Endorsement: Hugo Soto-Martínez for Los Angeles City Council District 13
The district will see the largest number of LGBT-affirming businesses in one area in the country, but it also has the highest concentration of LGBT residents.
“Over the years, we’ve been lucky to receive a ton of endorsements because we’ve been the most progressive, and the most progressive district in Los Angeles,” said Soto-Martínez, who is also a director of community investment at the City Council. “I think it’s really rare for endorsements to come your way in districts like this.”
The district is part of Los Angeles’ 20th largest and fastest-growing city. It has a higher concentration of same-sex couples living in the area than anywhere else in Los Angeles County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 37% of the gay couples in the area identify as same-sex couples, with another 12% identifying as lesbian couples.
Soto-Martínez said he was thrilled to get his name on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, but is hoping the paper doesn’t make him sound like a politician. “People already know me as a candidate for a seat on the California State Assembly,” he said. “So I’m going to say, ‘In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a candidate for the Los Angeles City Council.'”
He said his focus in the city goes beyond LGBT rights. He said his plans, which he’ll outline on the campaign page of his website, include making improvements to the city’s economic development plan, creating public housing, improving school curriculum and increasing spending on environmental and arts projects.
“I know that no matter what you hear about me, I’m committed to doing my part to bring about what I believe is the great society that is Los Angeles,” he said. “We don’t have to be what we are. We can do better.”
The L.A. City Council and City Councilman Mike Bonin, who is gay, are backing Soto-Martínez. Both told me they are pleased to see him getting more attention in the media.
Bonin says he looks forward to having Soto-Martínez represent the LGBT community on City Council.
“I think he’s extremely talented