STATEMENT ON CD6 ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS
Panorama City, CA. [June 28, 2023] – Today, Imelda Padilla, leading candidate for LA City Council District 6, issued the following statement on Tuesday night’s initial voting results for the June 27 special election where she is running to become the next Los Angeles City Councilwoman representing the 6th Council District:
“I am incredibly happy and humbled by last night’s election results. While there are still more ballots to count to finalize results, I am thankful for the love, trust and support that I have received from the voters in the 6th Council District. I am also incredibly proud of the diverse coalition of elected and community leaders, blue collar labor unions, and even the business community from all corners of CD 6 and across Los Angeles that came together around a shared vision of the thriving Valley we all want to see.
From Day 1, my campaign has been driven by my love for the valley and my passion for fighting to make sure local government works for the people. I look forward to the next vote count update this Friday with a renewed sense of optimism for our communities in CD6 so that we can work together to ensure that our families’ needs are addressed and their voices are heard within City Hall. The work starts now.”

Pledge
I, Imelda Padilla, pledge to the constituents of Council District Six and the residents of Los Angeles that if granted the opportunity to serve them, I will restore public integrity in local governance and earn the trust of the people of our district. I will strive to be:
Intentional: to use the following guiding principles in my decision-making process; accessibility, transparency and will make decisions based on community input and data.
Intergenerational: In all my policy decisions, from housing to air pollution and neighborhood safety, I will consider the present impact on the welfare of youth, families, and seniors while proactively identifying the implications those decisions may have in the future.
Intergovernmental: I pledge to be a coalition builder by collaborating with all agencies and organizations, from the federal government to neighborhood councils.
I often hear the community’s disappointment towards government institutions is due to the lack of actionable accountability between agencies and city departments. Under my leadership, the people of council district 6 will have an advocate who prioritizes their needs by holding all City of LA departments accountable. In addition, I will be responsible for finding solutions to issues while engaging agencies within the County of Los Angeles, the State of California, and the Federal Government to solve problems together.
Press & Media
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Media Gallery: Press Releases & Articles
- Los Angeles Daily News Endorses Imelda Padilla
- Los Angeles Times Endorses Imelda Padilla
- U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Column: Whose San Fernando Valley will win? These two women seek to replace Nury Martinez
- Meet the District 6 candidates: Imelda Padilla
- Imelda Padilla Statement on April 4 Election Results Certification
- Sheila Kuehl Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Imelda Padilla Statement on Early Voting Results
- Imelda Padilla for LA City Council Endorsed by former LAUSD Board Member David Tokofsky
- Central City Association of Los Angeles Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- L.A.'s Longest Serving Councilmember Joy Picus Endorses Imelda Padilla
- Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council Is Endorsed by David Vela President of Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees
- ILWU Southern California District Council Endorses Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council
- One of LA’s Largest Labor Unions SEIU-USWW Endorses Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council
- Imelda Padilla For Los Angeles City Council Is Endorsed by the East Area Progressive Democrats
- Interview with Telemundo
- Valley Community Leaders Rally in Support of Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council
- La Opinión Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Editorial: La Opinión apoya a Imelda Padilla para concejal de la Ciudad de Los Ángeles
- Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Teamsters Joint Council 42 Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13 Endorses Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council
- Imelda Padilla Is First Candidate to Qualify for Matching Funds, Raising Over $100,000 in Upcoming Special Election for LA City Council
- Former Valley School Board Member Julie Korenstein Endorses Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council
- School Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- School Board Member Dr. Rocío Rivas Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Imelda Padilla for City Council is Endorsed by Valley School Board Member Scott Schmerelson
- Los Angeles City Council Candidate Imelda Padilla is Endorsed by Laborers Local 300 Union
- Speaker Anthony Rendon Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Assemblywoman Luz Rivas Endorses Imelda Padilla for LA City Council
- Column: Whose San Fernando Valley will win? These two women seek to replace Nury Martinez
- Meet the District 6 candidates: Imelda Padilla
Platform & Priorities
Imelda’s vision for Los Angeles’ Council District Six is to be a regional leader by implementing inclusive economic, social, and environmental policies.
When we come together, Los Angeles thrives.
Top Issues:
The disproportionate impact that Council District Six faces with the unsheltered crisis is a critical issue that the City Council must address holistically. As councilwoman, I plan to address the unintended consequences of municipal code 85.02, which pushed RV’s into our industrial corridors causing a lack of parking for businesses owners, customers and workers. It is incredibly unacceptable that we have allowed as a city for these individuals to park and live in the regions with the worst air-quality, we need to do better.
The district is filled with encampments looming throughout, and yet our housing departments are doing very little to make a visible impact.
I will prioritize implementing an immediate solution to the unhoused crisis because what is currently occurring is not working.
I will propose an emergency remediation of encampments, connecting the unhoused population to essential services that will support them in finding housing, employment, and health services.
I will work cohesively with all stakeholders, residents, non-profits organizations, religious leaders, business owners and health organizations to develop and implement sensible hyper-local solutions that make our communities safer, sanitary, and sustainable.
In addition to helping service organizations find more beds and resources to increase their capacities to help and support the unhoused, I will also make sure that any new housing opportunities increase our affordable housing options. My goal is that local-homeless individuals and families can stay regional to their family-support networks instead of pushed out miles away from the streets and areas they call home.
The future of the Los Angeles Police Department and our public safety goals should include a preventative model rather than a reactive model that sends too many to prison. As someone who comes from a family that has been impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline, this is incredibly personal for me.
Individuals facing adversity need resources that inspire them into more productive members of society if given a second chance and opportunities to thrive, especially if one comes from a background of trauma that still needs healing. The community has not been there with resources to help our vulnerable individuals, but I truly think our public-safety officers can be a partner to change that culture if we work together.
Residents of all ages should feel safe in their homes, communities, and local shops. As your representative, I will work with the local Police Captains to ensure they have the resources they need to increase public safety, emergency response times, while simultaneously working with the department to identify innovative community-centric models of policing.
I will also work with the local leaders, subject-matter experts, and advocates to find innovative ways in responding to 911 that are better suited for mental health professionals. Currently, some police stations are working on pilot programs where they partner with social enterprises to help individuals calling 911 for mental health support. These types of community-based programs are what I would like to expand for the residents of council district six.
Countless entrepreneurs shared that the City of Los Angeles makes it very difficult to start a business and thus generate jobs. My goal is to support innovation and all entrepreneurs interested in investing in the region. As a creative city, I welcome diverse business opportunities that provide a positive economic impact to the district.
Council District six has so many opportunities to bring good quality jobs for future generations. Well paying green jobs should be filling our industrial buildings, which many sit vacant after the pandemic. Also, we need to support small shop owners so they can be competitive.
City Hall needs to end this culture of reactionary policy rather than create more business opportunities. We must foster a business environment that gives opportunity to all entrepreneurs. It’s time City Hall leaders work on creating policy and programs that assist new innovative ideas instead of stalling it. I am looking forward to working with entrepreneurs who envision success in this community.
The best way to address the quality of life issues in our neighborhoods is by prioritizing projects that will best serve the community at large. As development projects are built within the district, they must serve for the betterment of our neighborhoods with proper analysis from planning and community input.
Two major transportation projects are scheduled to come into council district six, Van Nuys Corridor Light-Rail and the California High Speed Rail in Sun Valley. I will make sure that these developments do not displace residents but instead increase our quality of life with amenities that our families, seniors, youth and adults will enjoy!
We need to continue the work of fixing sidewalks and adding ramps for ADA usages, we must work with the Department of Water and Power to continue investing in water-saving infrastructure and making the Sun Valley generating plant a place that produces energy through greener technologies.
I believe that the City of Los Angeles can ensure equitable and sustainable development. We can fix our sidewalks, make them safe for children who walk to school, seniors who need to get around our neighborhoods, more public transit, green space and high speed internet in public spaces.
I grew up attending our local parks and still use them today. Since the pandemic, park directors are facing challenges finding coaches to program sports, forced to cut watering usage due to the drought, and having insufficient staff to manage the parks within the regions. It is my goal to help our parks have all the resources they need to be properly programmed, funded, manicured, and properly patrolled so that neighbors feel safe from dusk to dawn.
Our libraries are the most underrated amenity in our community. We must increase the accessibility of our library programs, resources, and services. The support they offer our youth, seniors, and residents are essential.
I want to increase the hours of operation so that all families have access to wifi, internet and academic resources. As the new generation begins to close the digital divide, we must remember that the library is a collective space to help make that happen.
Growing up I was part of the Los Angeles City Council Youth Commission, it was one of the best experiences of my youth. However, the program did not survive past 2007. Today the opportunities available to our youth are scattered and vary by council district. When I am on councilI I will work to bring more opportunities to the district by funding recreational programs at parks, and literacy and homework help at our libraries.
In addition, I will work with our local nonprofits to support seasonal jobs for youth so that they too can be part of helping their families thrive. We can hire youth to do work on things like community clean ups, internships with the City, and so much more. In short, it will be my priority to invest in our future generations.
Endorsements
Editorial Boards:
- Los Angeles Times
- Los Angeles Daily News
- La Opinion
Labor Unions:
- International Longshore and Warehouse Union – Southern California District Council
- International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13
- Laborers Local Union Local 300
- National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW)
- Service Employees International Union- United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)
- Service Employees International Union- Home Care Workers 2015
- Service Employees International Union- RN 121
- Teamsters Joint Council 42
- UA- Plumbers and Fitters Local 761
- United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF- Local 12 (UFLAC)
- National Union Healthcare Workers (NUHW)
Democratic Clubs
- East Area Progressive Democrats
- Democrats for the Protection of Animals
- Stonewall Democratic Club
- Avance Democratic Club
Federal, State, Local Elected Leaders
- California State Treasurer Fiona Ma
- U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29)
- California Senator Caroline Menjivar, 20th Senate District
- California Assembly Member Luz Rivas, 39th Assembly District
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath
- Los Angeles City Council Member Monica Rodriguez, District 7
- City of Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian
- City of San Fernando Mayor Celeste Rodriguez
- California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, 62nd Assembly District
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger
- Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, District 3
- Former Los Angeles City Council Dennis Zine, District 3
- Former Los Angeles City Council Member Joy Picus, District 3
Education Leaders:
- Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees- David Vela
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Scott Schmerelson
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Rocío Rivas
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III
- Former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Julie Korenstein
- Former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member David Tokofsky
Business Community
- Central City Association of Los Angeles PAC
- Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
- Biz Fed PAC
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce PAC
- Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) PAC
Community Organizations
- Latinas Lead California
- Armenian Rights Council of America
- National Women’s Political Caucus
Valley Community Leaders:
- Former candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 6, Rose Grigoryan
- Ana De Jesus – Community Leader, Sun Valley
- Ana Valentino – Community Leader, Arleta
- Aaron Paley- President, Community Arts Resources
- Alonzo Arelleno- Business Leader, Sun Valley
- Blanca Sanchez- Community Leader, Arleta
- Betty Ley- Community Police Advisory Board, Mission Division
- Coby King – Founder of Valley Economic Alliance
- Cruz Orozco- Educator in Council District 6
- Dallas Fowler – Democratic Leader
- David Rodriguez – Environmental Justice Leader
- Greg Martaryan- Community Leader
- Hans Johnson – LGBTQ+ & Democratic Leader
- Ismael Maldonado – Special Needs Community Advocate
- Irene Tovar- California State University Northridge, Alumni Association
- John Hernandez- Business Leader
- Jorge Montijo- Educator at Panorama High School
- Manny Velasquez- East Valley Muralist
- Margarita Diaz- Community Leader, North Hills East
- Maritza Monterosa- Community Leader, Panorama City
- Mario Matute- Healthcare leader
- Mayra Todd- Domestic Violence Advocate
- Maynor Sandoval- Local Business Owner and Central American Community Leader
- Misha Martin- Educator in Sun Valley, resident Van Nuys
- Nayda Cantabara- Girl Scout East Valley Regional Leader
- Rafael Gonzalez – Faith-Based Organizer
- Rosemary Jenkins – Democratic Leader and Retired Educator
- Raul Sandoval- Grupo Promotor de Emiliano Zapata
- Richard Ramos- Educator
- Sara Mena- Local Business Owner and Central American Community Leader
- Saul Mejia- Business Community Advocate
- Severiana Pablo – Community Leader, Panorama City
Timeline
A Journey in
my Community
















In 2003 Imelda Padilla got her first job as a receptionist at Marco Chiropratic Center.

In 2004, Imelda Padilla got her second job at Property ID as an intern for the Accounting Department.





Upon returning from college, Imelda Padilla joined the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council and was an active member of the Land Use Committee.







In 2017, Imelda Padilla joined the Los Angeles Valley College Foundation Board





GallerIES
Paid for by Imelda Padilla for LA City Council 2024, ID# 1461560.
8610 Van Nuys Blvd Ste 55 Panorama City, CA 91402. Additional information is available at ethics.lacity.org.