Motion made to appoint Heather Hutt for Mark Ridley-Thomas' LA City Council seat

On Friday, Council President Nury Martinez introduced a motion to appoint Heather Hutt  for the Los Angeles City Council as a voting representative of the 10th Council District, the first woman to represent South Los Angeles in a decade, if approved by the full council.

Hutt, who had been serving as the district's non-voting caretaking and chief of staff, was nominated to the council just a day after Herb Wesson resigned. Wesson had been reappointed to the seat by the council earlier this year, but a judge ruled this week that the reappointment had violated term limit laws.

The council seat had been left vacant by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who faces federal bribery and conspiracy charges from his time as a Los Angeles County supervisor. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial.

Hutt has a long history in District 10, according to Martinez. Hutt's grandparents moved to Leimert Park in 1926, and she lives in the Baldwin Vista area, where she raised her family. She also has an established record of public service, having served as state director for then-Sen. Kamala Harris and as district director for former state Sen. Isadore Hall.

Martinez said she chose to appoint Hutt as a voting member instead of calling for a special election due to the potential charter-crisis that could ensue if the residents were to elect another councilmember to the seat and Ridley-Thomas is cleared of all charges before his term is completed.

The motion calls for Hutt to hold the office through the term, and if Ridley-Thomas is acquitted or cleared of charges, he would be eligible to resume his elected duties.

Hutt's appointment is pending a vote on the motion by the city council on Tuesday.