LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles City Council will decide Wednesday whether to appoint Imelda Padilla — who has a 1,700-vote lead in the special election to represent District 6 — as a temporary voting member of the council while final election results are still being certified.

Last week, Padilla, a community relations manager, declared victory in the race to fill the remainder of Nury Martinez’s term, which ends in December 2024. Padilla’s opponent, council aide Marisa Alcaraz, conceded Friday.

“As we wait for the final results of this election to be certified, I feel incredibly encouraged by the semifinal official returns released (last) Tuesday night, and I am ready to serve as the next councilwoman for the communities of CD 6,” Padilla said in a statement.

In the latest ballot results, Padilla leads with 8,520 votes to Alcaraz’s 6,751 — a 55.79% to 44.21% margin. Voter turnout based on semi-official results was 13.02%, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The county clerk’s office is slated to certify and declare the winner of the election on Friday.

Padilla is scheduled to officially take office after the Council returns from its three-week, July 7-28, summer recess.

However, Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion last week seeking to appoint Padilla to the District 6 seat while the election results are certified, pursuant to the City Charter.

“Ms. Padilla’s not being sworn in as the council member of District 6 until at least Aug. 1 may hinder her ability to fully prepare her office during the summer recess and could (affect) her ability to aid her constituents during that period,” the motion read.

Martinez resigned in October after she was caught making racist comments in a meeting that was secretly taped and posted online.

District 6 consists of Van Nuys, Arleta, Lake Balboa, Panorama City, Sun Valley and the eastern portions of North Hills and North Hollywood.