Enrique Gasca waiting in wings in School Board race

A week after the primary, speculation continues to mount in the School Board race...about who will actually be running.

The day after the primary, both winning camps contacted the Gasca camp, and tried to solicit his endorsement. Enrique Gasca, however, played it coy, and his team is sitting on the sidelines patiently, wondering if Chris Arellano, the second-place candidate badly damaged by last-minute blowups, might ultimately withdraw from the race, giving Gasca the second spot and the right to run in the runoff.

There is no doubt that without the full force of a UTLA endorsement and absent lots more dollars, Arellano---who was half-slimed by the usual local suspects and half made himself exceedingly vulnerable to such sliming through political naiveté---has no chance against the Antonio/Huizar machine that backs Monica. It is, in truth, likely in Arellano's interest, if he wishes to pursue a political future, to concede to the perceptions, and work with the contrition storyline: contritely admit to having taken some shortcuts, withdraw from the race, take the time away, and come back a few years later, tanned, fit, and ready.

Gasca might have a chance in the race, however. He is recognizably an adult and might attract more beneficial media attention than Arellano could. He has historically had a good relationship to the Mayor but the eastside constantly demonstrates that good relationships are made most of all of good timing, and the time may have come for Gasca to try his luck bowling alone.

Mónica García---speaking of name changes, I don't recall her signing her name with two diacritical acutes much before the campaign, but I could be mistaken---continues to sit back and enjoy the show.

A little analysis here: the longer Arellano waits, the harder it would be for Gasca to step in. Yet the longer Arellano waits before making a decision committing to the race, the more fruitful his own dialog will be with other camps regarding his own future. With pressure mounting, I would expect an announcement one way or another within a week.