City also has ballot measures on rent control, sales tax increase
Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — After months of campaigning, debates and mailboxes filled with political mailers, the final week leading up to the Nov. 3 election is here.
Los Angeles County voters, who haven’t cast their ballot yet, have until 8 p.m. Nov. 3 to vote at one of more than 1,000 voting centers in Los Angeles County, some of which have been opened since Oct. 24.
In addition to the presidential election, voters will be electing representatives on the Culver City Council as well as two local ballot measures in addition to representatives in the state capital in Sacramento and in Congress in Washington, D.C.
In the City Council race, Goran Eriksson is seeking his second term on the council. He is the only incumbent on the ballot with Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells termed out of office.
The open seat produced eight other candidates: Robert Zirgulis, Albert Vera, Darrel Menthe, Anthony Rizzo, Freddy Puza, Yasmine McMorrin, Khim Khin Gyi and Heather Wollin.
Measure B would require voter approval of any rent control ordinance passed by the City Council. Â
Measure RE would increase real property transfer taxes for properties valued at $1.5 million or more and set progressive transfer tax rates based on valuation thresholds exceeding $1.5 million, according to the petition.
Measure RE also would allow the City Council to amend the law provided that the change does not result in an increase in the authorized tax rate. The measure also would authorize the city manager to adjust the valuation thresholds for inflation, provided that they may not be reduced below the amounts established in the ordinance, the petition states.
In other races of local interest, Democratic incumbent Ted Lieu will face Republican James Bradley, a Venice business owner in the 33rd Congressional District. Lieu received 57.8% of the vote in the March primary compared to Bradley’s 19.05%. The district incudes West L.A., part of the South Bay and the Fairfax District.
In the 37th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Karen Bass will face Republican Errol Webber, a documentary film producer from Los Angeles. Bass received 87.39% of the vote in the primary. The district includes South Los Angeles, Culver City and parts of Los Angeles.
In Assembly races, Democratic incumbent Richard Bloom will face Will Hess, a writer, director and producer from West Hollywood, in the 50th Assembly District that includes West Hollywood and parts of West Los Angeles.
In the 54th Assembly District, Democratic incumbent Sydney Kamlager is facing Democrat Tracy Jones, in the district that includes Culver City, Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights, Leimert Park and parts of west Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey faces a battle for a third term against former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon.
In the race for the 2nd District seat on the county Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson will meet state Sen. Holly Mitchell in a runoff to replace Mark Ridley-Thomas, who couldn’t seek reelection because of term limits.
County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan encouraged voters to taking advantage of early voting opportunities or vote-by-mail options to avoid the long lines that developed on Election Day in March, when some polling places had to stay open more than two hours after the 8 p.m. closing time because of long lines of voters still waiting to cast their votes.
In response to those long lines, the county, for the first time ever, mailed absentee ballots to all registered voters.
