2 More Officially Join Race for Council Seat

Legislative aide Alex Padilla and pastor Dudley Chatman filed papers Friday to run for the 7th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council, increasing the field of potential candidates who have filed declarations to eight.

The deadline for filing declarations of intention to run is Tuesday.

The council seat on the April 13 ballot was vacated last month by Richard Alarcon, who won election to state Senate.

In announcing his candidacy, Padilla, a district director for Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), noted that he grew up in Pacoima and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He is 25 years old.

Chatman lists his occupations as pastor and educator.

They join a field of candidates that had previously filed papers with the city clerk, including government relations director Ollie McCaulley, Mission College assistant to the president Barbara Perkins, community health director Corinne Sanchez, teacher Connie Rodriguez, youth services director Tony Lopez and former San Fernando Mayor Raul Godinez II, an engineer.

After the Tuesday deadline for filing declarations of intent, all potential candidates still must circulate nominating petitions and turn in 500 signatures of registered voters by Feb. 8 to qualify for the ballot.