Imelda Padilla installed as a temporary member of the city council

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Wednesday to install community attorney Imelda Padilla as a temporary voting council member following her victory last week in the District 6 Council elections.

Padilla beat rival Marisa Alcaraz in the race for the San Fernando Valley seat, which has been vacant since the resignation of former council chairman Nury Martinez last year. Results released on Friday show Padilla with almost 56% of the vote against 44% for Alcaraz.

County officials said 446 outstanding mail-in ballots still need to be processed, along with any mail-in ballots that arrive by Wednesday. Election results will be certified on Friday.

Council members wanted to install Padilla before their three-week hiatus began this week.

Section 409(b) of the city charter states that the council “may appoint a person to temporarily hold office until the vacancy election is conducted and the results of the election are certified and declared” .

At Wednesday’s meeting, council members praised Padilla, who has served on the Sun Valley area ward council and worked for local nonprofit groups.

“He’s one of the hardest working people I know,” said Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents neighborhoods on the east side of the city.

“I’m so excited for you to join this space to see how we’re moving in a better direction for all of our neighborhoods across the city,” Hernandez added.

Padilla was accompanied in the council chamber on Wednesday by her mother Gliceria, her sister Carmen and her two young nieces. “Let’s get to work,” Padilla told the council.

Padilla also apologized to her young nieces for the “language” — racial slurs and anti-gay epithets — heard during Wednesday’s council meeting.

A handful of public speakers routinely use graphic and vulgar language at LA City Council meetings.

City prosecutors argue that such speech is protected by the 1st Amendment.