The Los Angeles mayoral primary will take place on Tuesday. These are the five mayoral candidates running for the position. You must be registered in Los Angeles County to cast a vote. Here is what you need to know about the candidates before heading into the polling booth:
Emanuel Pleitez, Democrat
Professional history:
Pleitez is currently the chief strategy officer of Spokeo, a Pasadena-based technology company. From 2007 to 2008, Pleitez worked as a financial analyst at the global investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. He has since served on the President Barack Obama-Vice President Joseph Biden Presidential Transition team and the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
Platforms:
Pleitez states on his campaign website that his top priority as mayor would be “tackling” Los Angeles’ financial crisis. He intends to focus on reforming the city’s pension system, finding alternate sources of revenue, spending efficiently and partnering with private investors. His website also details a seven-point plan that outlines his vision for the city, which includes building safer communities, pursuing renewable energy, promoting technology and solving traffic and transportation problems. He aims to achieve these goals through actions such as building a team of data scientists who report directly to the mayor and doubling the size of the public safety force, according to his campaign website. He told the Los Angeles Times he would aim to make Los Angeles a more attractive place for businesses by building better infrastructure.
Greuel is currently the city controller of Los Angeles, and has held the position since 2009. She served as the field operations officer for Southern California with the national cabinet secretary, under President Bill Clinton’s administration in 1993. She was elected to the L.A. City Council in 2002 to represent the 2nd district, which includes the northeastern San Fernando Valley. Greuel received her bachelor’s degree in political science at UCLA and graduated in 1983.
Greuel has said she will be a “tough fiscal watchdog” if elected mayor. She told the Los Angeles Times that she plans to concentrate on four areas for economic development – building an infrastructure for job growth through transportation efforts, rewarding businesses, developing a skilled workforce and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. She has also said she would introduce Performance Based Budgeting in the city, a tool program administrators can use to specify what money is being allocated for and manage more cost-efficient budget plans.
Professional history:
Garcetti is currently a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was elected to the 13th district, which includes the Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles area, in 2006. A fourth-generation Angeleno, he was formerly a visiting instructor of international affairs at the University of Southern California and a professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College.
Platforms:
Garcetti told the Los Angeles Times he thinks growing the L.A. economy and increasing the city’s revenue base are essential to fixing city finances. He maintains he would be a good mayor financially because in his district, he “added jobs and business activity despite the tough times.” According to Garcetti’s website, he also plans to establish an office to partner with Los Angeles-area colleges “so L.A. benefits like the Silicon Valley does from nearby institutions such as Stanford and UC Berkeley.”
Professional history:
Perry currently represents the 9th district of the Los Angeles City Council, a district that includes the western section of Downtown Los Angeles and much of South Los Angeles. She formerly served as president pro tempore of the Los Angeles City Council and as director of the Los Angeles Census Outreach Project in 2000.
Platforms:
Perry told the Los Angeles Times she wishes to pursue public and private partnerships for the Los Angeles Zoo, Convention Center and other projects, and wants to focus on completing projects currently “in the pipeline.” She also has a three-step plan for education reform, including more choices for parents, turning around middle schools and providing taxpayer accountability, according to her campaign website. Perry wants to allocate taxpayer money to improve L.A.’s “crumbling infrastructure,” according to her website. She also emphasizes public safety and resources for public safety officers. She has the endorsement of former Police Chief Bernard Parks, according to her website.
Professional history:
James is a lawyer, radio host and political commentator. He is also a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Southern California and served from 1995 to 2000 on the board of directors for AIDS Project Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that focuses on HIV/AIDS-related education and legislation.
Platforms:
According to James’ campaign website, he intends to increase employment in the city through a “business improvement package,” which he would take to the City Council “immediately” after assuming office as mayor. He told the Los Angeles Times he hopes the package, which includes business tax reform and a streamlined process for distributing permits, will ensure additional revenue for the city. He also aims to reform pension by raising the retirement age and employee contributions to their pension plans among other changes, appoint a medical marijuana advisory committee to create a solution about city dispensaries, and lower business taxes in the entertainment industry as part of an attempt to “bring Hollywood home.”