8 Declare Intent to Seek Council Seat

Officially launching what is expected to be the most hotly contested local political race of the year, eight candidates filed declarations Wednesday to run for the Los Angeles City Council seat left vacant when Zev Yaroslavsky was elected to the County Board of Supervisors.

On the first day of the five-day filing period, the declared candidates were Jeff Brain, a former Sherman Oaks realtor and activist; Lea Purwin D’Agostino, a deputy district attorney; Mike Feuer, former director of a legal aid clinic; Martin J. Korn, who listed no occupation on his declaration papers; Dan McCrory, who also listed no occupation; Didacus Ramos, an urban planner; Roberta Weintraub, a former school board member, and Barbara Yaroslavsky, a community activist and wife of the former councilman.

Some candidates took advantage of the event to issue statements and promote the support that they have already garnered.

As he filed for the seat, Feuer issued a statement, vowing that if elected, he would not accept a pay raise during his tenure.

“Whatever the pay is the day I’m elected, that’s what it will be on the last day of the term,” he said.

When she filed her declaration, Weintraub was accompanied by City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, herself a former school board member, and former Dist. Atty. Robert Philobosian, in an effort to show her base of support.

By law, all candidates vying for the seat must file the “Declaration of Intention” by 5 p.m. Jan. 30.

The next deadline is Feb. 14, when candidates must pay a $300 filing fee and submit a petition bearing signatures of at least 500 registered voters or submit the signatures of at least 1,000 voters to win exemption from the fee requirement.

The primary election is April 11 and the general election June 6.