LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia endorses Nithya Raman for mayor

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- All of the progressive members of the Los Angeles City Council have endorsed Karen Bass for mayor, but one person Bass has occasionally been at odds with is City Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Now, Mejia - who is fresh off winning a second term - has endorsed Nithya Raman.

At a joint press conference Thursday, Eyewitness News asked Raman and Mejia about the massive water main break affecting West Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Mejia said one reason he's endorsing Raman is because he believes she would fully staff the controller's office to perform audits if elected.

"It's not just LADWP aging pipes. It's your sidewalks, it's your parks, it's everything," he said. "Infrastructure-related throughout the city - it's crumbling. We would love to audit LADWP. We would love to audit every department, but the way my office is funded right now - which is why I'm so proud to be working with Nithya right now - is because she believes in a controller's office that can go in and do the deep dive and analysis the city isn't doing right now."

Raman echoed his message, saying transparency is key.

"Transparency is central to the work a mayor has to do," she said. "I think we need an honest accounting of where DWP's aging infrastructure is and where we stand in terms of emergency preparedness."

Eyewitness News reached out to Bass' campaign for comment on Mejia's endorsement but did not receive a response.