LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Community relations manager Imelda Padilla declared victory Friday in the race to fill the Sixth District Los Angeles City Council seat, just a few hours after her opponent, council aide Marisa Alcaraz, conceded.
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"My journey as a champion for the northeast San Fernando Valley began when I was 15 years old and I joined the L.A. City Youth Council," Padilla said in a statement.
"That experience sparked a lifelong passion for organizing and serving the hard-working families, seniors and youth of the Valley. So, today truly feels like its has been 20 years in the making."
Unofficial results from Tuesday's special election gave Padilla 6,684 votes, while Alcaraz received 5,096 votes -- a 56.74% to 43.26% margin in the race to fill out the remainder of Nury Martinez' term, ending in December 2024. Voter turnout based on semi-official results was 10.04%, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office.
The county clerk is slated to update voting results Friday afternoon and certify the results on July 7. Padilla will begin to hold office sometime after the council returns from its three-week summer recess July 7-28.
"As we wait for the final results of this election to be certified, I feel incredibly encouraged by the semifinal officials returns released Tuesday night and I am ready to serve as the next councilwoman for the communities of CD 6," Padilla said in a statement.
Padilla thanked everyone of her supporters, and further vowed to clean up the community, build more affordable housing, support small businesses, bolster public safety efforts and "make the Valley safe and prosperous for all to enjoy."
At noon Friday, Alcaraz issued a statement online via her social media channels conceding the race to Padilla.
The 38-year-old Alcaraz, who is deputy chief of staff and environmental policy director to Ninth District Councilman Curren Price, expressed her "deepest gratitude" to her family, friends and supporters for believing in her and her campaign.
"Winning is never a guarantee; nevertheless Team Alcaraz poured our hearts, sweat and soul into this race," Alcaraz wrote in a Facebook post. "We ran a robust, intentional and community-centered campaign that unfortunately fell short of the win.
"Regardless of the results, I'm glad that Council District 6 will finally have representation again and the district will have a voice on the council."
Alcaraz continued to say that she will "remain committed to my mission in giving my all to our working families no matter what capacity or the title I hold."
Padilla finished first in the April 4 primary with 25.65% of the vote but fell short of a majority, necessitating the runoff against Alcaraz, who was second in the seven-candidate field with 21.13%.
District 6 consists of Van Nuys, Arleta, Lake Balboa, Panorama City, Sun Valley and the eastern portions of North Hills and North Hollywood.
The council seat has been vacant since October, when Martinez first resigned her council presidency and then, two days later, her seat altogether after she was caught making racist comments in a meeting that was secretly taped and posted online.
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