By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Christopher Robert (CR) Celona, a tech entrepreneur and political newcomer, is mounting an independent campaign for Los Angeles City Council District 3, entering a competitive race to replace termed-out Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in the West Valley’s southwestern San Fernando Valley.
Celona, who moved to the district three years ago and describes himself as a “compassionate capitalist,” is positioning himself as an alternative to career politicians in a field that includes Tim Gaspar, a small business owner with strong establishment endorsements, and Barri Worth Girvan, Director of Community Affairs for LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
Running on a platform focused on economic revitalization, public safety, homelessness solutions, and government efficiency, the father of three brings a tech industry background to a district encompassing Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Winnetka, Canoga Park, and Reseda.
Economic Vision: Doubling Down on Entertainment
At the heart of Celona’s platform is an ambitious plan to revive LA’s film industry. He proposes doubling the city’s film incentive budget from approximately $700 million to nearly $2 billion, matching the budgets of Georgia and New York.
“We should be going toe to toe with New York and Georgia,” Celona said. “This should be the media center of the world, and we should defend it like it’s a heavyweight belt.”
He’s currently working with industry contacts to determine precise incentive numbers that would keep productions local without excessive giveaways.
A Different Approach to Homelessness
On homelessness, Celona advocates breaking the problem into manageable components. He cites a proposal to create a targeted program for pregnant women experiencing homelessness, working with nonprofits in a transparent model.
“Death by a thousand cuts,” Celona explained. “We tackle the problem by breaking it down to the smallest part. Maybe we get home insecurity down 30, 40% in a year or two.”
This challenges LA’s traditional approach of large budget allocations without measurable outcomes.
Public Safety and Infrastructure
Celona’s platform emphasizes supporting law enforcement through community policing initiatives and pushing for harsher penalties for repeat offenders. He proposes mandatory one-to-five-year sentences for home invasions, citing multiple incidents affecting neighbors and acquaintances.
“I had three friends at the gym have home invasions,” he said. “My neighbor was texting while I was downtown. When I came back, the police had caught the guy. He got out and later robbed three more people.”
Celona also highlights infrastructure neglect, particularly for first responders. He notes the fire department hasn’t built a new station in 30 years despite adding 500-plus housing units in the Warner Center development, forcing firefighters to pull triple shifts.
For the district’s small businesses, Celona focuses on cutting bureaucratic red tape, citing stories of restaurant owners spending thousands and enduring endless back-and-forth over minor improvements.
“The principal concern is the red tape,” he said. “It shouldn’t be this mystical, magical thing designed to create disruption.”
The Independent Challenge
Running as an independent presents challenges. Gaspar has raised over $230,000 and secured endorsements from Blumenfield and former Councilmember Laura Chick. Worth Girvan brings endorsements from Horvath and Democratic Party support.
Celona frames his outsider status as an asset: “A well-oiled machine wants to get elected—that’s not a statesman. That’s not governance.”
His campaign centers on listening to every voter, an approach he describes as “dad energy”—engaging authentically with younger voters seeking genuine leadership.
What’s Next
Celona must gather signatures starting February 2 to qualify for the June 2 primary ballot. If no candidate receives 50% in June, the race proceeds to a November 3 runoff.
District 3, with approximately 257,000 residents and 146,000 registered voters, features a median household income of roughly $62,000 and encompasses both affluent areas like Woodland Hills and more economically challenged communities.
The race represents a test of whether voters in the West Valley are ready to embrace a political outsider with tech industry experience, or if they’ll opt for candidates with deeper government and political backgrounds.
Los Angeles County Politics covers local government and elections across LA County. Contact editor@lacountypolitics.com with news tips.
