Historic Change in South Los Angeles: Immigrant Candidates for City Council District 9

Estuardo Mazariegos and Jose Ugarte are in a close race for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Both are immigrants who came to the U.S. as undocumented children and have established themselves in the South Los Angeles community. At 40, they share a commitment to representing the area’s residents, including Black constituents concerned about a shift from historically Black representation to a Latino majority. This will mark a significant change in Council District 9, which has not seen such a shift since 1963.

Jose Ugarte, who previously served as a deputy chief of staff for the current council member, Curren Price, gained 39% of the vote in the June primary, leading the field of six candidates. Born in Oaxaca and belonging to the Mazateco Indigenous group, Ugarte has deep ties to Los Angeles’s Black community, a bond he aims to strengthen as a council member. However, he faced a fine from the city’s Ethics Commission for failing to disclose income from his lobbying and consulting firm while working in Price’s office. He attributed this to a reporting error.

Estuardo Mazariegos, co-director of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, focuses on organizing efforts for low-income communities in the area. Born in Guatemala, he proudly represents the diverse community where he grew up. Despite a past misdemeanor charge involving holding a gun for a friend, he believes this experience enhances his relatability to residents who have encountered law enforcement issues.

Covering the Convention Center, USC, and various neighborhoods, District 9 faces challenges, including high poverty rates and issues like illegal dumping and a lack of grocery stores. Outgoing council member Curren Price, facing corruption charges, has represented the district since 2013.

The district, now majority Latino, has seen political tensions. A previous council recording revealed racial remarks triggering racial tensions. Some Black leaders worry proposals allowing noncitizens to vote might weaken their political power, and the council is still considering these proposals.

Endorsements have highlighted divides, with Ugarte receiving backing from the political establishment and Mazariegos supported by grassroots organizations. Both candidates have raised substantial campaign funds, with Ugarte benefiting significantly from independent expenditures from groups like Airbnb and the California Apartment Association, while Mazariegos has support from teachers’ unions and his employer’s political arm.

As the race heats up, Ugarte engages community support through appearances at local churches, while Mazariegos leverages his activism experience at events and fundraisers. Ugarte aspires to be a voice of unity for improved community relations and advocates for immigration. Mazariegos positions himself as a community insider aiming for district representation that challenges the status quo.

Regardless of the election outcome, local organizers are committed to holding the new council member accountable, prioritizing the concerns of working-class residents in their ongoing advocacy.