Tragedy Strikes Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Austin Beutner’s Family
The Los Angeles mayoral election has taken a somber turn with the recent passing of Austin Beutner’s 22-year-old daughter, Emily Beutner. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s website, Emily died at a hospital on January 6. The cause of death has not been released by authorities, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty and condolences.
Austin Beutner, a former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent and current mayoral candidate, expressed his grief in a statement to The Times, saying, “My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter. We ask for privacy and your prayers at this time.” Emily was a student at Loyola Marymount University and the youngest of Beutner’s four children.
A Campaign in Mourning
Beutner’s campaign has been put on hold as he and his family navigate this difficult time. His spokesperson, Jeff Millman, declined to comment on how the death would affect Beutner’s campaign, which has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Beutner has been a vocal critic of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass’s handling of the Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
Mayor Bass offered her condolences to the Beutner family, stating, “There is no way to describe the depth of pain experienced by parents who have lost a child. My heart is broken for the Beutner family, and I offer Austin, his wife Virginia, and their entire family my deepest condolences.” The mayor’s statement reflects the somber mood that has settled over the city’s political landscape.
A Complex Election Landscape
Beutner’s campaign is one of several vying to unseat Mayor Bass in the June 2 election. Other notable candidates include reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, and Rae Huang, a community organizer and housing advocate. Beutner’s experience as a former “jobs czar” under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his stint as publisher and chief executive of The Times have made him a formidable challenger.
As the city mourns the loss of Emily Beutner, the mayoral election will undoubtedly be shaped by this tragic event. The campaign will need to balance the need for privacy and respect with the demands of a highly competitive election. For more information on this developing story, please visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
