CD 13 Race: GEPENC's Jose Sigala Declares

We've been following the Council District 13 race since it began, when

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Since then, Mitch O'Farrell, a deputy to Eric Garcetti, attorney Josh Post, realtor Ruben Martinez and several other candidates have declared in the race, getting things off to an early start.

That's despite the fact that the city council won't vote to approve the new district boundaries until the summer.

Many were wondering what was keeping Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council president Jose Sigala out of the race.

Sigala was widely believed to be a strong contender for the seat Eric Garcetti will be vacating next year.

Sigala Is In

Then Monday came the official news. Sigala had entered the race.

The Eastsider posted an accompanying Q&A with Sigala that you can read here.

As the Eastsider notes, "Sigala’s six-year tenure as head of the  Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council has often been marked by contentious meetings and feuding board members."

But Sigala has also worked hard on programs to improve education, recreation and the environment in Echo Park, spending many a Saturday morning cleaning up trash around the area.

His wife Lisa, a GEPENC board member, is also very active in the community, only just recently taking part in a town hall on

Sigala's Long Career in Politics Could Give Him An Edge

Insiders say that Sigala's has long career in politics could make him very effective in representing Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater and the other communities in CD 13.

We'll be hoping to pose our own questions to Sigala shortly.

Meantime, we were grateful for his enthusiastic attendance at our recent "Rethinking Glendale Boulevard" workshop, which his now-opponent, Josh Post, helped organize.

Gentleman, let the games begin!

A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Sigala as a current employee of City Council member Richard Alarcon. Sigala has not worked for Alarcon since October 2011. We apologize for the error.