Tarzana City Council Race Heads to November Runoff as Tim Gaspar Falls Just Short of 50% in District 3 Primary

Businessman Tim Gaspar led the field with 49.09% of the vote, coming just under the 50% threshold needed to win outright. He will face Barri Worth Girvan, who captured 39.86% of the vote, in a November 3 runoff for the seat being vacated by termed-out Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

The results, released by the Los Angeles County registrar's office at 12:51 a.m. Wednesday, mean residents of Tarzana, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka and Woodland Hills will return to the polls five months later to choose their next councilmember.

A Race Defined by Public Safety and Outside Spending

Gaspar, the founder of Gaspar Insurance, one of the Valley's largest independent insurance firms, built his campaign around public safety and law enforcement support. He is endorsed by city and county law enforcement groups, according to reporting by Thrive LA.

"I am a lifelong public safety advocate and the only candidate endorsed by our city and county's law enforcement groups," Gaspar said in a questionnaire response to the Los Angeles Daily News. "In regard to the homeless, we get what we tolerate. I will enforce our anti-camping laws on a constant basis."

Gaspar said he felt "incredibly optimistic" about the coalition of business owners and community leaders he built during his campaign, according to a statement released after the election.

"They are showing they want a fresh perspective in City Hall," Gaspar said.

Worth Girvan, who most recently served as director of community affairs for L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, framed her campaign around fighting corporate influence and protecting neighborhood stability.

She highlighted more than $1 million in outside spending from companies including AirBnB and Uber in the race, calling it an attempt to influence local government.

"That's not healthy for our democracy and doesn't reflect the values of the people who live here," Worth Girvan said in her candidate statement published by the Valley News Group. "The West Valley is not for sale."

Worth Girvan also emphasized her political experience. She is an elected member of the L.A. County Democratic Party, served as a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and has been a longtime Assembly District Delegate to the California Democratic Party State Central Committee.

"[The campaign] has been about ensuring the West Valley gets its fair share of resources," Worth Girvan said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I feel confident I would face Gaspar in a runoff in November."

The Third Candidate Falls Behind

The third candidate in the race, tech entrepreneur Christopher Robert "C.R." Celona, trailed both front-runners. Celona received 11.05% of the vote, according to the Daily News results.

Celona had focused his campaign on the cost of living, telling the Daily News that his top priorities included bringing jobs back to entertainment, lowering the cost of living, improving public safety and fixing infrastructure like streets and sidewalks.

"It's getting harder to afford to live here, small businesses are struggling and people don't feel like City Hall is responsive or accountable," Celona said.

What Comes Next

The District 3 runoff will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the general election. The winner will serve a four-year term on the Los Angeles City Council, responsible for the city budget, local legislation, public safety oversight and neighborhood services.

The race comes as Tarzana and the wider West San Fernando Valley grapple with issues including homelessness, infrastructure needs and the impact of short-term rental platforms on housing availability. Both Gaspar and Worth Girvan have signaled those issues will define the fall campaign.

Additional ballots remain to be counted. The Los Angeles County registrar's office is expected to release updated election results in the coming days.

This article was generated with AI assistance.