Supervisor Gloria Molina to run for Los Angeles City Council (updated)

Supervisor Gloria Molina announced Friday she will run for the Los Angeles City Council again, nearly 25 years after she left to become a member of the Board of Supervisors. 

After 23 years of service to county, Molina is being termed out of office in December. She plans to follow up with a run for city council against Councilman Jose Huizar in the Eastside's Fourteenth District. 

“As my daughter said to me, ‘Mom, you’re not done yet.’ I guess I’m not. I think I have more to offer and I decided to take on this challenge,” Molina said, noting she made the decision to run about two months ago.

When she was elected to the city council in 1987, Molina became the first Latina to serve in the Chamber. The second Latina, Nury Martinez, was elected in 2013 and is currently the only woman in elective office in L.A. City Hall. The lack of female representation was  “a very big factor” in Molina’s decision to run, she said.

“Very frankly, I think it’s an important part that all of our elected offices have a good number of women,” Molina said. “It’s something we need to change.”

Under term limits, Molina could serve two more four-year terms if she is reelected next year. She wouldn't be the first council member to return to office. Richard Alarcon was elected to the council in 2007, nine years after his first stint in City Hall. Molina was as longtime resident of Mt. Washington. She recently moved into El Sereno.

Molina said she can offer voters “solid constituent service, good municipal services and work on the issues of fiscal integrity for the city.”

It's rare for an incumbent to be voted off the Los Angeles City Council. In a statement, Huizar outlined his accomplishments since taking office in 2005. 

"From revitalizing Broadway and helping create thousands of jobs downtown, to building new parks, to championing groundbreaking pedestrian, bike and business friendly policies that are the model for the entire city, the service to Council District 14 constituents has never been higher and I look forward to continuing to serve as their council member for  the next four years," Huizar said in a statement. 

The councilman has more than $648,000 for his reelection, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Ethics Commission. The supervisor said she expects to raise about $500,000 for her campaign.

The election comes as Huizar is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit from a former employee. Huizar denied harassing Francine Godoy but admitted to having an extramarital affair with her. 

This post has been updated.