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The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor will hold an election July 18 to pick a new chief after about 500 delegates failed Monday night to unanimously approve City Councilman Martin Ludlow for the job.
Ludlow was, however, appointed the federation's interim leader as of July 1 after the sudden resignation Monday of the interim secretary-treasurer and veteran political director Charles Lester.
Federation President Rick Icaza said he had no choice but to appoint Ludlow because he cannot leave the chief's post vacant; the federation's board voted to nominate Ludlow for the job earlier this month.
Of Lester's resignation, Icaza said: "I was really shocked. We had a meeting and he didn't tell me he was going to resign."
Also on Monday, Ludlow confirmed that he is stepping down from the City Council at the end of the month. He said he was not surprised that two other contenders will be running against him in the July 18 election. "This is part of the process. It's a democracy. It allows the cook, the janitor, the workers to put anyone forward for service."
The two other nominees are from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees: Ivan...
