The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously elected a new president to take over following the release of a taped racist rant by Nury Martinez, who held the position for nearly two years.
Martinez resigned last week after her audio comments went viral. President Joe Biden and Rep. Adam Schiff were among the crowd of Democrats who told her to step down in the wake of the bombshell release. Paul Krekorian was unanimously backed to take over during a vote on Tuesday.
“The city is not celebrating now. The city is grieving. And we are working overwhelmingly together to try to overcome what we experienced over the last week,” he said at a council meeting Tuesday.
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A Democrat, Krekorian is also popular with Republicans and is seen as a calming force within the city. He was one of the driving forces calling for Martinez’s resignation and has also asked fellow members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon to resign. The two were part of Martinez’s conversation and have refused to quit.
“They swore an oath to serve the people of this city, and the only way they can honor that oath now is by stepping down,” Krekorian said on Oct. 12. “Every hour they delay risks more damage to the city we love and more division among the people we represent. I hope and expect that they will do what is best for the city and resign immediately.”
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Krekorian, a lawyer, is a former state lawmaker and the first Armenian American elected to office in Los Angeles. He has worked on intricate issues such as plugging budget deficits, creating tax incentives to keep film production companies from leaving the state, and expanding rail lines beyond the downtown area.
“Paul is a committed and conscientious leader who can bring a smart, collaborative, and effective approach to a painful moment when Angelenos deserve steady leadership on the City Council,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said after the appointment. “I am confident that he’ll assemble a leadership team of bridge builders, and I’ll work closely with the Council to help heal the wounds caused by the hateful words of a few.”
