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This move on Wednesday by the City Council means that Martinez can handle some business for the council district in the Valley, before she is formally sworn in as the new council member. Martinez was elected Tuesday in a special election runoff, defeating Cindy Montañez. Martinez came from 20 points behind in the primary to win by ten points — a stunning turnaround. "Upset of the year," said LA County Democratic Party chairman Eric Bauman in a tweet.
From Hillel Aron at LA School Report:
Few gave Martinez much of a chance after she came in a distant second place in the May 21 primary, finishing 19 points (about 3,000 votes) behind the first-place Montanez. The gap left Martinez struggling to raise money; most of her campaign staff left, including her political consultant, Rose Kapolczynski.“There was some change [in personnel],” said Roy Behr, who took over the direct mail operation for Martinez in the runoff. “But the field team was similar. And the closest supporters were there throughout. Those people stuck with [Martinez] and kept her energized.”
Along with Behr, many of the plaudits will go to Martinez’s husband, Jerry Guzman, a highly respected East Valley political consultant.“Jerry was the engine that kept that campaign going,” said Mike Trujillo, a political consultant, who is also working for School Board President Richard Vladovic on a temporary basis. ”He gave everyone homework, put it in a binder, and made everyone accountable for it.”
The result is something of a black eye for Mayor Eric Garcetti, who publicly endorsed Montanez, held a fundraiser for her and lent his photo to campaign flyers. Many of his supporters, including a large contingent of the “Latinos for Garcetti” clique, were pulling hard for Montanez — at least on social media.
“Eric Garcetti’s operatives were tweeting for Cindy, while [Garcetti's opponent] Wendy Greuel’s operatives were walking precincts for Nury,” said Trujillo, who supported both Greuel and Montanez.
