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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Essel and Krekorian in December Runoff

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and former Paramount Pictures Corp. executive Christine Essel will face each other in a December 8 runoff election to replace former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel in the 2nd District. Krekorian led with 34 percent of the vote to Essel’s 28 percent, in a special election held Sept. 22. Los Angeles School Board Member and neighborhood prosecutor Tamar Galatzan came in a distant third place with 13 percent of the vote and Mary Benson, a Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council member, came in fourth with 8 percent of the vote. The other candidates in the race included local candy factory owner Frank Sheftel, community activist Pete Sanchez, real estate broker Jozef Essavi, neighborhood council member Michael McCue, specialty equipment business owner Augusto Bisani, and City Hall activist David ” Zuma Dogg” Zaltsburg. Essel and Krekorian were the best funded candidates in the race. Essel, who received the backing of newly elected City Controller Greuel among other top political heavyweights, raised $294,000 for the primary round. Krekorian, who counted with the support of Los Angeles County Sherriff Lee Baca and City Councilmember Paul Koretz, among a host of other elected officials, raised $157,870 for the short contest. Less than 12 percent of registered voters turned out for the special election in the San Fernando Valley district that includes parts of Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Valley Glen, North Hollywood and Sunland Tujunga.

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