The Los Angeles City Council signed off Wednesday on the final results of the March 3 primary election, setting the stage for a runoff race in the 4th District to succeed termed-out Councilman Tom LaBonge.
Longtime LaBonge chief of staff Carolyn Ramsay and health center director David Ryu, the top two vote-getters, will face off on May 19 to represent suburban communities in the San Fernando Valley, as well as neighborhoods surrounding Griffith Park, the Miracle Mile and Hollywood.
Ramsay, who took a leave of absence from her city post to campaign to succeed her boss, came in first with 3,719 votes, or 15.25 percent, to Ryu’s 3,634 votes or 14.9 percent.
Ryu would become the sole Asian American on the City Council if he wins the runoff. There hasn’t been an Asian-American council member since Michael Woo served from 1985 to 1993.
If Ramsay wins, she would become one of two female members on the 15- member council.
The approved results also includes passage of a pair of measures switching city and Los Angeles Unified School District board elections from odd- to even-numbered years, and a one-time lengthening of elected office terms from four to five years.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the former director of Community Coalition in South Los Angeles, was elected outright to succeed termed-out City Councilman Bernard Parks in the 8th district, and council members Nury Martinez, Jose Huizar, Paul Krekorian, Mitch Englander and Herb Wesson were re-elected.
— City News Service