26 Qualify for 7 Council Seats

The Los Angeles city clerk has announced that 26 candidates qualified to run for seven City Council seats in the March 4 election.

Councilwoman Wendy Greuel is unopposed in seeking reelection to the 2nd District seat, while Councilman Tom LaBonge faces a challenge from film executive-producer Derek Milosavljevic in the 4th District.

In the 6th District, where Councilwoman Ruth Galanter is prevented by term limits from seeking reelection, former Assemblyman Tony Cardenas is running against businessman Jose Roy Garcia.

In the 8th District, former Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas has left for the state Assembly. Seeking to represent the district are community activist Robert Cole, economic development executive Forescee Hogan-Rowles, retired Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, developer Sherri L. Franklin and publisher Kevin Melton.

Councilman Nate Holden is prevented by term limits from seeking reelection to the 10th District seat. Seeking to succeed him are attorney Leo Terrell, minister and educator Madison Shockley, attorney John Caldwell, educator Martin Ludlow, city assets manager Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Assemblyman Roderick Wright and Holden’s chief deputy, Deron E. Williams.

Term limits also are preventing Councilman Hal Bernson from seeking reelection in the 12th District. Those seeking the seat are Los Angeles school board member Julie Korenstein, Bernson chief of staff Greig Smith, businessman Robert Vinson, businessman Norman M. Huberman, retired Assemblywoman Paula Boland and businessman Walter Prince.

Councilman Nick Pacheco is running for reelection in the 14th District, and faces challenges by former state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and former Olympic boxer Paul Gonzales.