Elections for Los Angeles’ neighborhood councils are rapidly approaching in April, with community members being asked to vote for candidates in the Mid City West and Greater Wilshire areas.

Neighborhood councils are advisory groups composed of elected community members who consider planning and land-use issues in their respective areas, as well as other   community issues such as crime and homelessness, and make recommendations to the city. The neighborhood council elections are being held entirely by mail this year, meaning voters will receive and cast their ballots by mail.

The Mid City West and Greater Wilshire neighborhood council elections are scheduled on Tuesday, April 15. Residents, property owners, business owners and stakeholders who have an interest in the areas can currently request a ballot online from the L.A. City Clerk’s Office, and the city will start mailing ballots out on March 11. The final day to request a vote-by mail ballot is April 7, and ballots must be postmarked by April 15.

The Mid City West Neighborhood Council’s general boundaries are La Brea Avenue to the east, Willoughby Avenue and Romaine Street to the north, La Cienega Boulevard and the Beverly Hills and West Hollywood borders to the west, and Olympic and San Vicente boulevards to the south.

Amy Goldenberg, chair of the Mid City West’s Ad Hoc Election Committee, said 82 candidates are running for 36 seats on the council. Mid City West is holding a virtual candidate meet-and-greet session on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m., via Zoom. Goldenberg said it will not be a debate, but will offer each candidate time to discuss their campaign. The register for the forum, visit us02web.zoom.us/j/ 8726280 1383 and use the meeting ID: 872 6280 1383.

Mid City West is also holding an in-person candidate meet and greet program on Sunday, March 16, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Picnic Pavilion in Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd. For information, visit midcitywest.org/calendar.

Goldenberg said more candidates are running in 2025 than in previous years and she believes it is in response to people wanting to get more involved in government. Neighborhood council members serve two-year terms.

“A lot of people have been getting involved and showing up at meetings,” Goldenberg said. “People are running because maybe they see a different vision than the board currently has.”

The Greater Wilshire Neighbor-hood Council, which runs from La Brea Avenue on the west to approximately Manhattan Place on the east, and Melrose Avenue to the north and Olympic Boulevard on the south, is also planning to hold a candidate forum on a date yet to be scheduled at the end of March. GWNC Board president Conrad Starr said 48 candidates are vying for 21 seats on the council. The deadlines for requesting and mailing in a vote-by-mail ballot for the GWNC election are the same as for Mid City West. People seeking information are encouraged to visit the council’s website at greaterwilshire.org.