Rosendahl announced he was undergoing treatment for cancer of the ureter in August. Initially, he vowed to run for a third term. But in his statement, Rosendahl said he would like to see Bonin take over.
A longtime City Hall staffer who has been running the day-to-day operations of Rosendahl’s office, Bonin was recently named by the City Council to be the alternate for Rosendahl on the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority board, allowing him to attend meetings when the councilman cannot. It was Bonin, not Rosendahl, who stood behind Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at an event staged last month by organized labor calling on Latino voters to turn out in the Nov. 6 election.
Bonin said Tuesday he plans to officially declare his candidacy Tuesday. At least three other people have announced they also plan to run for Rosendahl’s seat. One is Mark Ryavec, a former legislative analyst for the City Council who says Rosendahl hasn’t done enough to address the issue of homelessness in Venice.
Before running for office, Rosendahl was a television executive and public affairs talk show host. In his statement, he said he would like to return to television or radio if his health improves. “I want to create a space for honest and open dialogue on the important issues facing our city, our state and our country,” Rosendahl said, “a space where people can finish their sentences, share their thoughts and contribute in a positive way to the public discourse.”
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L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl begins cancer treatment
– Kate Linthicum at Los Angeles City Hall
Photo: Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, seated, rests earlier this month after making an emotional plea to lift the city’s ban on medical
marijuana dispensaries. “Where does
anybody go, even a councilman go, to get his medical marijuana?” said Rosendahl,
who is battling cancer. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Article source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/bill-rosendahl-city-council.html