Breaking News! Wendy Greuel Endorses Chris Essel
Reliable sources are reporting that City Controller Wendy Greuel will endorse Christine Essel as her choice to fill her former seat on the City Council. A public announcement will be made on Thursday. There has been speculation for some time as to who, if anyone, Wendy would throw her support behind.
In addition to the endorsement by Greuel, Essel can count former Mayor Richard Riordan, City Councilwoman Jan Perry and City Councilwoman Janice Hahn as supporters. Essel also has the endorsement of IATSE West Coast Studio Locals.
For more info, visit the blog dedicated to the CD2 Special Election at http://cd2election.blogspot.com/
Labels: Chris Essel, wendy greuel
Posted by Unknown @ 8/05/2009 07:00:00 AM
59 Comments:
Can Wendy be wrong?
C'mon, Higby, Chris Essel is a serious candidate, as is your boy, Paul.
But, Paul has not raised any money from the legendary Armenian community; why not? Is there a subtle message there that needs to be explored?
The election is nigh and with Wendy supporting her, Chris breaks out of the pack.
Plus, a large amount of IATSE members have moved into the district, which explains why Jim Rogan got beat by Adam Schiff.
Can you say "Councilmember Essel"?
Federal authorities are investigating Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and former Los Angeles Unified School Board member David Tokofsky in connection with payments they received from a nonprofit group founded by late labor leader Miguel Contreras, the Daily Journal has learned.
The heart of the probe involves what, if any, work the officials completed for the roughly $30,000 in fees they were each paid while they were both sitting school board members, three sources with direct knowledge of the investigation said. At the time, school board members were paid about $24,000 a year for their official duties.
Authorities are also investigating whether the payments from Voter Improvement Program Inc. originated from entities that had business before the school board that the two officials could influence, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.
Thanks for the heads up on Wendy's endorsement. At the begining of the race, Wendy told us she was going to go with a women but was thinkig about waiting until there was a run off. I guess the decision came down to Chris and Tamara. With Wendy spending the last year courting the Mayors favor to get the controllers seat and Tamara crossing the Mayor after he spent 2 million to get her elected to the school board, it is no wonder she went with Chris.
Nothing against Chris, but this political move has more to do with Tamara crossing the Mayor than then money reported on her campaign statement.
In the meantime Paula Abdul is out as a judge on American Idol.
Wendy told us she was go with a woman? Are you being serious or just trying to make her look bad? You mean someone would eliminate half the population, right off the bat? Do you see the madness in saying you are going with "a woman?" COMPLETELY INSANE. Can you imagine if Tom La Bonge or Ed Reyes said they are going with a man? Is this the type of stuff people base a decision on?
I don't believe Wendy said that.
ohiamsostunnedseehowstunnediamthat wendyisbackingchriswhatashocker....
At last night's candidates' forum conducted by the Los Angeles Horse Council,Mary Benson was easily the winner. The three money candidates did well, but that goofball Mike McCue probably scored more points than everyone but Mary which was fun to hear. Mike obviously does not know the difference between Sunland and Lake View Terrace, which is where we were and where the majority of the audience was from.
Mary rightfully pointed out that among the CD2 locals, she was the only candidate from north of Roscoe Blvd.
Edsel and Galatzan obviously spoke with Greuel before the forum, with Edsel parroting Greuel information but unable to add anything past the gloss-over details. Krekorian spoke well, but did not commit to anything which was very disappointing.
Again, MARY BENSON WAS EASILY THE WINNER.
Next candidates' forum is Saturday in Sunland and with an entirely different audience (Mike McCue - take note), it should prove to differentiate the candidates better.
At the forum last night, I heard at least one person say that Wendy wanted a woman for CD2. Trying to remember who... maybe Frank Sheftel or David Hernandez?
Mary rightfully pointed out that among the CD2 locals, she was the only candidate from north of Roscoe Blvd.
VOTE FOR ME! I'm the only candidate from north of Roscoe. You MUST be kidding me.
What happened to the days when a federal investigation into a city councilman, let alone Jose Huizar, would have easily triggered someone to post a thread.
In all the layout of this district is really stupid. Makes no sense to have Sunland Tujunga and areas north part of the same district as North Hollywood or Studio City.
Better than 'vote for me, I'm a carpetbagger who got the State into this state', or 'I'm the Jack Weiss of this election', or 'I am doing such a shitty job on the school board that you should obvously vote for me.'
Gerrymandering. And yes, I would prefer a whole district that had more in common with S-T, LVT, Shadow Hills etc.
This story is not true. The Mayor put a stop to it. This was not the deal he had with Wendy. Wendy was going rogue.
Do you not see the problem with admitting that you are going with a woman? How could you base your entire decision on that single issue? How can you simply eliminate so many choices based on gender?
8:57 you get your information where?
And Petra I'd rather see it all be separate cities! Secession now! The Valley could be turned into like eight Burbanks.
Petrified, thanks for letting us know that is what is important to you. It seems reasonable to expect the rest of the district should have more in common with LVT, S-T, SH.
I'm all for secession.
It doesn't really matter what is important to me.
It does matter that the two areas unnaturally married into what now constitutes CD2 are so very very different in needs and issues.
Thanks to Paula for leaving the show. Was this a protest to the men and women around the horseshoe who voted to divert HUD money to fund the circus. Like all the other HUD funds that have been diverted from homeless women and children, to enrich the development around the Staples Center, this is a new low for Los Angeles.
The HUD money is there for a reason and I doubt it is so Eric and Company can have box seats at the Circus.
Isn't Hollywood and Highland a CRA Project area?
The horseshoe circus claims that that this is not HUD money. They made a point of stating that yesterday.
As for Huizar being investigated, I'm sure Spot is all over that.
I'm with Petra. I want her to secede from this blog!
No story here to be honest.
Essel has been telling the whole world for months that she is going to be getting Wendy's endorsement.
They are just bringing it right now given that she is getting no traction inside of the district.
A Wendy and a County Fed endorsement is what the Mayor's folks promised to get Essel into this race.
She delivered one and could not pull off the other one.
7:23
To answer your question Yes.
According to city ethics Paul passed 50G's early last week. And plus all the candidates are taking matching funds so money will not decide this race.
Jim Rogan and Adam Schiff where running each other in the Glendale/Pasadena area and had nothing to do with cd2.
Check your facts before you blog.
Truly, those who think the district was gerrymandered, have no clue that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensures that the Latino population in the Northeast San Fernando Valley has to have two districts that have Latino majorities. That's why Ruth Galanter's district moved from LAX to the Valley. It is also known that Sunland/Tujunga has historical patterns of racially polarized voting (see Cardenas v. Greuel 2002). Sunland/Tujunga will always be grouped with the southeast Valley as long as the Voting Rights Act demands it, or until the white people in the hills open their hearts and minds.
The Wendy deal has collapsed. Her people are upset that Shallman and some of the CD2 staffers were going around town bragging. Wendy doesn't like to be upstaged she's postponing her event.
The overall area is full of IATSE members; the ilustration is valid because the demographics of Glendale-Burbank (remember, that's where Paul is from) are similar to CD2. It is the proximity issues.
I know what I am talking about and don't need to check my facts.
Paula, you need to move in from Malibu and run for council; pretty girls rule.
Wow 9:54. You are seriously trying to say that because S-T did not vote to have Alarcon's protege/clone backed by a ton of native american gaming money, that it was because of race?
News for you, 9:54. Lake View Terrace, who is next to S-T and whom you are lumping in with S-T, is the most racially mixed community in all of Los Angeles, with a demographic that reads 20% African American, 40% Latino, 40% Caucasian. LVT voted almost exclusively for Greuel, too.
Learn what the fuck you are talking about before you pull a very bogus and worn out race card.
Shallman is too big for his britches; he is beginning to think he is Park Skelton.
An FYI from Wendy's city hall staffers:
They are being slammed with calls from CD2 folks chewing her out over the Essel endorsement.
10:08
Ahh,, Yes IATSE members, and how will your girl Chris explain to those same IATSE members, Paramount's hand in packing off their jobs to other states?
Somebody mention Huizzy ??
I'm not surprised that Wendy is hearing from the people who live in CD2 on this. I'm crafting my email to her right now.
Wendy's office is telling the press that the announcement is being postponed until tommorow.
Wendy is still popular in CD2 but she cant make Chris Essel win.
The most common mantra one hears from CD2 folks is any one but Essel.
This endorsement if it does not get pulled under duress just proves how out of touch Wendy is with her old district.
And as far the S/T debate last night and i can say that Benson will do better than people might suspect.
Chris looked clearly out of place and uncomfortable.
The word from Wendy's office is that she will endorse and leave on her vacation immediately afterwards.
They might cancel the event and just let Essel do a release instead.
Higby - I totally agree that CD2 is a Gerrymandered nightmare. The NE part have little if anything to do with the rest of the district. Our needs are vastly different.
As far as secession goes, "Bring it on" "Let my people go". S-T doesn't get much from the city anyway other than a few speed bumps and stop signs. Just continue to ignore the roads and we won't even need those.
Hell. We could be a city with no city services at all and not lose a thing.
Now learn to ride a horse,chew tobacco, tote a pistol and rethink your Krekorian endorsement.
Throw a blanket on the ground in the wash and re-register to vote in CD2. You can smell the freedom up here.
Called Wendy's office, the phone lines have been busy for 5 minutes.
I attended the forum last night and Benson had the most knowledge, which stands to reason, as she is the horse candidate in the horse forum. She needs to be a bit more engaging as a candidate if she's going to go somewhere. The droning on and on doesn't grab the voter.
Galatzan was the surprise she was extremely knowledgeable, some fresh ideas and engaging. With 8-10 candidates at each of these forums, you have to separate yourself from the pack. I think Tamar did that last night. Not sure anybody else did.
Why are people calling her office or surprised by this? Like she would care about people calling her office.
Wendy is the insiders-insider, she has just been good in hiding it.
The problem with Essel is that she cant hide her contempt for average people as well as Wendy could.
Not a very good liar i guess.
Good point about IATSE. Essel has some 'splanin to do on the jobs. Krekorian on the other hand passed legislation to keep filming in CA.
Wendy going with a women is not sexist in the least. With her gone, the horseshoe looks more and more like a good old boys club. Only having Janice and Jan to deal with all that testerone does not say much for such an open minded and progressive council.
It was not personal Paul, just a numbers game.
Those local IATSE members traveled to locations with the film to other states. Get it. It's Location, Location Location. Every thing isn't filmed here.
12:04, are you talking about Essel or Galatzan?
At the forum last night, Galatzan looked like she was in pain while waiting for her turn to speak. She obviously didn't want to sit there. And she definitely did not want to hear what others had to say.
Her dislike for the subject and the company she was being forced to keep was all over her face.
If Riordan says Essel, the choice is clear. Anyone but Essel. When will politicians learn? Riordan is an endorsement nobody in the San Fernando Valley wants.
Yea I'm sure the unions love sending production to other states. Keep that dream alive.
I totally agree with Petra about Mary Benson. She is the best grass roots candidate out there.
It sucks that we live in a "he who has the most money wins" city, but we do. I do worry that she doesn't dress up the way she needs to and please Mary, heed the advice about droning. Very smart people have that problem sometimes and you're one of them. Remember that although politicians like the sound of their own voices, most of their constituents don't care to hear it.
Also remember that 75% of the constituents in CD 2 can't name their council person.
So, at the risk of hurting your feelings, I would love to see you get a few suits, maybe update your hairdo and knock on every single door in the district.
I am losing all respect for Wendy Gruel. This move of endorsing Essel smells like a sellout to me. What was Wendy promised? A fat campaign donation in 2013 when she runs for Mayor? Yeah, the multi-millionaire movie exec Essel is showing how money talks. I wonder how many others she will be buying endorsements from. This woman has done NOTHING for CD 2 and doesn't even live there. I hope CD 2 voters treat her like the phony carpetbagger she is.
Says Phil Jennerjahn who couldn't pick out CD2 on a map...
Phil,
How do you know that Essel is a multi-millionaire?
How do you know that she is buying endorsements?
Please state your sources.
Also, not to be picky but if she is a "phony carpetbagger", doesn't this mean that she is in fact not a carpetbagger?
I love Google. Enter Chris Essel and Mayor Sam is the top search result.
Higby! And the top Google story about her is MY story about her high level of phoniness!!
I believe your story is first TODAY, because of the date of the post. It's definitely not due to the quality of the story.
No one gives a shit about Wendy's endorsement in this race.
Even if people like her its hard to transfer that to the ice queen of the Hollywood Hills.
Why would a highly placed Democrat Assemblymember - the majority whip nonetheless - drop a seat to which he was just elected and run for an area that he is only marginally a part of?
So that he can then drop CD2 and run for Mayor.
So that he can then be put up for governor.
Needless to say, the reason Krekorian would not address anything specifically or make any promises to the community at Tuesday's forum is because he couldn't give a rats ass about CD2. Except to use it, that it.
DON'T VOTE FOR ESSEL, MORE OF THE SAME. WE NEED NEW BLOOD IN CITY HALL IF WE ARE TO STOP CUTS IN SERVICES AND THE SELF SERVING ATTITUDES THAT THIS CITY HAS PAYED FOR, FOR YEARS. THIS DISTRICT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
Chris Essel is the choice that why Wendy has endorsed her. Wendy has a lot of trust in the district and of course she would endorse someone that she would want in that spot. Rock on Wendy.
Yes, we need NEW blood. But that fact is that ESSEL has never been in office and could bring a lot to the table. Not 100% for her but she is the best choice out of the bunch.
Michael Higby if you had enough power to draw city council district lines you might understand why the 2nd district is drawn the way it is to include
Sunland.
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