Pacheco Plan a Boon for Villaraigosa

Outgoing City Councilman Nick Pacheco is offering his successor an unexpected olive branch as he leaves office.

On Wednesday, the councilman proposed moving the boundaries of his 14th District to include the Mount Washington home of incoming Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, which is currently in the 1st District.

Villaraigosa had to rent a house in the nearby community of Herman to legally qualify to run against Pacheco in March.

The house in Mount Washington, which Villaraigosa still owns, is on the boundary between the 1st and 14th districts. Pacheco’s motion would move the boundary of the 14th District south one block, a change that would affect about 20 homes and move Villaraigosa’s residence into his district.

Pacheco said the move “just seemed like the right thing to do.”

“He’s my council member too,” Pacheco said. “I thought it was important that Antonio have every opportunity to do a good job, and I didn’t want him to be distracted by the stress” of searching for a permanent home.

Villaraigosa, who takes office July 1, said that he and his family have not yet decided whether to move back to their old house.

“I’m delighted the City Council believes this action is in the best interests of the residents of the 14th District,” said Villaraigosa, noting that he has lived in and represented Mount Washington in the state Assembly for the last decade.

The motion needs eight votes for approval.

The full council will vote on the matter Tuesday.

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Times staff writer Jessica Garrison contributed to this report.