State assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo is challenging embattled councilman Kevin de León for his city council seat in Los Angeles.
The assemblywoman told L.A.'s Afternoon News some motivation for the decision came from de León's role in the racist conversation that leaked last year.
She said, "I've been representing this community for the past seven years. I represent 75% of the city council district in my assembly overlap. Ever since the leaked audio recordings about a year ago, my state office has received calls from constituents not wanting to work with the council office, not wanting to work with the council member... and so we have been trying to not only do our state responsibilities but also respond to our community that clearly needs new leadership."
It is clear the racist recording scandal will be front and center in any campaign involving Mr. de León, but during the past year, it seemed many of his constituents did not care enough for it to matter.
However, assemblywoman Carrillo said that based on polling, she is confident she is the front-runner in this race.
"I represent again, as I mentioned, 75% of this district already, and women are excited to vote for other women, especially women that have delivered for their community, which I have. And so while the council member may have some support, there's a great area within the northeast and downtown that wanna see something different and wanna see new leadership," said Carrillo.
KNX News has contacted councilman de León for an interview, but we have yet to hear back as of this writing.
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