Villaraigosa-Galatzan: Thick As Thieves Part Two
We reported last week a series of deep connections that CD2 Council Candidate Tamar Galatzan has to Mayor Villaraigosa. This is despite that Galatzan is telling supporters, most notably a group of activists from Sunland-Tujunga that recently endorsed her, that she has no one from the Mayor's staff working on her campaign and that she is on the outs with Villaraigosa.So as Adam Sandler said if my first song didn't convince you here is a whole new list of people tied to Mayor V just like Tamar too.
Steve Kaufman serves as Tamar's attorney and has done extensive work for Mayor Villaraigosa. Kaufman recently did legal work when Galatzan was charged by her critics with allegedly using her LAUSD board member funds on mailers for her CD2 race. Kaufman also was the slick lawyer that tried to go up against Ron Kaye and the Solar 8 on the shady Measure B lawsuit, defended convicted City Councilman Martin Ludlow and also repped Clowncilmen Tony Cardenas and Alex Padilla in a campaign ethics violations case.
Galatzan's day to day aide Devin Orisri is a former employee of the Mayor's Partnership for Better schools. Her Policy Director Pamela Burga is another former employee of the Mayor.
Though Galatzan and others claim she and the Mayor have had a parting of ways - primarily pointing to a vote against benefits for part time LAUSD cafeteria workers - Galatzan has supported nearly every other initiative of the Mayor including his takeover of select local schools as well as plans to offer a significant number of LAUSD campuses to private operators. As a veteran campaign consultant recently told me "There is no falling out. Tamar's campaign is being advised and run by loyalists to Villaraigosa."
Labels: cd2 special election, mayor antonio villaraigosa, tamar galatzan
Posted by Michael Higby @ 9/20/2009 04:02:00 PM
61 Comments:
Given the ability of anyone with a computer to find a link between the Mayor and all top three money candidates, this would indicate ones vote should go to one of the grass roots candidates.
Folks should vote for who they support, not based on the words of a talk show host or a group of neighborhood activists.
No vote is wasted. You may not win, but you will sleep at night.
Boost Paul, slam Tamar.
Boost Paul, slam Chris.
Boost Paul, slam Mary.
Anybody else notice a pattern here?
Tusesday night cannot come early enough for me. I amjust hopig Paul is out so this crap will cease.
Sometime, Higby, I suspect you and Zooma are the same person, since you are almost as obsessive as he.
And didn't Tamar's Supporters know much of this before they endorsed her? So why have they endorsed Tamar?
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Why am I not suprised. This is just history repeating itself.
Don't trust anyone who shows no loyalty to her husband, (that's a
sham), the Mayor, (that's a sham)
the LAUSD (that's true), the people who elected her to the school board (that's pathically true) She is buying your vote and you will pay heavily! That happened to personal integrity?
4:13 PM -Boost Paul - Slam....
Actually, the Krekorian people called Mary a trick pony.
The Tamar people called Mary homophobic and extreme right wing.
The Tamar people are calling those of us who have come out in support of Mary "crackpots."
The Essel people continue to be vacuous.
Paul and Tamar's first order of business, if either of them get elected is, spend one million dollars of tax payer money on another special election to replace them. That should only shave another 15-20 jobs.
Just because Higby says it doesn't mean it is true. Don't forget who Higby is working for- Paul Krekorian.
4:13 PM You may see it that way but I do not. I think Higby is an equal opportunity slammer. His reports are even handed and have also criticized Paul. And then there's Jennerjackoff who is ALWAYS slamming Paul & Tamar. But then Jennerjackoff is a loser who is pals with losers (such as Frank "pass the bong" Sheftel and Zuma Dogg), so what do you expect.
4:13, One person (not me by the way) calls Mary's supporters a crackpot, and you say,
"Tamars PEOPLE are calling Mary's supporters crackpots."
You say, "The Tamar people called Mary homophobic and extreme right wing." Hmm, can you provide any quotes from "Tamar's people" saying that?
You say, "the Krekorian people called Mary a trick pony." How do you know that that person is "Krekorian People"?
Stop the mudslinging and false accusations.
The racial attacks against Tony V. will not stop him. It will get you guys nowhere. Evolve into the 21st century. For your own good.
You're getting more desperate and flimsy by the post, Higby - if you don't stop, you'll be joining Phil in the scaremongering dept. calling her "a danger to freedom" and the country itself.
Actually, if she's got the guts to go up against Villaraigosa, she'll go against anyone, she's no one's dupe or hod carrier, unlike Mary.
Wow, she used some of the same lawyers - there are a certain number who know their way around on certain issues, how naive you are again, STOP or you'll be Phil.
I thought the endless gratuitous trashing you did of Weiss, and how you still don't post the tons of negative stories about Trutanich, is ludicrously biased, but your shilling for Krekorian and finding straws to whack Tamar with is even stranger. Essel, well, she's the "accepted whipping post" of the anti-Villar blogosphere and radio, but this is just weird.
Wow, another smoking gun: she supported turning some schools over to charter operators if parents want them and they can do a better job: isn't that what capitalism is about? EVERY board member supported it along with a majority of the public, even those who loathe Villar because it makes SENSE. But you're showing your old stripes again, like in your shilling for Trutanich: now you're getting more like Kevin James who makes up downright lies. STOP, join a 12-step program, BIASED BLOGGERS ANONYMOUS.
Of course, if a political consultant told you something off the record, it must be true.
Did he tell you about weekend polling too?
Paul K 40
Tamar G 28
Chris E 26
a smaller tail: 6%
I think the tail will be longer than that because it is hard to find Mary's voters at home on weekends when they're busy patrolling the Arizona border, Frank's voters are suspicious of numbers they don't recognize, and Zuma's people don't like telephones at all. But if Mary Benson clips Zuma for fourth, her votes will all come from Paul K.
PS: Big problem for Chris E is, no voters are really excited to get to polls for her, but you've helped to make Tamar's people just as excited to vote as you have Paul's people.
Who believe in polls?
Joseph, thanks for providing the poll results. If I was a Mary Benson supporter, I might start thinking about voting for Tamar. 2% is too close between Tamar and Chris. I don't think anyone wants to see an Essel vs Krekorian run-off.
The only Poll that really counts is the Ron Kaye poll at OurLA.org if you go by those #s your gonna have an intresting run-off.
Another crazy post.
If she was such a supporter of the Mayor, why did she vote against him?
Why don't you ask her if she supports Villaraigosa?
And - why is Villaraigosa supporting Essel?
Wow, those poll numbers are telling!
Tamar and Essel must be sweating bullets. Time for the Benson people to get off their high horse and face reality!
Ron Kayes poll is not scientific. Anyone can manipulate the numbers by removing the OurLA cookie on their computer and voting again.
Who would be taking a poll at this point? Polls cost money and their value to a candidate is not to satisfy curiosity, but to adjust strategy, but there's no time to implement a change in strategy now.
Zuma is in the lead among the seven. Any votes taken away from him will hand it to the top three.
Looks like the Benson people may be about to put Essel in the run-off!
Nice job!
AV is totally backing Essel...anyone who doesn't know this has their head in the sand or somewhere else! It's the main reason she got the LA Times endorsement.
All you people who say these thing are lies crack me up.
Its all sourced from the internet i.e. the Ethics Commission website, LA Times news stories, Tamar's website, etc.
Tamar voted once against Villaraigosa's on a less than signifciant (to him) issue. If anything given the Mayor's recent estrangement from the unions, as I was told, it actually was the right vote. I take that to mean Villaraigosa actually didn't care.
Joe M - your numbers are off a bit. Stay tuned.
Joe B - Mary's supporters are passionate. I don't think you'll convince them to vote for Tamar.
Michael, and if they don't change their votes, this will all work out nicely for your man, Paul. Right?
Mayor Sam, what were you drinking when you wrote this gem:
"Haley Green is has been paid $2,000 to date for consulting work by the then Galatzan."
_______
"Is has"? What does that mean?
"by the then Galatzan." Huh?
It's time for you to stop mocking Red Snot until you are capable of expressing your thoughts coherently.
I hope this doesn't violate your one rule for Higby, one rule for everybody else approach to this blog. Have some pride and take ownership of your work.
So, if all the Mary Benson supporters go to Ron Kaye's Poll, let's see how this shakes out.
Joe B.'s so obviously a Tamar Koolaide drinker that he seriously thinks anyone who likes Mary Benson would vote for Tamar. Mary may be many things that Joe B. doesn't like, but at least she's honest and sincere. Tamar, like the other two Villar People, is a sham candidate looking to feed her ego and screw the public.
So let's use a little Democratic principle here (as if that's not an oxymoron) "Vote early and often."
The three "machine" candidates are interchangeable. It's brand proliferation. Vote for Mary Benson.
Ron Kayes poll is not scientific. Anyone can manipulate the numbers by removing the OurLA and the poll cookies on their computer and voting again.
If you are not a tweeter, you can not vote in this poll. That is worthless.
All three of the top candidates have been extremely close to the Mayor throughout their careers in politics and he has known all three for over twenty years.
He appointed Essel to one of the most important city commissions, he lined up Krekorians support in both of his competitive Assembly races and he basically bought Galatzan her seat on the school board.
Galatzan and Krekorian are trying to claim a little independence, Krekorian by tying in with the firefighters who have problems with the Mayor and Galatzan by voting against his wishes a couple of times on big issues in front of the school board and it would be nice to think that they would be independent on the City Council, but there is no reason for anyone to be surprised based on their record if whichever one of the big three is elected, they instantly become Antonio's best friend on the City Council. If you hate the Mayor that much, the only safe bet is to go with one of the outsiders.
Higby is right about Mary supporters. They can't be turned and every last one of them will vote or die trying.
It's called loyalty.
Then Mary's supporters will get what they deserve, and it won't be Mary!
Watch out AV Big Three, Walter Moore has just done what I predicted and used that the email list that got him 7,644 votes in CD2.
Here's what Walter says:
Please vote for Mary Benson on Tuesday if you live in L.A. City Council District 2.
I've known her for over a decade. She's honest and informed. You can find out more about her at my website, WalterMooreSays.com, or hers, Benson4CD2.com.
Radio talk-show host Kevin James has endorsed her, too. He did so after interviewing ALL of the candidates -- except for the one who refused to appear on his show, which is a bad sign.
We can win this election: 7,644 people voted for me in March, and all it would have taken to win the Council seat last time around was 5,289 votes. So if the people who voted for me vote for Mary, we can finally have someone good on the City Council.
And even if you don't live in Council District 2, do yourself a favor and urge your friends to spread the word, would you? The election is Tuesday, September 22, 2009.
Thanks for your help and your support. I really appreciate it.
Cordially,
Walter Moore
P.S. When you go to vote, just remember:
There's something about Mary.
Top 2:
Krekorian
Saltsburg
Copy and paste this for future reference. The "splits the vote" theory is in effect and there is only one protest vote out there.
Benson has some support but is not a protest vote.
Krekorian will come in first because he is most organized as Assemblyman with the most help including Democratic party endorsement.
So how many votes do you think are left over for Benson, Galatzan and Essel to split up?
So Krekorian will come in first and the rest will fragment each other and the protest vote will put Zuma through.
Sorry, Krekorian wins.
8:48
Don't get your reasoning. With all the candidates to select from,how does a "protest vote" come into play?
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Red Spot, you are a bro, indeed!
I posted the 8:48 comment. If I had to bet money I would say Krekorian in first and Essel in second place. But Zuma is a creeper because of the phantom effect that cannot be polled. And Benson will take away from Tamar and Paul. But Paul will be first anyway, and Mary could knock down Tamar depending on how many people actually show up.
The theory of the splits may well be accurate for the primary.
However, the usual rules then change the odds to favor the lady who wins the split vote for 2nd place and if the girls get together (you can bet on it) then Paul will suffer the usual frontrunner fate and end up losing the run off election.
That is why Chris has been so wise not to offend anyone in this race.
That excludes the fool, who offends and is offended by all.
Memo to Joseph Mailander,
Just got back from the border with some Modelos for your latest edition of the "Overnighter".
To Joe B.,
Someone hinted to me that a third-cousin of her might of known a certain "Tony Villar" at a place called the "Venice Room".
Does that make her a "Villarnista"??
Spot
Breaking News!!
The "Old Gray Westside Hag On Spring Street" just posted a story about a Special election in a place known as CD 2.
Can anyone comfirm this??
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-council-race21-2009sep21,0,5449900.story
In the sprawling Los Angeles City Council district that stretches from Sherman Oaks and Studio City to the horse country of Sunland-Tujunga, there is little admiration for the policymakers at City Hall.
So it is no surprise that the 10 candidates running to replace Wendy Greuel in Tuesday's special election have spent the last few months distancing themselves from "downtown interests" while striving to persuade voters they are best positioned to fight development that threatens the character of their neighborhoods and for the San Fernando Valley's "fair share" of services like street repairs and graffiti removal.
That has placed a premium on the candidates' roots in the 2nd Council District -- which has kept the two best-funded contenders, former Paramount Pictures Corp. executive Christine Essel and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles), on the defensive.
Both moved into the district in May after Greuel won her race for city controller. Former mayoral candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg also recently moved into North Hollywood, but he has been less of a target.
Essel, according to paperwork filed with the city, left what was listed in city zoning records as a four-bedroom home in the Sunset-Doheny hills for an apartment on a busy stretch of Laurel Canyon Boulevard where a school and a shopping plaza with a McDonald's are some of her closest neighbors.
The move by Krekorian, a former Burbank school board member, is so recent that his biography on his Assembly website still says he lives with his family in Burbank.
"A bit of truism in journalism still reigns at the "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street".
Spot
To Joe B.
The coyote insured that a exclusive catche of brew was heading your upon the next trip to the border.
Spot
Hey Joe, You wanted quotes, well, here they are:
Michael Higby said...
I don't know why the Tamar people are calling the Mary people names.
I don't know all the people on that list but the names I do know are not crackpots.
Sup with that?
September 20, 2009 1:19 PM
Maverick said...
Mary is both a Republican and a Mormon...I do not need to remind my fellow gay and lesbian brothers and sisters that these two groups heavily funded and advocated for Yes on Prop 8 (aka Prop Hate). There is no need for further connection, as the candidate has in no way attempted to explain that her views differ from the groups she associates with.
Now with the right-wing Kevin James endorsement...my heart has turned to stone regarding Mary. She now comes across as someone who puts horse trails and animal rights above human dignity and human rights!!
I urge all gay and lesbian voters in Sunland-Tujunga and all of CD2 to NOT VOTE for Mary Benson
September 19, 2009 5:39 PM
Anonymous said...
10:58 doesn't know the facts. Krekorian was elected to the Assembly in 2006. And Krekorian does care about the people. He wants to be more hands on locally. He has already made quite an impression in that regard over the last several years by having a strong presence and for getting things done in his Assembly District, a lot of which is in CD2. He's got a broad range of experience. On the other hand, Benson's a one trick pony, focused only on Sunland-Tujunga. Might be good for them but not for anyone else. But evidently not all of S-T agrees since some have endorsed Tamar and some Paul.
September 19, 2009 4:23 PM
Sorry 9:37, Try again, I don't see anything in these quotes calling Mary "homophobic" or that she is "right-wing". Nice try though.
Vote Tamar on Tuesday
When is Mary Benson going to tell us how she voted on Prop 8 and if she donated money to Yes on 8?
Vote Tamar!
10:58 - Mary doesn't live in Sunland-Tujunga, she lives in Sun Valley.Most of her hard work has been regarding citywide issues that we all share. You appear to be very narrowly focused instead of looking after CD2 in it's entirety.
Please note that you have the same land use, environment and quality of life issues as North CD2 Area and you don't warrant any more special consideration than the rest of the district. That attitude is very disrespectful and devisive.
Maverick - You did not give Mary the courtesy of asking her personally views regarding her view on Prop 8. She said you didn't and you have had every opportunity How fair is it that you made assumptions without giving Mary her "day in court" before telling everyone she is "guilty" of discrimination when in fact, that is what you are.
9:37 - Joe B - That you don't see anything vicious in these quotes confirms that you are blind as a bat and as responsible for this crap as the writers of it!
The way you have gone about trying to get Tamar elected, has lost what was left of your fans. Your 15 minutes of fame is long gone, Joe and you no longer have any followers, so Tamar has gained nothing with your endorsement. Looks like a no-win no-win partnership to me.
12:15, Where is she called "homophobic", where is she called "right-wing"? That is what 9:37 claimed. Sorry, try again.
Get off it, Joe. Maverick is the one who makes these claims and you back them. Disgusting!
Now you've lost me, and I'm going to bed. Please reread the quotes and show me where Mary is called "homophobic" and "right-wing". Thanks.
The people at brunch today were laughing about how some of the Sunland-Tujunga "leaders" endorsed Tamar. They are going to vote harder for the only true Foothills candidate Mary Benson.
Insinuation, Joe, insinuation as in dirty politics, and apparent to any reader, but you.
To Joe B
To say someone is a Mormon is automatically implying that they are homophobic because that what Mormonism teaches.
So, what was the outcome of the cafeteria workers getting benefits' vote?
Joe,
I have already lost all respect for you. I will never view you the same again. Where do you get off thinking in your warped mind that Mary is stealing votes from Tamar? Don't you get it? You can go suck up to Galatzan if you wish, but you can't hustle up 100 votes for Tamar. She's awful and you and Abby, of all people, should know that and not buy into her shit. And that is what she gave you, a line of bullshit.
I hope Mary does steal votes from Tamar. If I had to see a runoff between the big 3, I would rather see Paul vs Essel because we know that Paul can kick Chris' ass right back to Hollywood. I don't want him to have to run against the god-awful Galatan-Huffman. I don't want her to stand a chance and we know Essel will get creamed by him.
So Joe, take your measly little 20 voters and your suck up personality and knock on doors for Screachy Galatzan. Then I hope you get what you deserve and you will never have the right to bitch again about a Home Depot situation.
Sunland-Tujunga for Home Depot!!
I don't think that Mary can steal votes from Tamar. Sounds like Mary has earned the votes she has.
I don't support Mary but her supporters are passionate.
The only other candidate I see (after spending some time with them) with such passionate volunteers is Krekorian.
Seriously - all Essel has is paid troops and Galatzan has some folks she's promised stuff to do and dozen or so drunken YDs who want to be cool kids.
Hmmm...maybe Benson will pull voters from Tamar.
Mailander said:
"I think the tail will be longer than that because it is hard to find Mary's voters at home on weekends when they're busy patrolling the Arizona border..."
Were you actually trying to be funny? This is pretty damn offensive. Mary Benson is an environmentalist. If you cannot rationalize the right-wing loonies supporting her with the facts related to her pro environmental activism in the past decade, then that's your problem. But implying she's supportive of the Minute Man movement because you are confused is just idiotic.
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