High-Ranking Aide to Alarcon Resigns Office : Council: The district official’s departure is the latest in a series of staff changes in the past few months.

One of Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alarcon’s highest-ranking aides has quit, marking the fifth staff change in the councilman’s one-year tenure.

Lupe Vela, who most recently managed Alarcon’s three district offices, left to “move on to other career opportunities,” she said, declining to elaborate. Her last day was Friday, but she will take several weeks of vacation before she is officially off the payroll.

Vela also cited the need to devote more time to her family and to her hobby of designing and building ornate furniture. She added that she joined Alarcon’s staff with the understanding that she would consider moving on after a year.

“I am pleased to have been part of Richard’s first year in office,” she said. “It has been a tremendous satisfaction for me but I am looking forward to moving on to other opportunities.”

Vela’s decision to quit comes only three months after Alarcon pulled her from her duties as his City Hall chief of staff and put her in charge of his district operations. Mayor Richard Riordan’s press secretary, Annette Castro, was hired to take over Vela’s City Hall duties.

But Vela said her decision to leave had nothing to do with her transfer.

“I accomplished a lot,” she said. “I feel it’s just time to go.”

Among her accomplishments with Alarcon was spearheading the drafting of an ordinance to permit street vending in certain areas throughout the city. The ordinance was approved five months ago.

“Lupe has been an asset to me,” Alarcon said in a statement. “Her expertise in economic development and environmental issues has been invaluable in helping me shape my first year. She will be sorely missed.”

In recent months, she headed an effort to revitalize Pacoima by seeking the establishment of an “empowerment zone,” a federal program that provides tax breaks and special aid for businesses and residents in poverty stricken areas. Federal officials will make a decision on the city’s empowerment zone application in September.

Caron Caines, an attorney for the San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services who worked with Vela, described her efforts on the zone application as “tireless” and “pivotal” and said Vela has offered to help in the community after she leaves Alarcon’s office.

Vela’s departure is the latest in a series of staff changes in the past few months. Since February, when Castro was hired, Alarcon’s press aide and two field deputies have left to pursue other jobs.

Castro played down the impact of the turnover, saying the office has been able to make good progress in its first year despite the changes.

“In any office there are people with opportunities that will make them decide to do other things,” she said.

In noting Vela’s departure, Alarcon also announced the recent hirings of Arturo Gonzales, as field supervisor and press deputy, and three field deputies and a planning aide.