Arturo Martinez Reflects on Inglewood Mayor’s Race, Self-Funded Campaign and Push for Open City Hall

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Arturo Martinez entered Inglewood’s six-candidate mayoral contest with a message he called “Residents First.” Now, with ballots still being counted, the local business professional says the questions he raised about public spending, City Hall transparency and the influence of major entertainment venues will remain important long after the election.

In written answers sent directly to California58 on November 8, Martinez reflected on running a largely self-funded campaign while working full time, the difficulty of reaching voters without established political connections, and what he intends to do next as an Inglewood resident.

Where the election stands

According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s unofficial returns available November 8, Martinez had 1,034 votes, or 3.24%, placing sixth among six mayoral candidates. Gloria D. Gray led with 10,173 votes (31.92%), followed by incumbent James T. Butts with 8,688 (27.26%). Fre’Drisha “Sha” Dixion had 6,135 (19.25%), Raina Carrillo 4,023 (12.62%), and Joe Soto 1,817 (5.70%). These figures are preliminary and may change as counting continues; they are not certified results.

Official source: Los Angeles County election results.

Why he decided to run

“I ran because Inglewood’s government should answer to the people who live here,” Martinez wrote in response to California58’s questions. “I’m a business owner and have worked at Meruelo for 18 years. I have no political connections.”

His platform, he explained, centered on allowing voters to consider term limits, opening City Hall to closer public scrutiny, seeking what he views as fair contributions from large venues, and keeping policing focused on families’ safety.

On his campaign website, For Inglewood By Inglewood, Martinez describes himself as a longtime Inglewood resident and father. The website lists affordable housing, displacement concerns, public safety, police body cameras, fiscal accountability and protections for immigrants among his priorities. Those are his campaign positions, not findings independently established by California58.

Running without a large donor network

Martinez described the campaign’s biggest obstacle as competing with better-connected political operations while holding down his regular job.

“The hardest part was competing without political connections or a big donor network while keeping my full-time job,” he wrote. “Residents want straight answers and a City Hall they can see into.”

He said the effort was “mostly self-funded,” supplemented by some GoFundMe contributions. Martinez declined to provide an estimated final campaign budget or total hours spent campaigning because, he said, he had not completed a reliable accounting. California58 has not independently audited his campaign finance filings.

His experience raises a wider question for municipal politics: how accessible is running for office to residents who must simultaneously maintain their livelihoods? Martinez argues that working people should have a meaningful opportunity to be heard even without a preexisting political network.

His response to the early vote

Martinez did not dispute the unofficial returns or claim that they represented the final result.

“I respect the voters’ choices. The results remain unofficial until certified, and I won’t pretend my message reached everyone,” he wrote.

He continued: “For me, the work is still about transparency, accountability, and keeping residents at the center of city decisions.” Martinez said he hopes the city’s next leadership will take those concerns seriously regardless of which candidate ultimately holds office.

What an ‘open City Hall’ would mean

Asked to identify one concrete priority, Martinez pointed not to a new development project or a campaign slogan but to the public’s ability to inspect city records.

“My first priority remains an open City Hall, where residents can easily find and understand spending, contracts, and decisions,” he wrote.

As a private resident, Martinez said he can continue requesting public records and questioning how taxpayer money is used. He proposed judging progress through documents residents can actually obtain and the quality of answers officials provide, rather than relying only on promises.

Those goals can be assessed through practical questions: Are city contracts posted in an accessible format? Can residents follow major expenditures? Do officials explain decisions in plain language? How promptly are public-records requests handled? California58 will continue covering these questions independently of any campaign.

Growth, stadiums and the future of Inglewood

Inglewood’s large sports and entertainment venues have become central to the city’s identity and political debate. Martinez’s campaign argued that economic growth should benefit longtime residents and that venues should contribute fairly to public costs. His website also raised concerns about housing affordability and the possibility that redevelopment could displace existing families.

These issues involve competing interests. Major developments can create employment and attract visitors, while residents and city officials must also consider infrastructure, public services, municipal revenue and housing pressures. The exact fiscal effects of any venue or agreement require examination of contracts and audited financial records, not campaign claims alone.

The city’s leadership will face these questions as Inglewood prepares for major international events, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

What comes next for Arturo Martinez?

Martinez said he intends to remain involved in civic affairs even if his candidacy does not result in elected office.

“Working people should be able to run for office and be heard without already belonging to a political network,” he wrote. “Cities need accessible public information so residents can judge the decisions made in their names.”

He added that he wants to keep advocating for transparency and accountability under the same Residents First principles that shaped his campaign.

His message after the election is therefore less about the final numerical outcome than about continuing to scrutinize decisions affecting his community. Whether city officials adopt any of his proposals remains to be seen.

About this interview

California58 invited Martinez to answer five written questions about his candidacy, campaign resources, the early returns, his first policy priority and his plans after the election. His responses arrived November 8, 2026. Quotations in this article come from that direct written correspondence; biographical and platform details attributed to his campaign website are identified as such. The interview was conducted by email, not in person.

Campaign information: For Inglewood By Inglewood · Instagram @foribyi.

Editor’s note: California58 is an independent local news network. Reporting on a candidate does not constitute an endorsement. Election totals are subject to official updates and certification.

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