Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian on Wednesday defended his use of a city email account to support a candidate he supported in Tuesday's primary election.

In a statement emailed from his office shortly before midnight Tuesday, Krekorian said that former Assemblyman Adolin, a one-time aide to the City Council president, is seeking his former boss's East San Fernando Valley seat. He praised Nazarian. Krekorian was unable to seek another term due to his term limits.

“I am especially proud that former Congressman Adlin Nazarian holds a commanding lead in the race to succeed me as District 2 representative,” Krekorian said in a statement.

“It has been an honor to represent this district for 14 years, and I am pleased that the voters chose a candidate with experience, vision, ability and absolute integrity in public service,” Krekorian said. wrote. “Mr. Adlin's accomplishments in the state Legislature have earned him the confidence of East Valley voters, and we are confident that his strong grassroots support will carry him to victory.”

Krekorian's statement also praised his colleagues on the City Council for leading the way in their respective campaigns, saying, “Voters across the city value the City Council's efforts to turn Los Angeles around.”

It has been revealed that Nazarian will partially return to the race and will face a run-off in November against businessman Sam Kubuchan.

City ethics laws prohibit employees from using city resources, including city email and staff, for political activities. The Ethics Commission defines “political activity” as “activity directed at the success or failure of a candidate for elective office or voting system in a future election.”

Such violations can result in fines of up to $5,000.

Asked Wednesday whether the email violated the city's ethics law, Krekorian said, “I didn't mean it that way. I don't think it was like a campaign. I wish it wasn't like that. Saying I support something is not a campaign.”

Krekorian said communications director Hugh Esten wrote the statement at his direction.

Krekorian said he is confident the Ethics Commission will contact him if there is a problem with the email. The city council president served on the all-volunteer board in the late 1990s.

In 2015, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti's office was forced to retract an email supporting presidential candidate Hillary Clinton sent from a city email account. Garcetti's campaign consultant later sent a statement of support.