LOS ANGELES – Two Los Angeles City Council members Friday nominated Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson to serve as the council president.
Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Heather Hutt nominated Harris-Dawson via motion as the current Council President Paul Krekorian has announced plans to step down from his position Sept. 20, in a move to help transition leadership — as he is expected to leave City Hall at the end of this year due to term limits.
Harris-Dawson’s nomination will need to be voted on the full council before Sept. 20.
“Councilmember Harris-Dawson’s leadership, vision and temperament have consistently stood out in his tenure on the council,” Yaroslavsky said in a statement. “His ability to build coalitions across L.A.’s diverse communities demonstrates a commitment to collaboration that is crucial for our city’s future.”
She added, “As we envision the next chapter for Los Angeles, I am confident that Councilmember Harris-Dawson’s presidency will build upon the strong foundation laid by Council President Krekorian.”
According to a representative from Harris-Dawson’s office, the councilman is excited about the support from fellow council members and looks forward to the vote, which could happen as early as next week.
Yaroslavsky expressed her “deep gratitude and appreciation” for Krekorian, who has led the city through challenging times. She noted that Krekorian’s leadership “steadied” the council and city through crises and complexities as they emerged from COVID-19 and several political scandals.
Earlier this week, Krekorian wrote in a letter to his colleagues, including Mayor Karen Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, notifying of his plans to step down as council president.
