Tarzana residents heading to the polls Tuesday will decide which of three candidates takes over after terms out of office.
Tarzana is part of LA City Council District 3, where three candidates — Tim Gaspar, Barri Worth Girvan, and C.R. Celona — compete to replace term-limited Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in Tuesday's primary.
Tarzana residents heading to the polls Tuesday will decide which of three candidates takes over after terms out of office.
The June 2 primary election includes the Valley's largest council district. It covers Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, and Tarzana. Voters in all five communities will pick between Tim Gaspar, Barri Worth Girvan, and Christopher Robert "C.R." Celona.
Tim Gaspar, an insurance company founder, leads in campaign contributions and carries the endorsement of Blumenfield himself. He is also backed by billionaire developer Rick Caruso and Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez, Tim McOsker, and John Lee, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"I am a lifelong public safety advocate and the only candidate endorsed by our city and county's law enforcement groups. In regard to the homeless, we get what we tolerate," Gaspar said, according to the Daily News. "I will enforce our anti-camping laws on a constant basis. Our city currently spends over $800 million annually addressing the homelessness crisis, and I know we can help people for a lot less tax dollars."
Barri Worth Girvan is the only candidate in the race with political experience. She most recently served as district director for Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and previously held elected positions in the L.A. County Democratic Party. She has endorsements from a long list of state Democratic lawmakers, the county Democratic Party, the Sierra Club, and labor unions, the Times reported.
"My top priorities are to ensure safe, clean neighborhoods by restoring public safety — strengthening both sworn and unarmed response — and protecting fire resources, as well as expanding housing options that fit the needs of our communities," Worth Girvan said, according to the Daily News.
C.R. Celona, a tech entrepreneur, trails far behind in fundraising. He has positioned himself as the candidate who would revive the city's entertainment industry by fast-tracking film permits and cutting red tape, according to the Times.
"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. "My top priorities are to bring jobs back, especially in entertainment; lower the cost of living by making it easier to build housing; improve public safety and emergency responses; and fix the basics like streets, sidewalks and response times."
All three candidates support Mayor Karen Bass's long-term goal of increasing LAPD ranks to at least 9,500 officers, the Times reported. All three also back enforcing Municipal Code section 41.18, which bars homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers.
The race has drawn attention for its contrast in endorsements. Gaspar's backing from Caruso and the outgoing councilmember signals establishment support. Worth Girvan's ties to labor unions and environmental groups give her a different coalition. Celona has yet to secure major endorsements but is campaigning on economic development.
Ballots for the June 2 primary were mailed beginning May 4, and more than 100 voting centers opened across Los Angeles County on May 23, the Daily News reported. Early voting continues through the weekend.
Unless one candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff election.
The District 3 race is one of eight City Council districts on the ballot. It is also one of two open seats in the citywide council elections, alongside District 9, which covers areas near USC and the Harbor Freeway.
This article was generated with AI assistance.