Nury Martinez Makes History as the First Latina Council President of Los Angeles

(Photo : Reuters)

Nury Martinez is the new President of the Council of Los Angeles. She is the first US citizen with Latino heritage to hold such a powerful position in the city's council. She was voted by the entire council of Los Angeles City to be their president and leader. She will be succeeding the current city council president Herb Wesson. 

When Herb Wesson became the city council's leader, he too made history as the first US citizen of African heritage to hold the position. 

Wesson had already released an official public statement saying that he will step down on his role as the city council's president for his election campaign for a seat in the Los Angeles City-County Board of Supervisors.

Nury Martinez will be impacting the lives of the 4 million citizens in the city. She will officially start her duties as the president of the city council on January 5th of the following year.

After winter break, on January 14th, she will first hold a meeting with the LA City Councilors. 

In the past years, Martinez's current position in the city's government would have been perceived by some as impossible. 

Nury Martinez was a council member of San Fernando City and a board member of LAUSD. In 2013, a special election ion Los Angeles City had allowed her to earn a spot as a representative of the 6th District. This included the cities of Van Nuys, Panorama City, Sun Valley, and North Hollywood. The position she filled was previously left vacant by Tony Cárdenas who left for Congress. She was not the only candidate for the position as the Democratic Party's Cindy Montañez was also being considered for the vacant position. 

By 969 vote, Nury Martinez had declared victory over her opponent Cindy Montañez.

She said in a statement that she still can't believe where she is now considering that she was only voted for a former councilman's departure from a post in the city's council. She even shared experience during her campaign where she spoke to each voter one-on-one.

According to a California State University professor named Jaime Regalado, Martinez in so much joy for her victory. Regalado describes her looking like the face of Los Angeles and she is elected in the topmost position possible.

Regalado also said that most of the people believe that the highest position in a city's council is a good stepping stone that may lead to something higher. He expressed his interest in what the future holds for Martinez.

According to the League of United Latin American Citizens' state director Yvonne Duncan, Martinez is a representation of the latest version of leadership who will be supporting all the communities in the city.

Every member of the city's council had expressed their approval on the victory of Martinez. Monica Rodriguez was one of the members of the council who had directly talked about Nury Martinez.

She expressed her support for Martinez's future leadership in the city's council.

When the decision was made in favor of Martinez leadership in the council, Wesson said of another record for the history of having the first-ever Latino council president for the city.