By Rob Hayes, Sid Garcia, and Tim Pulliam
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The Los Angeles City Council elected Councilman Paul Krekorian as its new leader Tuesday, October 18, to replace a president who was forced to resign amid a burgeoning scandal over racist remarks.
Krekorian is replacing former Council President Nury Martinez, who resigned her leadership post and her council seat after she was caught on a leaked recording making racist comments and discussing manipulations of the city redistricting process.
Krekorian is now tasked with leading the council on a series of political reforms, while dealing with increasingly loud calls for the two other members involved in the controversy, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, to also step down.
Legally the council cannot force members from office, short of serious criminal accusations, but most other members of the council have said resignations by the two is the only way for the city to heal and move forward.
Krekorian said he will aim to reduce the power of the position.