Former Villaraigosa Aide Announce Bid for Tom LaBonge's Seat

A former mayoral aide filed papers Tuesday indicating his intention to run for termed-out Councilman Tom LaBonge's seat in 2015.

Teddy Davis, who served as a press secretary during the final three years of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's term, filed fundraising paperwork with the city's Ethics Commission. Candidates can start raising money 18 months before an election. Today was the earliest a candidate can start soliciting contributions for the March 3, 2015, election.

Davis cannot officially file as a candidate until November 2014.

The 35-year-old Davis is seeking to represent the Fourth Council District, which runs from Hancock Park to Hollywood and includes Toluca Lake, Los Feliz, Sherman Oaks and Windsor Square.

Davis called LaBonge a "friend" and said he would be "building on the work that (LaBonge has) done in the district."

"I'm running for City Council because I want L.A. to work for every family in every neighborhood," Davis said. "Between now and 2015, I will be in every corner of our district talking with voters about how we can create jobs, reduce traffic and keep neighborhoods clean and safe."

One of his top priorities would be to push for improved public transportation connecting the San Fernando Valley to the Westside, Davis said.

Davis said he has a "very specific, intense connection" to the district, having grown up in Los Feliz and attending school until the 12th grade in Sherman Oaks.

He is a fellow with USC's Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics and previously covered national politics for ABC News.

--City News Service