Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian on Wednesday defended the use of a city email account to support a candidate whom Krekorian had endorsed in Tuesday's primary election.
In a statement emailed by his office to media outlets shortly before midnight Tuesday, Krekorian praised former Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, a former assistant to the council president who is seeking his former boss' East Valley seat. of San Fernando. Krekorian was unable to seek another term due to term limits.
“I am especially proud to see former Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian asserting a commanding lead in the race to succeed me as representative of the Second District,” Krekorian's statement read.
“It has been my privilege to represent this district for 14 years and I am glad to see that the voters have elected a candidate with experience, vision, ability and a record of absolute integrity in public service,” Krekorian wrote. “Adrin's achievements in the state Assembly have earned the trust of voters in the East Valley, and I am confident that his strong popular support will carry him to victory.”
Krekorian's statement also congratulated his City Council colleagues, who were leading in their respective races, saying that “across the city, voters are validating the council's work to change Los Angeles.”
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Nazarian appears headed for a November runoff against businessman Sam Kbushyan, partial results show.
Under the city's ethics law, officials are prohibited from using city emails or resources, including staff, for political activities. The Ethics Commission defines “political activity” as “activity directed at the success or failure of any candidate for elective office or ballot measure in a future election.”
Such violations can result in fines of up to $5,000.
Asked Wednesday if the email violated the city's ethics laws, Krekorian said, “I didn't mean to. I don't think that sounded like a campaign. I hope it wasn't like that. Saying you support someone is not campaigning.”
His communications director, Hugh Esten, wrote the statement following his instructions, Krekorian said.
Krekorian said he is sure he will hear from the Ethics Commission if there are any problems with the email. The council president served on the all-volunteer panel in the late 1990s.
In 2015, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti's office was forced to retract an email endorsing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after it was sent from a city email account. The endorsement was later sent by Garcetti's campaign advisor.
