Embattled former LA city councilman tries for US House seat

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, whose convictions for perjury and voter fraud were recently overturned, has filed to run for Congress representing a San Fernando Valley district.

Alarcon said he heavily weighed the decision to jump into the race against U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas, who is facing questions about why his district director was subpoenaed last year by a federal grand jury. 

The ex-city councilman is seeking to oust Cardenas from his seat representing the 29th congressional district covering Sylmar, San Fernando, Van Nuys, Pacoima, Panorama City and North Hollywood.

Alarcon was accused in 2010 of falsely claiming that he lived in Panorama City so he could represent that district on the City Council when he actually lived in Sun Valley. 

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He was cleared in January by a California Appeals court based on improper jury instructions, but there could still be a retrial. 

"We know very well that it will be a subject of the discussion during the course of this campaign," he said.  

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has not said whether it will proceed with a retrial. In a statement to KPCC, officials said they have 60 days before they would need to announce a decision. That period does not begin counting down until the appeals court issues its ruling to the trial court which has not yet occurred. 

Alarcon maintains he did nothing wrong and will fight to prove his innocence if a retrial goes forward. He said if it comes to that, he'll also ask for a speedy trial to resolve matters before the November election. 

"My fight for my personal justice is going to be the same as my fight for the community’s justice in terms of equity, in terms of resources that the federal government has to offer," he said. "That fight and that passion is the same."

Alarcon said he has support from the community, but declined to name specific supporters, adding he has just begun his campaign. 

Cardenas was not available for an interview with KPCC on Monday. But in a statement, campaign spokesman Josh Pulliam pointed to Alarcon's loss in his 2012 race for a state Assembly seat.

"Voters in the Northeast San Fernando Valley have sent a loud, clear message: They don’t want Richard Alarcon in public office," he said. 

Alarcon said it was partly the subpoena issued to Cardenas' staffer that got him into the race. 

"What really triggered it was the fact that there are some investigations swirling around his office that give me pause. When I saw that there were no other large, or well-known candidates in the race, I thought I should offer my candidacy," he said. 

During an interview with Roll Call last year, Cardenas deflected questions about the subpoena issued to his district director regarding campaign work allegedly conducted during federal work time. 

"I'm not able to confirm any of that," he said, adding that he had not been contacted by the FBI at the time of the interview.