CARDENAS FACES FOUR HOPEFULS IN CONTEST THREE CHALLENGERS FROM AREA PANEL.Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writer In an unusual match-up, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Councilman Tony Cardenas Tony Cardenas served in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, he had the powerful position of chair of the Budget Committee. He is now a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 6th district, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley. will face four challengers, including three candidates from the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council, in the March 6 election. Friends and fellow neighborhood council members Lisa Martellaro-Palmer, James Cordaro and Candido Marez have all qualified for the ballot. Probation Officer probation officer n. 1. An official usually attached to a juvenile court and charged with the care of juvenile delinquents. 2. An official charged with supervising convicts at large on suspended sentence or probation. Eric Dwight Rothenay of Arleta is also in the race. Though they didn't plan to enter the race together, Cordaro and Marez said they hope the Van Nuys activists can pull enough votes to force a runoff with incumbent Cardenas. Martellaro-Palmer, who announced her candidacy more than a year ago, said she considers herself a solo candidate. While it's not the first time neighborhood council activists have campaigned against City Council incumbents, it is rare to have three candidates from one panel in a single race. ``This will be a history-making event if the neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. unify and support members within a neighborhood council program,'' Cordaro said. ``In the event a neighborhood council member is able to knock off to cease, as from work; to desist. - De Quincey. To force off by a blow or by beating. To assign to a bidder at an auction, by a blow on the counter. To leave off (work, etc.). See also: Knock Knock Knock Knock an incumbent City Council member, it will turn the (City Council) upside down. It will make the rest of City Council members pay attention and listen to neighborhood councils.'' Cardenas, a former state assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. elected to the City Council in 2003, said it is unique to see three candidates from the same neighborhood council. ``I know these three people. I've worked with them on community events with the neighborhood council,'' he said. ``It's a democracy and I'm looking forward to the race and to discussing projects in the district.'' In 2002, Cordaro ran for the 2nd District seat vacated by longtime Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management . Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. won the spot in a runoff against Cardenas. After the district boundaries were redrawn, Cardenas won the 6th District, which stretches from Lake Balboa to Sun Valley. He said he has worked to get residents of neglected neighborhoods to call his office with comments and concerns. But his challengers say Cardenas hasn't frequented community events or neighborhood council meetings, and is slow to deal with day-to-day quality-of-life issues like speed bumps or trash bins. ``People feel neglected,'' said Martellaro-Palmer, who is an engineer and first-time candidate. ``Right now, a lot of decisions are made without neighborhood councils, without community members and then the community has to accept them.'' kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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