Martin Ludlow

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 that was know to be a brothel, who was the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) ("County-Fed") Ludlow resigned to become Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the County Fed. Ludlow's succession however was not guaranteed. Ludlow was challenged by Ivan Chavez of The Librarian's Guild and Los Angrles 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. 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.

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.

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.