LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Following Thursday's verdict in the case of suspended L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, in which jurors found him guilty in a slate of federal charges -- the city's charter outlined the outcome for City Hall, his removal from office.
As of Thursday afternoon, members of the council had not issued any statements indicating any future actions. But, according to city officials, the verdict will have implications moving forward as to who will represent Council District 10, which Ridley-Thomas was elected to represent for a four-year term in 2020.
Ridley-Thomas had been suspended from City Council in 2021 after his indictment in a federal corruption case, but not permanently ousted. However, with his removal from office imminent, CD 10 will once again be without a voting representative.
According to city officials, if he had been acquitted of federal charges against him for corruption and bribery, he would have returned to his seat at the completion of the trial -- appointed Councilmember Heather Hutt would have vacated the position.
The 10th District is currently being represented by Hutt, who was appointed by the council to the seat in September 2022. According to city officials, prior to that, Hutt was serving as a caretaker while Herb Wesson -- who was originally appointed to fill in during Ridley-Thomas' suspension -- was legally barred from performing his duties on the council and eventually had to resign.
According to city officials, Council President Paul Krekorian could continue Hutt's appointment to represent CD 10 through the remainder of Ridley- Thomas's term, through December 2024. However, council could also decide to hold a special election and hand the decision to voters in the 10th District.
If someone is not appointed to serve as a voting member of council, Krekorian could appoint someone as a non-voting caretaker of the seat or continue Hutt's appointment in that regard.
Ridley-Thomas' conviction, from actions taken while he was a supervisor for Los Angeles County, is another blow to City Hall after Jose Huizar and Mitchell Englander's corruption cases.
Ridley-Thomas and former dean of the USC School of Social Work Marilyn Flynn were charged in a 20-count indictment alleging a secret deal in which Ridley-Thomas -- when he was a county supervisor -- agreed to steer county money to the university in return for admitting his son Sebastian Ridley-Thomas into graduate school with a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship. Flynn pleaded guilty in September.
In exchange, the indictment contends, Ridley-Thomas supported county contracts involving the School of Social Work, including lucrative deals to provide services to the county Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health that would bring the school millions of dollars in new revenue.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
