Kevin de Leon Shakes Up Los Angeles Mayor's Race

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon announced his intention to run for mayor Tuesday.

"Every single neighborhood deserves safe streets, clean sidewalks and clean air, and everyone in our city who works hard should have the opportunity to get ahead," de Leon said in a campaign announcement video released Tuesday.

"... To me, turning big ideas into bold action is what leadership is all about. That's the only way to confront the challenges we face right now, because going backwards is not in our DNA."

De Leon joins a crowded field for the 2022 race, including fellow City Councilman Joe Buscaino, City Attorney Mike Feuer and Central City Association of Los Angeles President and CEO Jessica Lall.

Mayor Eric Garcetti is termed out from running again in 2022, and is expected to leave office early pending the U.S. Senate's confirmation of his appointment as ambassador to India.

De Leon is a recent addition to the City Council, assuming office in October 2020 after a special election for the District 14 seat vacated by Jose Huizar, who was charged in a federal investigation into bribery and corruption.

De Leon previously served as the president pro tempore of the California Senate, where he served from 2010-18. From 2006-10, he served in the state Assembly.

One of de Leon's early moves on the City Council was a series of motions as part of his "A Way Home" initiative to have the city develop a plan to create 25,000 new homeless housing units by 2025.

"Sadly, our great city has lacked what I call a `North Star,' a clearly defined objective, and a timeline for achieving that objective," he said on Jan. 12 when he introduced his initiative. "By introducing a comprehensive plan, we are providing a way for the people we represent to hold us accountable for delivering results."

De Leon became the third council member to be targeted by a recall petition this year, with constituents upset with "tiny home villages" in their neighborhoods. The petition needs 20,563 signatures of qualified registered voters in Council District 14 by Dec. 14 to get on the ballot.

The villages are meant to serve as interim housing amid a historic homelessness and affordable housing crisis in Los Angeles. Crews broke ground on June 29 on a 224-bed tiny home village in Highland Park, which is expected to be the largest in California.

City News Service