Huntington Park councilman Manuel Avila dies at 81

HUNTINGTON PARK - Huntington Park Councilman Manuel "Manny" Avila died Monday at the age of 81, less than two months after being reelected to a second term..

Avila was a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission from 1990-2001. He was reappointed in 2015 and was chair of the commission from 2015- 2016. Avila was president of the Huntington Park Lions Club and Huntington Park Friends of the Library and parish council treasurer at St. Matthias Church.

Avila was elected to the city council in March 2017 and reelected in June. He was mayor from 2020-21.

Avila was born in Mexico City and was an elementary school teacher in Mexico before coming to California. He was a resident of Huntington Park since 1968.

Avila initially worked in factories in Vernon, received an associate's degree in psychology and sociology from East Los Angeles College, then became a case worker for Los Angeles County, helping families obtain aid and Medi-Cal assistance, according to his biography released by the city.

Avila is survived by three children.

The city will lower flags to half-staff in Avila's memory.

A cause of death was not disclosed.