2026 CANDIDATE SURVEY
Jorge Hernandez Rosas
Candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 9
To help foster greater discussion about reforming City Hall, we asked City of LA candidates to participate in a six question survey. Half of the questions seek general feedback, and the rest are issue specific.
Please note survey responses, candidate information, and website links are provided for informational/educational purposes only. Fair Rep LA is presenting these responses as submitted without edit, evaluation, or commentary. Fair Rep LA does not endorse, support, or oppose candidates or their responses in any way.
Survey Info:
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Answers: Respondents were told that questions could be answered in 1-2 sentences, and that while additional context was welcome, the form had a 1,250 character limit for each question (approximately 200 words).
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Resource Document: Additional background information was provided via a resource document.
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Participation: Surveys were sent to all City of LA candidates qualified to appear on the ballot. This is a very busy time for candidates, so we appreciate everyone who made time to respond. Please avoid reading too much into a candidate’s lack of participation. We respect the limited bandwidth campaigns have, and it's possible that our request(s) may have been lost in their inbox.
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Background: The City of Los Angeles is undergoing the first comprehensive review of our city’s governance structure in 27 years. The Charter Reform Commission recently transmitted a report containing over 60 recommendations to the City Council, who will soon be deciding what will be sent to the November ballot for potential approval by voters.
I strongly support the Charter Reform Commission’s recommendations that increase transparency, accountability, and public trust in local government. Residents deserve confidence that decisions are being made in the public interest, which is why I believe stronger ethics standards, clearer oversight, and greater disclosure requirements are essential. I also support reforms that improve transparency and public access so community members can more easily understand how decisions are made and how taxpayer dollars are spent. In addition, I believe modernizing the charter to clarify roles and responsibilities will help city government operate more efficiently while maintaining accountability to residents. Just as important, I support efforts to expand civic participation and make public boards, commissions, and government processes more accessible and representative of the community. My priority is ensuring that local government is transparent, responsive, ethical, and focused on delivering results for the people it serves.
One recommendation I have the most concern about is any Charter Reform proposal that reduces transparency, weakens community input, or gives more political insiders greater control over decision-making without stronger accountability measures. Residents in Los Angeles deserve a government that is transparent, accessible, and responsive to everyday community needs not one that concentrates power among a small group of political interests.
I am also concerned about reforms that could create confusion for voters, reduce independent oversight, or increase bureaucracy without actually improving city services. Any Charter reform should focus on improving public safety, housing access, homelessness solutions, street cleanliness, ethics, and constituent services not creating more political complexity.
In my view, community voices, neighborhood councils, and working-class residents must remain central in the process. Reform should strengthen trust in local government, not weaken it. I support accountability, transparency, ethics reform, and modernization, but only if those changes clearly benefit the people of Los Angeles and not special interests or political insiders.
I believe future Charter reforms in Los Angeles should focus more on accountability, transparency, ethics, and stronger community representation. One important reform would be strengthening anti-corruption and ethics policies by increasing transparency around campaign donations, lobbying, and city contracts to ensure political decisions are made in the public’s interest. I also believe residents and Neighborhood Councils should have a stronger voice in local budgeting, development, homelessness response, and public safety decisions. Additional reforms should improve oversight of city departments by requiring measurable public reporting on issues such as illegal dumping, homelessness, street maintenance, and constituent services. It is also important to expand language accessibility and outreach so immigrant and working-class communities can better participate in local government and understand available city resources. Overall, Charter reform should prioritize rebuilding public trust while making city government more responsive, equitable, and accountable to the people of Los Angeles
Yes, I generally support increasing the Los Angeles City Council from 15 to 25 districts because Los Angeles has grown significantly, and smaller districts could provide better representation, stronger constituent services, and more attention to neighborhood concerns. However, the process must remain transparent and fair to prevent political manipulation during redistricting. I also believe there should be accountability regarding the costs of expanding council offices. Expanding the council alone will not solve major city issues, so reforms should also include stronger ethics, transparency, and community accountability measures.
I generally support exploring Ranked Choice Voting for Los Angeles because it could increase voter participation, reduce the cost of separate runoff elections, and encourage candidates to engage with a broader group of voters. Holding elections in a single November election may also improve turnout since more residents typically vote during general elections.
However, any transition to Ranked Choice Voting should include strong voter education and language-accessible outreach so all communities clearly understand the voting process. My main concern is ensuring the system remains transparent, easy to understand, and trusted by voters across all neighborhoods.
I support having a broader discussion about expanding voting rights for 16- and 17-year-olds in local elections within Los Angeles, especially on issues that directly impact young people such as education, public safety, transportation, and community resources. Many young people are already civically engaged through school, work, and community involvement, and allowing them to participate could strengthen long-term civic participation.
However, any change should include strong civic education, voter outreach, and clear implementation guidelines to ensure students and families fully understand the voting process. My main concern is making sure the system is implemented thoughtfully, transparently, and in a way that builds public trust and informed participation.