Westside's Tina Hess Says It's 'Unimaginable' No Women Might Serve on City Council

District 11 City Council candidate Tina Hess is one of several women vying for seats in Los Angeles government heading into the March 5 nominating primary election. She chose to run for the Westside seat because she saw a huge void, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Responding to the newspaper's Feb. 27 article, the campaign of the Del Rey prosecutor added that in the last 100 years only 15 women have had say on the city council, with 12 of those coming after 1975.

"Women in Los Angeles deserve representation and a voice on city council," Hess told Patch. "In an international class city, as diverse as L.A., it's unimaginable that there could be no women on city council starting July 1. This takes women's equality back to the 1950s."

City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilwoman Jan Perry are waging battles to be L.A.'s next mayor. Women are also running in city council races in East Valley and west San Fernando Valley.

"While acknowledging that the lack of women candidates focused my attention on the race, it is my belief that I am the best qualified and best suited candidate that caused me to enter the race," Hess added.

Los Angeles City Council District 11 is made up of Venice, Brentwood, Westchester, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Del Rey, Palms, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey.