North Hollywood Assembly Race Heads To Runoff

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Former Los Angeles Public Works Commissioner Luz Maria Rivas topped the field in Tuesday's special election to fill the 39th Assembly District seat, but fell short of the majority needed to be elected.

Rivas had 41.58 percent of the vote with 154 of 169 precincts, 91.12 percent, reporting and vote-by-mail ballots counted, according to figures released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Ricardo Benitez, a contracting business owner and the lone Republican in the field of six, was second with 22.40 percent.

Antonio Sanchez, who worked as a field director under then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, was third with 18.53 percent. Former Assemblywoman Patty Lopez was fourth with 9.94 percent.

Because no candidate received a majority, Rivas will face Benitez June 5 in a general election to fill the final six months of Raul Bocanegra's term.

Bocanegra resigned Nov. 27 after initially saying he would serve out the remainder of his term representing the northeastern San Fernando Valley. He opted to step aside amid rising calls for him to resign because of sexual harassment allegations.

The district includes North Hollywood, Mission Hills, Sylmar, Arleta and Lake View Terrace.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock