As discussed yesterday in the forums, Councilman Bill Rosendahl will not be running for a third term. He made the announcement thru the LA Times today. We wish the best to Bill during his recovery!
From the LA Times:
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said Monday he has decided not seek a third term in order to focus on his fight with cancer.
Councilman Roendahl discusses life with Tony Vera at the Abbot Kinney Festival yesterday while receiving his Spirit of Venice award.
In a statement that will be sent to constituents early Tuesday, Rosendahl said it was time to “pass the baton.” He named his longtime chief of staff, Mike Bonin, as his preferred successor, saying: “With Mike ready to fill my shoes, I can step aside with confidence.”
Rosendahl, 67, represents the coastal communities that stretch from Westchester to Pacific Palisades. The first openly gay man to be elected to the council, he has been a loud advocate for gay and lesbian rights. During his seven years in office he has pushed for the modernization of Los Angeles International Airport and has grappled with chronic homelessness at Venice Beach.
In recent months, Rosendahl has become a passionate advocate for medical marijuana dispensaries. Last week, he helped convince his colleagues to overturn a recent ban on storefront pot shops with a speech on the council floor about his personal use of the drug to help relieve nerve pain.
Rosendahl announced he was undergoing treatment for cancer of the ureter in August. Initially, he vowed to run for a third term. But in his statement, Rosendahl said he would like to see Bonin take over.
A longtime City Hall staffer who has been running the day-to-day operations of Rosendahl’s office, Bonin was recently named by the City Council to be the alternate for Rosendahl on the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority board, allowing him to attend meetings when the councilman cannot. It was Bonin, not Rosendahl, who stood behind Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at an event staged last month by organized labor calling on Latino voters to turn out in the Nov. 6 election.
Bonin said Tuesday he plans to officially declare his candidacy Tuesday. At least three other people have announced they also plan to run for Rosendahl’s seat. One is Mark Ryavec, a former legislative analyst for the City Council who says Rosendahl hasn’t done enough to address the issue of homelessness in Venice.
Click here to read the rest of this article at the LA Times.
