LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Advancing challenger Ysabel Jurado maintains a significant lead over incumbent Kevin de León on Wednesday in a tumultuous, high-profile contest in the race for the Los Angeles City Council District 14 seat.

As of Wednesday evening, the tenant rights attorney had received more than 30,000 votes, or about 55.5% of the total, while León had received more than 24,000 votes, or 44.5%, according to the L.A. County Registrar/County Clerk.

This was a slight widening of the gap between the two compared to the initial results announced on election night. Ballots are still being counted and Jurado has not declared victory.

The two candidates are vying to represent a district that includes downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast LA

The Election Day showdown comes two years after a leaked 2021 recording captured de León participating in a conversation with two now-former council members and a former union leader in which vulgar and racist language was used. This led to a scandal in which many officials, from President Joe Biden to President Joe Biden, called on de León to resign.

Meanwhile, Jurado was noted to have made his own controversial statement by responding “F to the police” when asked about his stance on police abolition at a meeting held at Cal State Los Angeles on October 17. The question came from a student who is also a de León staff member.

De León, whose campaign did not respond to City News Service requests for a candidate to be interviewed for this article, also survived four recall attempts.

In the secretly recorded meeting, de León, former Councilman Gil Cedillo, former Council President Nury Martinez and former Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera were heard discussing ways to expand Latino/Hispanic influence by manipulating the redistricting process.

On the tapes, de León hears then-Assemblyman Mike Bonin talking about Martin Luther King Jr. He likened his attitude towards his son at the Day Parade to “Nury bringing his little garden bag or his Louis Vuitton bag.”

While Martinez disparaged Bonin, who is white and openly gay, he did not intervene; he also named Bonin’s black child “ese changuito” (Spanish for “that little monkey”).

Additionally, Martinez said of L.A. District Attorney George Gascon: “Damn that guy. … He’s with the Blacks.”

De León apologized multiple times for participating in the conversation, including telling the Los Angeles Times last year that he had to “close the meeting.”

And in the wake of the leak, he remained on the council as it tried to improve its image.

He opened new parks in his district and organized food distribution events; pioneering initiatives for public safety; provided LAPD funding for more foot patrols of business corridors in Eagle Rock and other neighborhoods; and launched an initiative against copper wire theft.

He also supported safety measures at dangerous intersections and streets in Boyle Heights and other areas; and developed more affordable housing, including working with Mayor Karen Bass on Inside Safe operations to reduce encampments.

Jurado, meanwhile, said he was quoting a rap song lyric with the words “F— the police” and has since defended those comments despite criticism from the LAPD union, Interim Chief Dominic Choi, police officers and some other City Council members. members. He also expressed his commitment to public safety.

He also stated that his interpretation was not at the level of the de León recording, calling the latter “embarrassing”.

“LA benefits from the diversity and the greatness of it,” Jurado said. “(The tape) sucked. This is not who we are, this is the campaign and the city of Los Angeles.”

Jurado told CNS he entered this race to “change the history of corruption” at City Hall; It recalled discussions between former Councilman Jose Huizar (convicted and currently incarcerated for accepting bribes from contractors and cheating on his taxes) and de León.

“This area has been used and abused, and we have complete distrust,” Jurado told CNS. “People want honest, accountable, responsive City Council members, and this is the bare minimum.”

On other issues, Jurado, a lifelong Highland Park resident, first-time candidate and single mother of a 14-year-old daughter, said she would focus on ensuring residents receive their fair share of city services; and we work to reduce homelessness by focusing on Skid Row, the epicenter of the crisis.

He also emphasized working with homeless service providers, community organizations and LA County Executive Hilda Solis, who represents District 2, which includes the Skid Row and CD14 neighborhoods.

In addition, Jurado expressed concerns about the city’s anti-camping law and regulations, stating that these policies could make it more difficult to place homeless residents in temporary or permanent housing.

He said he would focus on public safety with a multi-layered approach; discussed concerns about street lighting and maintenance; and how police officers are overburdened with calls for service that unarmed response teams can handle.