Padilla Files for Reelection to Council

Los Angeles City Councilman Alex Padilla has filed papers to run for reelection to the 7th District seat.

Padilla was first elected to the council in June 1999, campaigning with the strong support of labor unions and Mayor Richard Riordan.

At 26, Padilla was the third youngest person elected to the Los Angeles City Council.

He filled the remaining two years of the unexpired term left by Richard Alarcon, who had moved from the 7th District council seat to the state Senate in December 1998.

Though Padilla is a popular incumbent he still plans to rally voters.

“He will run a full-fledged campaign,” said David Gershwin, Padilla’s press deputy. “He doesn’t take anything for granted.”

Padilla’s youthfulness at the time of his election had both boosted his popularity among younger voters and was criticized by opponents.

But Padilla captured more than two-thirds of the vote in the 7th District’s northeast Valley boundaries.

A Pacoima resident, Padilla holds an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had served as a legislative aide to Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar).

When the April elections roll around, Padilla will be 28.

No other candidates have yet filed in the 7th District.