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LA City Councilman Battling Cancer Will Not Seek Re-Election

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said Monday he will not run for re-election in March.

The 67-year-old will use the time to battle stage four cancer that started in the ureter, the tube that connects the bladder and the kidney. His condition caused tumors to grow on his spine.

"I need more time to work on the cancer," Rosendahl said. "I will tell the council I love them, but I'm going to focus on myself."

The councilman will support Mike Bonin, his chief of staff, to represent the Westside, which includes Marina del Rey, Los Angeles International Airport, Venice, Palms and Pacific Palisades.

Rosendahl, the first openly gay member on the council and a medical marijuana advocate, returned to City Hall on Sept. 11 after taking two months off for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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