Business and labor square off in West Valley's 3rd District L.A. City Council race
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Set us as preferred The next Los Angeles City Councilmember to represent the West San Fernando Valley will either be a former small business owner backed by the Police Protective League or a career public-sector staffer who has racked up a long list of endorsements from unions and Democratic lawmakers.Tim Gaspar, 44, founded an eponymous insurance agency in the Valley, which he sold in 2021and is now campaigning full time to win the Third District council seat, according to campaign spokesperson Haley Townes.He was the top vote-getter in the June 2 primary, garnering 46.1% of the vote.Barri Worth Girvan, 43, was a close second with 42.5% of the vote.
She is the director of community affairs for Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath and previously held staff positions with former L.A.mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Democratic state senator Bob Hertzberg.
The winner of the Nov.3 runoff will replace termed-out council member Bob Blumenfield, who recently endorsed Gaspar, as did Christopher Celona, the third-place finisher in the primary.
“We feel like those are the endorsements that resonate with voters here,” Gaspar told a group of voters at a recent campaign event.In an interview, Gaspar said the City Council could benefit from his business experience to counter members whose backgrounds are mostly in public policy or community organizing.“They’re missing the business perspective,” he said.
“Sometimes you need to do things that might be unpopular if it’s going to be something that benefits the greater good.A healthy economy is the tide that raises all ships.”Worth Girvan, by contrast, says her years of experience in the public sector will ensure that she can best navigate City Hall to advocate for the district’s interests.
“Delivering core city services is my bread and butter,” she said i...