Martin Ludlow

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Martin Ludlow (born 1964) was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 2003 to 2005. He represented the 10th district. He was elected May 20, 2003 and resigned on June 30, 2005.

After the death of close friend Miguel Contreras at a place where police later conducted stings where it was a known to be a brothel, Ludlow rose to succeed him as the County's labor leader. The powerful Contreas was the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) ("County-Fed"). Ludlow resigned in anticipation of becoming Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the County Fed.

Ludlow's actions on the night of Contreras' death however have been called into question. The LA Weekly of October 26, 2006, citing anonymous sources, said Ludlow sought to ensure that there was no autopsy on Contreras. Ludlow, quoted in an Oct. 27 story in the Los Angeles Times, would not comment on the autopsy.

Further, Ludlow's succession however was not guaranteed. Ludlow was challenged by Ivan Chavez of The Librarian's Guild and Los Angeles Superior Court AFSCME Local 910 treasurer Kevin Norte. It is believed that they were both both highly pressured to withdraw before the County Fed election occurred after being reassured from influential labor officials that the charges lodged against Ludlow were untrue and that Contreras was not involved in any way in the federal investigation. It is rumored that at least one of the two candidates were also physically threatened yet no police charges were filed. Kevin Norte has not respnded to repeated requests for his reasons for his withdrawal. Ludlow was elected to the County Fed position on July 10, 2005. Chavez has remained silent.

Ludlow stepped down from the influential labor organization on February 21, 2006 amid a federal, state and county investigation into collusion between his 2003 City Council campaign and SEIU Local 99. Ludlow's deal with prosecutors reportedly bars him from public and union offices, it marked a dramatic fall for one of Los Angeles County's liberal rising stars. In March 2006, the governing board of the County Fed awarded a $15,000 cash payment to Ludlow "in recognition of his service to the County Fed."

The former councilman was ordered to pay fines and penalties totaling about $45,000 and was barred from engaging in political fund-raising activities for the next three years, according to Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman.

In the state case by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Ludlow pleaded guilty March 8, 2006 to one felony count of conspiracy to exceed the $500 campaign contribution limit and two misdemeanor counts of violating campaign laws.

In total, according to a story in The Los Angeles Times on July 30, 2006, Ludlow was sentenced to five years federal probation, three years state probation, 2,000 hours of community service, $186,000 in restitution, and Ludlow is barred from holding public office for four years and barred from holding a union position for thirteen years.

"What he did before he was caught (was) wholly inappropriate, criminal behavior, very serious and completely inappropriate," the prosecutor told reporters after the sentencing.

Maria Elena Durazo, Miguel Contreras's widow was elected to replace Ludlow. Since Contrereras' death, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and State Senator Gloria Romero have called for an autopsy to perfotmed. To date, no autopsy has been performed on the lifeless body of Miguel Contreras even though state law requires one to be performed because a doctor was no present at the time or death nor did he die at a hospital. Ludlow, however, assocring to the LA Weekly had a doctor sign the death certificiate without an autoposy being performed.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported on July 21, 2006, that "Some of Los Angeles' most respected civil leaders are hosting a fundraiser tonight to help pay" Ludlow's legal bills. "An inviataion to the dinner to support the Martin Ludlow Legal Defense Fund portrays Martin Ludlow and Kimberly Ludlow as having 'courageously dealt with tremendous legal and professional challenges' costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and leal expenses." There was no word on how much was raised at the evening's event.

On July 25, 2006, the Los Angeles Times pubished an editorial entitled Do City Politicos Understand Shame? in which The Times called it a "collective smirk" to the "people of Los Angeles" for representatives like Assembly members Karen Bass and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Rep. Diane Watson, and Councilman Herb Wesson to hold this type of fundraiser for Ludlow with donors contributing "up to $4,000 a pop for the privilege of rubbing shoulders with decision-makers."

The Los Angeles Times also reported on July 30, 2006, that actor Danny Glover was a part of that fundraising committee.

[edit] External Sources

• The Final Hours of Miguel Contreras