Raman Headed for Runoff in City Council District 4 Race
In a tightly contested race for the 4th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council, incumbent Nithya Raman is poised to face challenger Ethan Weaver in a November runoff election. The primary saw Raman leading the field with 44.5% of the vote, closely followed by Weaver at 42.8%. Levon “Lev” Baronian, an engineer and neighborhood council member, trailed with 12.6% of the vote.
According to primary election rules, a runoff is necessitated when no candidate garners more than 50% of the vote, setting the stage for Raman and Weaver to compete in the runoff scheduled for Nov. 5. The district in question comprises regions including Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Reseda, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Hollywood, and Encino, making it a key battleground with significant implications for the city’s governance.
Raman, known for her progressive stance on various issues, praised her team’s achievements in addressing homelessness, advancing renter protections, environmental improvement, and attempts to reform city governance. “All of our work is about rebuilding trust in city leadership,” Raman remarked, emphasizing the need for leadership that prioritizes residents over corporations and special interests.
The incumbent’s campaign received about $438,000 in donations, supplemented by over $400,000 in independent expenditures from supportive entities such as LA Forward, Unite Here Local 11, and California Courage. Independent expenditures, which advocate for or against candidates without direct coordination, play a significant role in shaping the narrative and outreach efforts of campaigns.
On the opposing side, Weaver’s campaign benefited from approximately $345,000 in direct contributions and more than $708,000 in independent expenditures from various backers, including the Los Angeles Police Department’s rank-and-file union and real estate and firefighter unions.
Raman has critiqued the role of unregulated spending in local politics, specifically highlighting efforts by corporate landlords to influence outcomes in response to her tenant protection initiatives. “I feel strongly about removing the influence of dark money from our policymaking,” Raman stated, voicing concerns over the potential impact of such spending on election outcomes.
Within her platform, Raman has emphasized housing and homelessness, governance reform, renter’s rights, environmental issues, transportation, and the improvement of parks. Notably, as chair of the council’s Housing and Homeless Committee, she has spearheaded the acceleration of affordable housing projects and pushed for more effective engagement between developers and the city.
Weaver and Baronian have critiqued Raman’s handling of the city’s anti-camping law, suggesting a need for a more robust approach to law enforcement and public safety. Weaver, in particular, has voiced a commitment to enhancing LAPD support, targeting specific crimes, and reducing regulatory hurdles for small businesses.
Baronian, while aligning with Weaver on public safety, has also contributed to community improvement through transportation and recreation projects. His initiatives include plans for better streets and sidewalks and the creation of outdoor libraries, community gardens, and sports courts.
As Los Angeles heads towards the November runoff, the District 4 race spotlights critical debates over governance, safety, housing, and the influence of money in politics, promising a closely watched contest that will help shape the city’s future.
