By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
CR Celona turned a struggling Mediterranean restaurant into a campaign statement Sunday, drawing a standing-room crowd of young families and first-time political volunteers to Mazar Restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills for the launch of his independent bid for Los Angeles City Council District 3 — a decided underdog by the numbers, but one betting on grassroots energy to reach a November runoff.
The venue choice was part of the pitch. Celona said the owner, a personal friend, had confided that business had been hurting. “How do I do one plus one is three?” he said. “That would be the job of the city council.” He estimated 15 to 35 of the roughly 150 people who packed the room would return as regulars. “He gave me a huge hug and was like, bro, this was life changing.”
The enthusiasm stands in sharp contrast to the campaign finance picture — and to how political observers currently size up the race. Tim Gaspar, founder of Gaspar Insurance and a lifelong West Valley resident, is widely viewed as the frontrunner. According to LA City Ethics Commission filings through December 31, 2025, Gaspar leads with $357,661.90 raised and $199,008.16 in cash on hand, backed by endorsements from termed-out Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and former Councilmember Laura Chick.
Barri Worth Girvan, a former Director of Community Affairs for LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, has raised $200,070.79 and holds $98,878.47 in reserve, with Democratic Party backing behind her.
Celona reported just $2,000 in contributions and zero expenditures through year’s end — a roughly 100-to-1 fundraising deficit against Gaspar. Q1 2026 figures, which would capture activity through Sunday’s launch, are not yet in public filings.
A potential equalizer: the city’s public matching funds program, which provides $6 in public money for every matchable dollar raised, up to $151,000 in the primary. All three CD3 candidates have opted in, though whether Celona has hit the qualifying threshold to trigger payments remains an open question LACP will follow. Even with matching funds, closing a gap of that magnitude against two well-funded rivals would be a significant challenge.
LACP has reached out to both the Gaspar and Worth Girvan campaigns through their official websites and has not received a response as of publication.
The crowd also witnessed what Celona called an unprecedented moment. Jon Rawlings, who filed to run in the same race but did not qualify for the June 2 ballot, announced he was joining Celona’s campaign as co-founder and campaign manager.
“We made LA history tonight,” Celona said. “We were the first campaign in LA history, since the founding of our city, where two candidates came together for the greater good.”
Rawlings urged the crowd to donate, noting lawn signs, outreach, and advertising all require cash. Ethics filings show he raised $39,064.79 before exiting the race.
Celona drew sharp contrasts with both rivals. On Gaspar — whose insurance firm counts more than 60 employees and 11,000 clients — the line was pointed. Celona disclosed that he was displaced by the recent wildfires and is currently suing his insurance company over a disputed roof-repair claim.
“If you really love paying your premiums, I think you have your answer,” he said. “Maybe pre-existing should carry to the candidate as well. If you made your money in a certain environment — insurance is pre-existing.”
He was more measured on Worth Girvan. “She seems great,” Celona said, before pivoting. “But LA needs a 2.0. Do you want the person who solves problems and creates jobs, or the person who works for the government?”
With three candidates on the June 2 ballot, any candidate clearing 50 percent wins outright. Celona’s team is banking on holding both rivals below that threshold and advancing to the November 3 runoff as one of the top two finishers — a steep climb against two better-funded opponents in what is historically a low-turnout municipal primary.
Council District 3 is located in the southwestern portion of the San Fernando Valley within the City of Los Angeles and includes the communities of Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Winnetka, Canoga Park, and Reseda.
