L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina Announces Run for City Council

With three months to go before she is termed out office, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina now says she will make a run for the Los Angeles City Council.  

Molina confirmed Friday that she will challenge 14th District Council Member Jose Huizar in the March 2015 primary, shaking up a race that was otherwise presumed to be locked in.

“I just am not finished yet,” Molina said, adding that Huizar is “lacking in his approach to constituent issues and quality of life issues.” Molina also says she’s concerned by the current lack of female representation on the council.

This won’t be Molina’s first stab at City Hall. She served on the council for one term in 1987 before running for the Board of Supervisors. Prior to that, she had served on the California State Assembly.

Molina’s recent purchase of a new three-bedroom home in the 14th District’s El Sereno neighborhood had heightened suspicions over a possible council run. Still, some analysts said they were surprised by the move. Huizar has experienced his fair share of troubles lately, including a pending sexual harassment suit brought by a former aide, but he remains popular among constituents. And, until recently, Molina was preparing to retire.

Huizar and Molina, who has yet to file, will face three other candidates in the race. So far, only Huizar has raised a substantial amount of money—more than $600,000 to be exact. After Molina’s announcement, he released a statement touting his efforts to revitalize the Broadway corridor and bring jobs to Downtown L.A.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antovoich has already lent his support for Molina’s candidacy, calling her an “honorable” individual.

Read more about Molina’s announcement here.