Three candidates — Tim Gaspar, Barri Worth Girvan, and C.R. Celona — are competing to replace Bob Blumenfield in L.A. City Council District 3. Reseda voters will decide the winner on June 2.
Reseda residents will decide who replaces outgoing Councilmember Bob Blumenfield when they head to the polls on June 2. Three candidates are vying for the open District 3 seat, and the race has drawn endorsements from some of the most powerful figures in Los Angeles politics and development.
The district encompasses Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, and Tarzana. According to the Los Angeles Times, the contest has attracted three candidates with centrist views who largely agree on public safety but differ on background, priorities, and campaign resources.
The three contenders are:
All three candidates back Mayor Karen Bass's long-term goal to increase the LAPD ranks to at least 9,500 officers. They also all support enforcing Municipal Code section 41.18, the ordinance that bars homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers.
The endorsements tell the story of a race split between establishment power and grassroots labor support.
Tim Gaspar has secured backing from outgoing Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, billionaire developer Rick Caruso, and Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez, Tim McOsker, and John Lee. Gaspar leads in campaign contributions among the three candidates, according to the LA Times.
Barri Worth Girvan has gathered endorsements from a long list of state Democratic lawmakers, the county Democratic Party, the Sierra Club, and labor unions.
C.R. Celona trails far behind in fundraising. He has positioned himself as a proponent of reviving the city's entertainment industry by fast-tracking film permits and cutting red tape.
District 3 has received less attention than other council races this cycle. The LA Times noted that the race lacks the progressive-versus-moderate clash that has defined other contests citywide.
"The one drawing the least attention is the West San Fernando Valley's District 3. Why? A couple reasons. Valley residents will tell you this area is often overlooked in the civic discourse," according to a separate analysis of the race published by Golden State Report.
But the stakes remain high for Reseda voters. The next councilmember will control district funding, influence development decisions, and shape policy on homelessness, policing, and business growth in the West Valley.
Los Angeles voters will cast ballots in eight City Council district elections in the June 2 primary. District 3 is one of two open seats on the ballot. The other open seat is in District 9, where outgoing Councilmember Curren Price has hit the 12-year term limit.
Early voting and vote-by-mail ballots are already available for Reseda residents who want to participate before Election Day.
This story is based on reporting from the Los Angeles Times and Golden State Report.
This article was generated with AI assistance.