8 Have Lined Up to Replace LaBonge in CD4 in 2015

By City News Service

A City Council candidate said Friday he has collected $40,500 in support of his bid to replace Councilman Tom LaBonge in the 4th District, which contains Hollywood parts of the San Fernando Valley.

Teddy Davis, an attorney and former spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said as of the end of last year, 144 people have contributed to his campaign in amounts ranging between $5 and $700.

The latest campaign finance filings are due Jan. 31. Davis said his filings will show that contributions streamed in from most corners of the newly redrawn district, including from the recently added Sherman Oaks area, where he attended school.

Davis, who is touting an endorsement by actor Ed Begley Jr., also highlighted financial backing from Hollywood industry figures such as "The Butler" screenwriter Danny Strong; actor David Berman and Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon, executive producer of the television show "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

The election is set for Mar. 3, 2015 and while potential candidates have begun fundraising, they cannot officially declare their candidacy until Nov. 8.

LaBonge is set to term out after 14 years on the City Council, including two years finishing up the unexpired term of his former boss, the late City Councilman John Ferraro.

Davis is one of at least eight people who filed fundraising papers last fall in the 4th district race. Others who signaled there intent to run include LaBonge's chief-of-staff Carolyn Ramsay, Councilman Paul Koretz's chief-of- staff Joan Pelico, and Steve Veres, former trustee of the Los Angeles Community College District board.

Veres reported last October that he hit the $50,000 fundraising mark.