Bonin Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election, Will 'Focus On Health'

VENICE, CA — Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin announced Wednesday night that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming LA City Council race.

"I have made the very difficult and personal decision to not seek re-election to the Los Angeles City Council," Bonin said in a message posted on his YouTube.

The surprising move comes one week after an effort to recall him fell short of the required votes.

Bonin said he is dropping his bid for the Westside District 11 seat, saying he has struggled with depression for years and needs time "to focus on health and wellness."

He calls it a "difficult, deeply personal decision," but says he's confident it's "the right choice for the right reasons."

Bonin was reelected in 2017 with 71 percent of the vote and was seeking re-election in the June primary to continue to represent the 11th District, which includes Venice, Pacific Palisades, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey and Sawtelle.

The petition for Bonin's recall was approved on July 13, which made him the second of three council members to be targeted by a recall in 2021, following Councilwoman Nithya Raman and preceding Councilman Kevin de Leon.

Organizers of all three recall efforts cited opposition to the council members' handling of the city's homelessness crisis.

Bonin, who has battled addiction, experienced homelessness and lived in his vehicle, shared a personal message late Wednesday on YouTube for his constituents to describe his decision.

“This has been the gift of a lifetime and I’m enormously grateful for it and I’ve tried to honor it every day," Bonin said.

Bonin recapped his commitment to climate change and finding solutions for unhoused people in Los Angeles.

"This has been hard work, this has been tough work, but this has been the right work and we have done it together," he said. "It has been a privilege to be by your side and an honor to have you on my side. My detractors may be loud, my opponents may have megaphones, but my supporters and my allies, we outnumber them and we outwork them."

He shared his experience battling mental health challenges.

"I have struggled with chronic depression for a very long time, long before I ever ran for office," Bonin said. "It is a constant companion, and it is often a very heavy one. There are times when this job has made that easier, and times when it has made it more challenging. Instead of seeking another term, it's time for me to focus on health and wellness."

He described the physical, emotional and spiritual toll depression has taken on him and why it's led to his decision.

"It's time for me to recharge," he said. "I need to focus on health. I need to focus on wellness. I need to spend more quality time with my family, especially while my son is young enough to still want to hang out with his old man."

This is a developing story. Check back with Patch for updates.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.