The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to install community attorney Imelda Padilla as a temporary voting member of the council following her victory last week in Council District 6 elections.

Padilla defeated rival Marisa Alcaraz in the race for the San Fernando Valley seat, which has been vacant since former council president Nury Martinez stepped down last year. The results released on Friday show that Padilla has almost 56% of the vote in favour

rival

44% of Alcaraz.

County officials said 446 outstanding mail-in ballots remain to be processed, as well as all mail-in ballots coming in on Wednesday. The election results will be announced on Friday.

Councilors wanted to install Padilla before their three-week break began this week.

Section 409(b) of the City Statute states that the council may designate a person to hold the office temporarily until the vacancy election is held and the election results certified and announced.

Imelda Padilla claims victory in the Valley Council race

At Wednesday’s meeting, council members congratulated Padilla, who has served on the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council and worked for local nonprofits.

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profit groups.

“She’s one of the hardest-working people I know,” said Councilman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents neighborhoods on the east side of the city.

“I am very excited to have you join this space to see how we move forward in a better direction for all of our districts across the city,” Hernandez added.

Padilla was accompanied in the council chamber on Wednesday by her mother Gliceria, her sister Carmen and her two young nieces. “Let’s get to work,” Padilla told the council.

Padilla also apologized to her young nieces for the “language,” racist slurs and anti-gay slurs heard at Wednesday’s council meeting.

A handful of public speakers regularly use graphic and vulgar language at LA City Council meetings.

City attorneys argue that such speech is protected under the First Amendment.