Buscaino leads the money race again in CD 15 Special Election

LAPD Senior Lead Officer and San Pedro Native Joe Buscaino, again leads in fundraising in quest to become next CD 15 City Councilperson.

Via the Buscaino Campaign.

As reported on the L.A. City Ethics website Joe Buscaino once again outraised his opponent Assemblymember Warren Furutani in his race for L.A. City Council. In the reporting period of December 5^th through December 31^st 2011, Joe Buscaino raised $60,466.50. Joe’s opponent during the same period raised $56,228, falling short by $4,238.50.

This is the second time since the November 8^th primary that Joe Buscaino has outraised his opponent, the first period bringing in $115,814.60, besting runner up Warren Furutani’s $70,823.50 by a total of $44,991.10. This brings the total amounts raised to $176,281.10 for Buscaino, to $127,051.10 for Furutani.

“I continue to be amazed by what we’ve accomplished through the power of a motivated grassroots effort,” Joe Buscaino stated, “With 12 days left in this race I’m very focused on finishing strong and taking our successes in fundraising, and turning that energy and focus into turning out the vote, and winning this race.”  

The Los Angeles Times recently did an analysis of the source of contributions, determining that Buscaino had raised 63% of his funds from within the district. The same report showed Furutani raising only 3% of his donations from within the district.

Somewhere the late LA County Labor Leader Miguel Contreras is shaking is head at what the likes of Mayor Antonio Villar and former Speaker Fabian Nunez have made of his once feared political machine.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Numbers Cooking Machine for Thursday

Mayor Antonio Villar to his LAPD Chief  Charlie Beck: "My LAPD chief must know multiple recipes for cooking the crime numbers".

Mayor Antonio Villar's numerous press aides were busy today in preparation for their choreograph event to announce yet another year of downward criminal activity, with the exception of murders which were up by one over last year. Many police observers have be dubious of LAPD's "Com Stat System" which the likes of the LA Times links to in issuing its crime alerts. But while Mayor Villar and Chief Beck were all smiles today in regaling themselves in manipulated numbers, LAPD has been playing with deployment numbers to the likes of the 77 Street Division, to combat gang violence, at the expense of patrol deployments in other areas of the city. And with thousands of supposed "low level, nonviolent offenders" expected to hit the streets now and in the weeks ahead, due to California's Prison Realignment, that Assemblyman and CD 15 City Council Candidate Warren Furutani voted for, don't expect smiles a year from now as crime moves back upwards.

** Speaking of Assemblyman Warren Furutani, expect tough weeks ahead for the "raging assemblyman" as his chance to gain 12+ years of gainful employment as the latest political lifer on the City Council looks bleak. Further, with Isadore Hall dropping out of 44th Congressional District race and running for the same open assembly seat that he would of ran for, Furutani may find a public pay check hard to come by.

** Downtown News Jon Regardie has his thoughts on some of the other 2013 elections that merit watching. We will give the "Scribe of Wit" a pass for not including the City Controller race with Councilman Dennis Zine, insider Ron Galperin and LA Neighborhood United Cary Brazerman, that could get festive.
Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14            

First briefs on an aging Los Angeles Political Machine in 2012

City of Los Angeles politicos and insider elites bemoaning the demise of CRA LA.

Great New Year to all as we reassemble in the political cyber sphere for another year of blogging the exploits of the City of Los Angeles Political Community. As 2011 ended with the demise of the "Dear Leader Agency" of dispensing fiscal love and cut rate property to those with the elitist community of Los Angeles, what political dramas or events will transpire in 2012?

Foremost must be the evolving quest of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to craft a legacy of accomplishment as he nears his date with "last name reduction" ( ie. return of Villar) in 2013. With the likes of  "One Million Trees", "City-Wide Free Internet", "LAUSD Control" and "10,000 Police Officers" beyond his grasps, Mayor Villar has change tactics and pass on to the next mayor the task of paying the bills as not to taint his "current fiscal legacy". 

The first major political event of 2012 will take place two weeks from today in CD 15 as voters select the replacement to now Congresswoman and former Councilwoman Janice Hahn. If the flow of recent of recent endorsements is any indication, "the machine" led by Mayor Villar and LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo is going to get its collectivist rear end kick by first-time political aspirant LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino. Buscaino picked up the endorsement of City Controller Wendy "The Valley Greuel". Thus, it looks that Assemblyman Warren Furutani may be the latest Antonio supporter to become a good-size speed bump for the mayor's bus to roll over.

The City Council gets ready to reconvene in the next few minutes, for its first meeting of the new year and right of the bat, the future of the Neighborhood Council system and its election process is on the agenda. CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian is working with NCs to get elections funded and conducted in 2012.

** HOT POLITICAL RUMOR: What could be sealed and causing consternation for a certain politico? We may know soon.

Your thoughts ...................

Scott Johnson in CD 14    

Is Parke getting sloppy in CD 15?

 Is Parke Skelton getting gamed and sloppy in CD 15?

Does Joe Buscaino have "multiple personas" register to vote in CD 15?

Are we getting close to desperation time in the CD 15 Special Election?

It seems that the Warren Furutani Campaign is getting desperate in its search for absentee ballot voters as they arrive with Christmas stuff this week in CD 15 and Parke is leaving no voter untouched, including one "Joe Buscaino".

Apparently there is a identical twin to the "candidate Joe Buscaino" that shares the same address but not the same choice to replace Congresswoman Janice Hahn on the City Council as noted in the campaign letter above.

While "Candidate Joe" knows of no other sibling that shares his name and household, we wonder if at some point during his adult life, whether some incident cause "part of Candidate Joe" to leave his "current state of being" and assume a more progressive persona judging by his most recent voting record?

But then just maybe, we stumble upon a Parke Skelton strategy to register all eligible personas that are eighteen and over and judging from the growing momentum for Buscaino, he made need the "Roseanne Barrs of the world" and some multiple Evergreen Cemetery size precincts of new voters to offset Buscaino's growing support.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14       

Joe Buscaino reports $115,000+ in contributions for CD 15 Runoff, Assemblyman Warren Furutani ?? ** $70,000

  As

 The grass-roots coalition that could, continues to support with cash LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino's quest to replace now Congresswoman Janice Hahn as CD 15 City Councilman. At the close of business today the City Ethics Commission reported that the Buscaino Campaign has raised an additional $115,000 for the runoff election on January 17, 2012. This on top of $75,000 in Independent Expenditure money from the Police Protective League is just the start of the expensives ahead for Team Buscaino.

Meanwhile Assembly Warren Furutani has only noted that his campaign has raised $50,000 with no current monetary specifics yet on file with the Ethics Commission. ** Late P.M. update via "The City Maven" that the Furutani Campaign reported $70,000 in contributions.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 15

Buscaino leads Furutani 59%-29% in latest CD 15 Poll

Blogger's Notes: In the most recent CD 15 Special Election Poll released today, Joe Buscaino has an overwhelming 59% to 29% lead over Assemblyman Warren Furutani with 11% undecided. The poll conducted by The Feldman Group. Further, the poll shows the growing entrenchment of Buscaino support with 53 percent certainly to vote for Buscaino while only 20% are certain in their voting support for Furutani. The poll shows Buscaino leading in most demographics and areas with 71%-20% margin in San Pedro. We post the poll PDF below---Scott Johnson. **Furutani's consultant "Parke" responds to the poll via his "Blogging Maven" of choice Alice Walton.

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Poll shows Buscaino leading Furutani 50%-32% in General Election match-up

 Pollsters are wasting no time in forecasting the political trends ahead in the upcoming CD 15 Special General Election match-up between Joe Buscaino and Assemblyman Warren Furutani. In the poll below, Buscaino leads in most catagories. Plus, what is not shown in the poll numbers is the groundswell of new supporters who want to help Buscaino. Further, look to Assemblyman Furutani's recent votes in Sacramento to provide fodder for the campaign dialog in the weeks ahead.. 

Your thoughts..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the "Shaken" Los Angeles Political Machine in CD 15 for Wednesday

 The former CD 15 Councilwoman Janice Hahn "Halo" above the head of top vote getter Joe Buscaino

 First time political candidate Joe Buscaino shakes up City Hall with his first place performance last night. After wards, Congresswoman and former CD 15 City Councilwoman Janice Hahn abandon the sunken "U.S.I.S. Pat McOsker" and made an appearance at Buscaino's Campaign Party and stated to the San Pedro native, “You’re going to go all the way,”  Buscaino's Campaign Consultant Eric Hogenson deserves major credit for this initial outcome, mixing inclusive new media mediums with old fashion grass roots outreach. But lets not forget that character counts in CD 15 with a home grown candidate such as Joe Buscaino. . 

Assemblyman Warren Furutani proved with his second place performance that there are still voters out in CD 15 that will support the status quo and swallow the Mayor Antonio Villar meme. Yet Furutani will need all the labor support that Villar and LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo can "arm-twist" for him. Plus, photos like above don't help the cause of Furutani when going head to head with the home grown candidate.

Sometime last night after the CD 15 polls closed, the "Union, Special Interest Ship (U.S.I.S.) Pat McOsker" sank beneath the political waters of CD 15. With $300,000+ of IBEW and SEIU 721 dues money, this political dreadnought should of had more than enough resources to sell the CD 15 electorate on the blue collar, working man virtues of Pat McOsker. But mix a temperamental, non-persona like McOsker with a archaic campaign machine that had no use for new media, then the result should not had been hard to predict..Especially, when your campaign consultant is John Shallman who ..............

resorted to recycling old campaign material, that resulted in his latest sinking of the chosen candidate of the City Hall elites.

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Will Mayor Villar's endorsement hurt Assemblyman Furutani's chances in CD 15?

The "anti-endorsement" in the CD 15 Special Election?

Quick political history lesson. 

In 2007, a well respected CD 15 community leader and Los Angeles Unified School District Principal stood alone against the Mayor Antonio Villar's Education Machine, in their pursuit of taking over the LAUSD School Board. The machine anointed well-known School Administrator Richard "Dr. Death" Vladovic as their school board candidate in District 7 which encompass the same area as CD 15 (along with cities like Carson and Gardena). But with the fraction of the monetary support of the Villar Machine, San Pedro resident Neil Kleiner came within 6% of pulling the upset, losing 53-47% in the District 7 race.

The one consistent theme of Kleiner's bid for the LAUSD School Board, was his opposition to Mayor Villar's AB 1381 unconstitutional bid to gain oversight of LAUSD. Further the district political demographics were such (and still are) conducive for someone to run against the dubious background of Mayor Villar or allies (think Hahn Family stronghold).

Four years later, who is Neil Kleiner supporting to replace now Congresswoman Janice Hahn as CD 15 City Councilperson? The same person as hundreds of his neighbors in CD 15 who trust someone they have known for decades and unlike Kleiner, has the monetary resources to beat back the Villar Machine.

** BTW, who is LAUSD School Board Member Richard Vladovic endorsing? NO ONE!

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14    

Mayor Villar to support Assemblyman Warren Furutani for CD 15

Declared CD 15 City Council Candidate Warren Furutani in his current "fightin assemblyman persona".

Should we call this the "endorsement of defeat"? But then someone was going to be the recipient.

Mayor Antonio Villar along with the likes of CD 5 Councilman Paul Koretz, County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia and some LACCD Trustees, have endorsed Assemblyman Warren Furutani to replace newly-elected Congresswoman Janice Hahn for the CD 15 City Council seat.

Furutani's connections via his time on both LAUSD and LACCD (and his votes on construction contracts) made him the logical choice for Mayor Villar's endorsement (will there ever be a day when Villar endorses someone with McOsker DNA?).

The Daily News is also reporting that Pat McOsker has picked up the endorsement of the California Nurses Association. This highlights the "potential union-splitting" in the upcoming race, which would benefit someone like Rudy Svorinich.

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Former Councilman Rudy Svorinich seeks return to the Horseshoe at City Hall

 

Blogger notes: With the soon to be Congresswoman Janice Hahn heading off Washington D.C.  in near time, the stampede is on to replace her within the horseshoe at 200 North Spring Street. The Los Angeles Times reports that in addition to Firefighter Union President Pat McOsker and Assemblyman Warren Furutani, former CD 15 City Councilman Rudy Svorinich is seeking to represent the South LA council district once again. Svorinich's press release is cut and pasted below for your review. Any of the other candidates is welcome to submit pertinent material via email at redspotincd14@yahoo.com--Scott Johnson

San Pedro - Former 15^th District Councilman Rudy Svorinich, Jr. has announced that he will be a candidate to replace his successor, Councilwoman and Congresswoman-elect Janice K. Hahn on the Los Angeles City Council. Now that Hahn has become successful in her bid for the United States Congress, she will more than likely  vacate the council seat in the next few days. Her last council term would have expired on July 1, 2013. Once Hahn makes her resignation official, the City Council will then declare the seat vacant and schedule a special election for the remainder of her term sometime later in the Fall or early next Winter.  

Svorinich, 51, served two terms as Councilman from 1993 to 2001 when he retired due to the two-term limit that was passed by Los Angeles City voters in April 1993.  In 2009, Los Angeles voters extended the term to three. Prior to being elected in 1993, Svorinich was a small business owner in Wilmington, CA. Since 2001, he has been the president of the Svorinich Companies, Inc., a government affairs and political consulting firm based in San Pedro. He is a registered public advocate for both the city and county of Los Angeles.

During his first term in office, Svorinich fought for - and received - an un-precedented $1.2 billion in additional public facilities, programs and resources for the communities of San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Watts without tax or fee increase to local residents or business owners.

Svorinich, a 45-year San Pedro resident, has remained active in many local civic and fraternal organizations. He attended local public schools, is a San Pedro High School graduate and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a major in management fromCalifornia State University Dominguez Hills. 

He and his wife, Deann, have been married for twenty years and have two children, Gregory, 15, and Danielle 12. Both children attend local parochial schools. Svorinich's roots run deep in the Harbor Area to where his family immigrated from what is now present day Croatia in 1920. 

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14