SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Castaneda Takes 1st Step Toward City Council Run
Rose Castaneda, a longtime community activist and chief district aide to Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), took the first step Monday toward running for the Los Angeles City Council seat being vacated by Ernani Bernardi in the east San Fernando Valley.
Castaneda, 45, a forceful advocate for housing project residents and former gang members, filed papers declaring that she intends to start raising funds for the April 20 primary.
Bernardi is retiring after 31 years, making way for what is expected to be a wide-open race.
The new district--which includes Sun Valley, Mission Hills and Pacoima and parts of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Panorama City, North Hills, North Hollywood and Sylmar--has a population that is 70% Latino. It could possibly elect the Valley’s first Latino council member.
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