The three candidates presented in the debate are:

• C.R. Celona   Celona for City Council
  • Bring Back Economic Opportunity
    LA should be easier to build in, hire in, and operate in.
    • Fast-track film, entertainment, and production permitting.
    • Fix the permitting process across the board.
    • Lower the cost of doing business in Los Angeles.
    • Support industries that power local jobs and growth.

     For 26 years, I’ve built companies in emerging spaces, created opportunities, cut through red tape, and delivered results. At the center of that work has been one consistent challenge: figuring out how to make complicated systems work for real people.
     As a founder, media executive, and compassionate capitalist, I’ve spent my career at the point where people and technology meet. Now I want to bring that experience to helping make Los Angeles more affordable, more functional, and more livable for families like mine, for our neighbors, and for future residents.

• Tim Gaspar  Tim Gaspar for LA City Council 2026
  • Small Business Growth & Local Jobs: Cut Red Tape, Grow Opportunity
    Small businesses are the backbone of the West Valley’s economy—but too often they’re treated like an afterthought at City Hall. Tim will push for a pro-growth agenda that clears obstacles, rewards entrepreneurship, and delivers real opportunity to our community.
    • Launch a top-to-bottom review of permitting and licensing processes to eliminate delays and help new businesses open faster.
    • Crack down on unlicensed operators who undercut honest business owners.
    • End ineffective incentive programs and redirect funds to training pipelines that equip Valley youth for skilled, high-paying careers.

• Barri Worth Girvan  Barri Worth Girvan For LA City Council 
  • A Thriving Local Economy — From Ventura Boulevard to Sherman Way
    Small businesses are the backbone of the West Valley — from Ventura Boulevard to Sherman Way to Topanga Canyon. But too many storefronts sit empty because the city makes it too hard to open, operate, or expand a business. 
    ​Barri wants a West Valley where:​
    • Permits don’t take months or years.
    • Processes are clear and predictable.
    • The city treats small businesses like partners, not obstacles.
    • Local entrepreneurs feel supported, not ignored.

    Barri will focus on attracting and maintaining good jobs from infrastructure to the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. She knows exactly which departments are slowing things down and she’s willing to restructure them so the West Valley can thrive.

It is a non-partisan election, so the political party affiliation is not noted on the ballot. However, currently there is only one Republican, District 12, John Lee, out of fifteen seats in the Los Angeles City Council.  He was elected in 2024 and serves until 2028.    

Sponsors/Organizers:

Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Reseda Neighborhood Council
Tarzana Neighborhood Council
Winnetka Neighborhood Council