Kuehl continues early lead over Shriver, with Duran running third

In the race for a Westside seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, former state lawmaker Sheila Kuehl continued to hold an early lead over Santa Monica attorney Bobby Shriver, as election officials counted another round of votes in Tuesday’s primary.

“I always considered myself the front-runner in the race,” Kuehl said, “because I had represented so much of the [3rd] District before. When people have voted for you before, they feel more comfortable voting for you again.”

Kuehl and Shriver are seeking to replace termed-out Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

Still running third in the eight-candidate field was West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran. Only the top two candidates will face off in a November general election if no one wins more than 50% of the primary vote.

“I think I was severely disadvantaged on the money,” Duran said as results began to roll in. “Sheila had a head start on everybody.”

While not conceding anything, Duran said, “I think I come out a winner even if I don’t break through.” He said the campaign spurred many people to suddenly ask, “Who is this guy?”

“There may be another office for me sometime in the future.”

Longtime Duran friend Diane Abbitt, who joined him at a home in Hollywood Hills West to await results, added, “I would hate to see John not decide to run for another office -- because he has so much to offer.”

Meanwhile, former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was swamping her two challengers with 67% of the early votes in the District 1 race to fill the seat being vacated by Supervisor Gloria Molina, who is also being termed out of office.

“We’re back home, and how wonderful it is to come back after serving 12 years in Washington, D.C.,” Solis said to a crowd of supporters as she was joined on the stage by Molina, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, State Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and labor rights activist Dolores Huerta.

“This is where I got started, right here in this hall, having my first rallies and meetings right here in El Monte, right here on this stage,” she said.

“It’s a very poignant time for me because history comes back, it comes back and and it reminds you where you started.”