruptions and messes in the city government.”
In the midst of this, it was the announcement of the prosecution in the state that further heated up the election mood in the 10th district.
State Attorney General Rob Vonta said he would find out that some council members, including Martinez, used the redistricting process for their individual political purposes and wants to look into it if there were no illegal elements in the process.
“We will check the facts and determine whether criminal action is possible, and eventually the main task will be to restore citizens’ confidence in re-election,” Bonta said on the 12th.
If more than half of the current term remains, it remains the power of incumbent city councilors to elect or appoint district councilors through elections. However, current public opinion is expected to raise calls for an election.
A leader of the Korean community who watched the situation said, “Despite all the difficulties, we have been given a chance to redistrict our town and have a chance to elect our respresentative” adding, “Isn’t it an important time for Koreans to speak out?”
by Choi In Seong
