10 Candidates Compete to Fill the Seat Left Vacant by Villaraigosa

Ten candidates are running to fill the 14th Council District seat left open in July, when Antonio Villaraigosa became mayor of Los Angeles.

The best-known and best-funded are Nick Pacheco, the district’s councilman from July 1999 through June 2003, and Jose Huizar, a member of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The district, which has been a breeding ground for many successful Latino politicians, sprawls through Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno, as well as parts of Highland Park, Mount Washington and downtown.

To win outright in the Nov. 8 special election, a candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one. If no one reaches that threshold -- a strong possibility with 10 candidates -- the top two finishers will compete in a Jan. 31 runoff.

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Los Angeles City Council candidates

Council District 10

* Barry Levine

Age: 57

Job: photographer

www.barryelevine.com

Money raised: none

* Robert Serrano

Age: 44

Job: security firm owner

www.serrano2005.com

Money raised: $2,750

* Herb Wesson Jr.

Age: 53

Job: senior deputy to county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke

www.wessonforcitycouncil.com

Money raised: $383,501

Council District 14

* Crystal Arceo

Age: 19

Job: student; runs family clothing and arts business

www.arceo2005.com

Money raised: $2,410

* Ruby de Vera

Age: 59

Job: office manager, Councilman Ed Reyes

www.rubydevera2005.com

Money raised: $23,625

* Paul Gonzalez

Age: 41

Job: public speaker

Money raised: $2,254

* Brian Heckmann

Age: 50

Job: attorney

www.votebrianheckmann.com

Money raised: $16,702

* Jose Huizar

Age: 37

Job: LAUSD trustee, attorney

www.huizar4la.com

Money raised: $352,968

* Juan “Johnny Jay” Jimenez

Age: 63

Job: community activist

www.votejimenez4cd14.com

Money raised: $8,600

* Clifford Ramiro Moseley

Age: 38

Job: educator

Money raised: none

* Diana Jill Newberry

Age: 32

Job: meatpacker

www.themilitant.com

Money raised: none

* Nick Pacheco

Age: 41

Job: attorney

www.nickpacheco.com

Money raised: $156,907

* David John Sanchez

Age: 55

Job: teacher and author

Money raised: none