Inglewood Mayor James Butts skips forum as five challengers call for term limits and a forensic audit

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Headline graphic: Empty chair for the mayor, over a photo of Inglewood City Hall

Cover photo: Photo (Inglewood City Hall, 2021) by Sony 1992, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped, darkened and text added by The Southbound 105.

By The Southbound 105 | Oct. 10, 2026

INGLEWOOD — Inglewood Mayor James Butts did not show up to a mayoral candidate forum Wednesday night, leaving an empty chair on stage as the five candidates trying to unseat him criticized his 15 years in charge of the city.

Raina Carrillo, Fre'Drisha Dixon, Councilmember Gloria Gray, Arturo Martinez and Joseph Soto took questions at the forum, hosted by the nonprofit newsroom The LA Local on Oct. 7 in the auditorium of the former Morningside High School campus, now the temporary home of Inglewood High School. Organizers invited Butts and kept a seat open for him throughout the event, LAist reported. More than 100 residents attended.

Where the challengers agree

The five challengers agreed on several big changes: term limits for city officials, a forensic audit of city finances, and moving City Council meetings from 2 p.m. to an evening time slot that more residents can attend.

They criticized the city's handling of its video billboards, the struggling Market Street commercial corridor and the death of Bryan Bostic in police custody during Butts' time in office. They also faulted the city's current financial arrangement with billboard company WOW Media.

On traffic and parking around big events, ideas ranged from barricading side streets to building an Elon Musk-inspired traffic tunnel. Some took aim at the city's parking permit program, which charges residents in some neighborhoods for extra street permits. On housing, proposals ranged from property tax relief to more accessory dwelling units.

The forum was mostly cordial. Dixon twice pressed Gray on why she had not pushed harder as a council member for more transparency about Bostic's death. Gray responded that she has been active on the issue within the limits of her job.

Residents weigh in

"Just because someone has been in the office doesn't mean they're necessarily the best candidate to push the city forward," said Nicole Sims, a lifelong Inglewood resident in the audience.

Jessica Foard, a teacher, said she had hoped to ask Butts about his handling of Bostic's case and was not surprised he stayed away. "He doesn't feel like he needs to answer to anybody," she said.

The stakes

Butts, a former police chief, first needed a runoff to win the mayor's office in 2011 but won easily in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He is seeking a fifth term. Gray, who also sits on the West Basin Municipal Water District board, is the only other candidate who currently holds elected office. Carrillo, Dixon and Soto have run for mayor before.

Much of the race centers on the city's relationship with SoFi Stadium, the Kia Forum, Intuit Dome and its fleet of video billboards, which bring millions of dollars into the city budget. Stadium and billboard interests have already poured millions into the election, LAist reported.

Two citizen initiatives on the same ballot touch that money. Measure AT would set tiered admissions taxes of 10% and 2.5% based on venue size and remove the existing annual cap on that revenue. Measure BB would end the city's authority to allow advertising on public streets, sidewalks and similar land, which the ballot says would reduce city revenue. Voters will also choose two City Council members and three school board members and decide Measure MM, a $396 million Inglewood Unified school bond.

How to vote

Voting is already underway and runs through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. The mayor's race is a primary: if no candidate wins more than half the vote, the top two advance to a runoff in the spring. The regular deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 19; after that, residents can still register conditionally and vote at a vote center. Mailed ballots count if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days.

Sources

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