Updated: Mount Washington Association to Welcome Leading Council District 1 Candidates

Two of the leading candidates vying in March's election for the Los Angeles City Council's first district seat will meet in Mount Washington on Monday, Sept. 17.

The Mount Washington Association will welcome candidates Jose Gardea and Gil Cedillo to discuss their plans should they be elected to represent District 1.

Candidates William Morrison and Jesse Rosas will not be appearing at the event.

The newly reconstituted district 1 now includes the entirety of Mount Washington, as well as parts of Highland Park.

Cedillo currently represents Angelenos living in the 45th Assembly District, and he previously served from 2002 through 2010 in the State Senate. He began his political career in 1998 as the representative of the 46th Assembly District.

He is known for authoring Assembly Bills 130 and 131——which allows undocumented students to access financial aid from both public and private sources.

Cedillo has drawn some local criticism for his perceived support of a tunnel option in expanding the 710 freeway. As of August, a spokesperson for Cedillo said the Assemblyman only supported a tunnel beneath South Pasadena, not Los Angeles.

Gardea has worked as the Chief of Staff for Councilmember Ed Reyes for the last decade and .

As of June 30, Gardea's campaign had raised $193,057 compared to $112,743 for Cedillo.

Update:

Rosas told Patch that he was not invited to take part in the forum.

"I think Jose [Gardea] and Gil [Cedillo] were invited because they have raised more money," Rosas said. "As a community activist, I have not been able to raise as much money.

Rosas is on the steering committee of the the Friends of the Southwest Museum, a local organization that advocates for the full-time reopening of the historic building in Mount Washington.

According to the LA City Ethics Commission, Rosas had raised $977 as of June 30.

He said he would have attended the forum if invited.

"Yes, definitely. I believe this is a Democratic system, and onyone willing to put themselves on the line should have the right to be heard."

The forum will be held on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. In the Jack and Denny Smith Community Center at .