Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia has emerged as a prominent supporter of City Council member Nithya Raman in her mayoral bid, despite her lack of endorsements from fellow council members. Mejia has taken an active stance at City Hall, notably issuing subpoenas to LA28, the private organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic Games, demanding access to their financial records related to event planning.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles City Council remains largely united behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Fourteen council members, including Raman before she entered the race against Bass, have endorsed the mayor. The only council member not publicly supporting Bass is Traci Park, who represents parts of the Westside, including Pacific Palisades. While Park has expressed she will vote for Bass, she stopped short of offering a formal endorsement, citing concerns about the leadership and effectiveness of both candidates.

At a recent town hall in Pacific Palisades, Park explained her position by acknowledging frustration with Mayor Bass but voicing deeper worries about what she described as Raman’s unwillingness to collaborate with other officials. Park, whose district was among those severely affected by last year’s Palisades fire, characterized Bass as someone she can work with despite policy disagreements. She suggested that Raman’s lack of broader council support reflects her difficulties in fostering cooperative relationships.

The mayor and Raman have traded sharp criticisms during the campaign. Bass accused Raman during an NBC4/Telemundo 52 debate of neglecting constituents across her district, which spans Silver Lake to the San Fernando Valley. Following the debate, Bass met with dissatisfied residents and business owners in Sherman Oaks, highlighting what she described as ongoing constituent complaints about Raman’s representation. Bass also recounted an interaction in which she contacted Raman to relay concerns from Valley constituents, only to be met with what Bass called a dismissive response.

Raman’s campaign dismissed these claims as “bizarre and simply not true,” pointing to recent polling that shows Raman leading in parts of the Valley. Raman’s spokesperson Liz Garcia emphasized the council member’s efforts in reducing encampments by 70 percent in her district over the last three years, supporting local businesses, protecting tenants, installing traffic safety upgrades, and enhancing residents’ quality of life.

In their public exchanges, Raman has challenged Bass’s approach to constituent service, criticizing the mayor’s suggestion that providing personal contact information to residents is a positive indicator. Bass acknowledged that sharing her personal cellphone has sometimes frustrated her staff but defended it as a necessary step given prior experiences during her time in Congress.

The April 2024 election looms as Los Angeles voters consider whether to continue with Bass’s leadership or opt for Raman’s vision of change. With limited endorsements from her colleagues, Raman’s campaign relies heavily on grassroots support and allies like Controller Mejia to advance her candidacy.