Assemblyman officially enters L.A. race

Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian publicly announced his candidacy for Los Angeles City Council at a midday news conference Friday.

The announcement comes two years before his second term in state office is set to expire.

Krekorian, whose Assembly district includes Glendale, Burbank and parts of Los Angeles, filed candidacy forms Monday for the 2nd District seat left vacant by Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, who took over as city controller July 1.

Flanked by community leaders and supporters at a news conference Friday in Van Nuys, Krekorian cited his past experience on the Burbank Unified Board of Education and legislative track record in Sacramento as key in helping “the valley once again achieve greatness.”

Krekorian has already moved with his family to an apartment inside the Los Angeles borders of his Assembly district to qualify as a candidate.

Politicos have also speculated that the six-year limit in the Legislature also factored heavily into his decision to take advantage of a rare opening on the Los Angeles City Council.

Other candidates who have entered the race or declared their intent to run for Greuel’s seat include Chris Essel, senior vice president of planning, development and public affairs for Paramount Pictures; and Tamar Galatzan, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education.

The special election is slated for Sept. 22.