Alarcon’s legal troubles highlighted in Assembly

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Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) appeared to be taking a shot at his sometimes political rival, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, today when he unveiled legislation to crack down on elected officials who move out of the districts they represent.

The proposal comes a week after prosecutors in L.A. County launched an investigation into whether Alarcon lives in his council district. Under the Fuentes bill, AB 1676, office holders who relocate outside their districts would be forced to forfeit their position and be banned from holding any other public office for life.

Fuentes denies his motivation was Alarcon’s troubles with prosecutors. ‘I trust that the district attorney’s office and its investigation will determine whether Richard has violated the law or not,’’ Fuentes said. The main intent of his legislation, he said, was ‘to bring clarity to the law.’’

The two San Fernando Valley Democrats have tangled on occasion in the past. When Alarcon ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2005, Fuentes endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa in the race. Alarcon, whom Fuentes endorsed for City Council in 2007, could not be reached for comment on the bill, which was written to be retroactive to apply to those in office when the bill is enacted.

Alarcon has already started raising money to run for Fuentes’ Assembly seat in 2012. Fuentes is prevented by term limits from running for reelection that year.

Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento