Perry gets in mayor's race

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry declared Wednesday she intends to run for mayor in 2013, quietly filing papers to begin raising money for the race.

Perry, who is in her third and last term on the City Council, joins Controller Wendy Greuel, radio talk show host Kevin James and businessman Y.J. Draiman of Northridge as declared candidates.

Perry, who represents the downtown area, has been meeting with various neighborhood groups over the past several months to discuss city issues.

Perry was chief of staff to former Ninth District Councilwoman Rita Walters, and was elected to succeed her in 2001. Perry was re-elected in 2005 and 2009.

"I have the experience, the focus and the ability to take the city in the direction that it needs to go and realize its full potential," Perry said.

"We need to hit that point where we can continue to provide basic services in a realistic manner and have a budget that is balanced so that we can build a city for the future," she said.