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Judge Emily Spear Is Losing in Reelection Bid
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Emily Theresa Spear is now trailing her challenger in her reelection quest, figures posted yesterday by the Los Angeles County Office of Registrar-Recorder indicate.
Spear who was publicly admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance on Sept. 6, 2023, for lying, finagling, and shirking work, is behind Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Repecka, who was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times. Repecka has 50.38 percent of the votes.
According to returns released shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday, 517,454 ballots were cast for Repecka and 509,710 for Spear. Further tallies are slated to be released today at about the same time.
The Registrar-Recorder’s Office has tentatively scheduled a certification of the results for March 29.
Deputy District Attorney Christmas Brookens, with 52.57 percent of the ballots, has widened her lead over Deputy District Attorney Keith Koyano.
Deputy District Attorney Sharon Ransom, who previously had nearly 50 percent of the votes, has slipped to 48.64 percent. If she is in a run-off, it could be with either of her opponents; criminal defense attorney La Shae Henderson has 26.46 percent and Deputy District Attorney Sam Abourched has 24.90 percent.
Henderson is a member of the Defenders of Justice, comprised of three candidates sponsored by La Defensa, funded by a group that supports various causes, some of which are viewed as radical. The other candidates are Deputy Public Defenders George A. Turner Jr. and Ericka J. Wiley.
Turner now leads in a four-person race, with 31.92 percent; on his heels are private attorney Steve Napolitano, with 29.04 percent and Deputy District Attorney Jacob Lee, 27.56 percent. On the morning of March 6, the day after the primary, Napolitano, who was at that point slightly in the lead, declared:
“I’m honored and humbled to have received the most votes going into the runoff and I’m thankful for the confidence the voters have in my experience. I also want to congratulate Mr. Lee for making the runoff, as well as recognize Ms. [Ronda] Dixon and Mr. Turner for their efforts.”
Wiley, with 46.32 percent, is in the lead in a three-person race, and it now appears is headed for a run-off with Deputy District Attorney Rene Rose, who has 44.45%.
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