LOS ANGELES – It’s official: Two Filipino Americans have qualified to appear on the ballot for the March 2024 election for Los Angeles City Council seats.
Tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado and real estate broker Ely De La Cruz Ayao are on the official list of 31 candidates released by the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office on Friday.
In 2024, even-numbered city council district seats will be up for election — a total of seven seats.
Jurado is running for the 14th District, which includes Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles and parts of Northeast Los Angeles.
Ysabel Jurado is running for the 14th District. From Ysabel Jurado’s campaign website
She is one of the seven challengers who are looking to replace incumbent Councilman Kevin de Leon, who is seeking another four-year-term.
The challengers include Genny Guerrero, a community advocate; Teresa Hillery, an attorney; Wendy Carrillo, a state assembly member; Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas, a public school teacher; Miguel Santiago, a state assembly member; and Nadine Diaz, a health care professional.
Jurado said she will focus on addressing housing insecurity and utilizing land for affordable housing. She also wants to increase renter protection, create resource hubs throughout the district for unhoused people with various needs and build developments with community interest in mind.
Ayao is eyeing the 6th District, which covers the northern parts of the San Fernando Valley, including Arleta, Lake Balboa, North Hollywood, North Hills, Panorama City, Van Nuys, and Sun Valley.
Ely De La Cruz Ayao is running for the 6th District. From Ely De La Cruz Ayao’s campaign website
Ayao and Carmenlina Minasova, a respiratory care practitioner, seek to replace the incumbent Councilwoman Imelda Padilla.
Padilla replaced former Councilwoman Nury Martinez, who resigned after her involvement in a racially charged leaked audio recording. In a special election in June, voters elected Padilla, who then officially took office in July.
Ayao said he plans to use his skills in real estate and finance to develop low-cost and affordable housing and offer solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles.
He also plans to promote joint ventures between the private and public sectors to develop much-needed housing. Ayao said he will tap existing government programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Housing Urban Development for sources of financing, instead of raising taxes that will hurt Angelenos.
According to the City Clerk’s office, the candidates qualified to run in the March election after having collected at least 500 valid voter signatures and paid a $300 filing fee by Dec. 6, or by gathering at least 1,000 valid voter signatures.
