Marqueece Harris-Dawson New President Pro Tempore Following Curren Price’s Resignation
Los Angeles, CA—Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD8) has been elected as the new President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council, replacing Curren Price who stepped down admist charges of embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest. The decision was made during a council meeting held on Tuesday, with Harris-Dawson receiving a 12-to-0 vote in his favor.
Notably, council members Monica Rodriguez and Price were absent from the voting process. Price will also be absent from the remaining meetings this week, as confirmed by his office.
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The charges against him prompted his resignation from the council president pro tem role, along with surrendering all his committee assignments.
In a letter to Councilman Paul Krekorian, Price expressed his intention to focus on defending himself against the allegations, stating, “While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people’s business.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, commenting on the charges against Price, emphasized that they resulted from a comprehensive investigation into allegations of public corruption. Gascón stated, “This alleged conduct undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the public’s trust in our elected officials.”
The charges against Price revolve around accusations that he cast votes on projects involving developers linked to his wife’s consulting firm. Additionally, he is alleged to have embezzled money by having the city cover medical insurance premiums for his current wife while still being married to his first wife.
Price, aged 72, represents the Ninth District, which includes most of South Los Angeles and the Historic South Central corridor, as well as the western part of downtown Los Angeles since 2013. He was reelected in 2022. Prior to his role in the city council, he served in the state Assembly and state Senate.
A separate motion seeking to suspend Price entirely will be discussed, beginning with the council’s Rules Committee and later requiring a vote by the full council.
