The Villar Greuel loans her Forlorn Campaign $100,000, prompting a 2009 CD 2 Special Election Flashback Moment

The LA Times is reporting that Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel" has loaned her campaign $100,000 dollars, prompting a 2009 CD 2 Special Election Flashback.

 As aspiring female candidates for public office, what do/did Wendy Greuel and Chris Essel share in their respective political quests? How about a "Private Citizen/ Campaign Consultant" name John Shallman, who spent campaign proceeds at a far greater level than their respective challengers, prompting ............. 

"Private Citizen/ Campaign Consultant" John Shallman can quickly think of multiple ways of spending campaign contributions.

prompting ......... Chris Essel in 2009, to loan her campaign the following amount.

11/30/09 CHRISTINE ESSEL (BUSINESSWOMAN/NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE, NONE)LOS ANGELES, CA 90010 CHRISTINE ESSEL Council Member - District 2 1321633 - CHRIS ESSEL FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL B - Loan Received [Period:11/22/0912/02/09]$10,000.00 [Election:12/08/09]

and prompting ......, Wendy "The Villar Greuel" in 2013, to loan her campaign the following amount as the LA Times reports.

City Controller Wendy Greuel, whose campaign for Los Angeles mayor had been dramatically out-spending rival Eric Garcetti, loaned her campaign $100,000, according to documents filed with the City Ethics Commission over the weekend.The move comes a little more than two weeks before election day, as Greuel faces cash-flow pressures that have forced her to cut back on TV advertising.A clear picture of the candidates’ financial conditions will emerge on Thursday, when financial disclosure reports are due.  But a Times review of fundraising and spending in recent weeks found that Greuel has been raising less money than City Councilman Garcetti, but spending at a faster pace since the March 5 primary (or since the Shallman takeover of the campaign).

The Times should also review this passage to note the prior spending behavior of Greuel and then Essel's Campaign Consultant John Shallman, as we partake in this flashback moment. Sound familiar to current events?

While IBEW shills and attacks for Essel, in their "independent ways". Team Essel is almost running on empty when it comes to their financial state. Since the start of campaigning, the Essel Campaign has collected $627,404 in contributions and $184,259 in matching funds. But with the cost of paying the likes of Shallman, Berman and Burnside, eating away at available finances, her campaign has "big gulped" $902,201 in expenses.With her hands on cash near nil, Chris Essel has loaned her campaign $10,000 of personal money. 

....... and as of today, the Villar Greuel for Mayor Campaign has "big gulped $5,830,700 in campaign expensives, plus over $3,000,000 of IBEW dues. Thus, leaving us to ponder whether political history will repeat itself on May 21?

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

Krekorian Karma KO's Wendy Greuel

LA politics got a jolt today when Second District Councilman Paul Krekorian endorsed Eric Garcetti for Mayor over Wendy Greuel.

It's not entirely shocking as, back in 2009, when Krekorian sought the Council seat vacated mid-term by Greuel to become Controller, Wendy supported unknown CRA/IBEW favorite, Christine Essel.

Yep, she did it.

More after the jump...

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Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

The Villar Greuel gets whacked at Sherman Oaks Mayoral Forum while receiving the Endorsement of LAPD's PPL Union.

What did the PPL Endorsement along with IBEW's Boss D'Arcy, do for the political aspirations of the Villar Greuel's friend Chris Essel?

Coming soon to a LA mayoral campaign candidate forum near you, “The Villar Greuel Pinata”.

Judging from last night’s Sherman Oaks Mayoral Forum, the trio of Jan Perry, Eric Garcetti and Kevin James (excluding Villar Greuel’s running mate Emanuel Pleitez), will in the weeks ahead, used their verbal pinata sticks to whack at the multiple political fallacies of the former republican, turned opportunistcrat, now the anointed successor to the Mayor Villar Political Machine.

But as most political observers will agree, it will take multiple whacks at the Villar Greuel Pinata before it falls apart, the endorsement of LAPD’s rank and file PPL Union will help protect the interest of the Villar Greuel in the short term, but recent political history shows that PPL’s endorsement of the Villar Greuel’s friend Chris Essel, along with IBEW, amounted to a major then Assemblyman Paul Krekorian victory.

Another dire indicator for the Villar Greuel Campaign, is an ABC 7 Poll that shows Kevin James as the only upwards trending mayoral candidate, gaining ground on the second place Villar Greuel. We can expect the Villar Greuel to become more pronounce in her strident attacks on James in an attempt to ward off his growing momentum in the days ahead, but that will run counter to more reports on “Calendergate“, as noted with today‘s Daily News story.

** The Los Angeles Dragnet Blog continues its follow-along coverage of our Mayor Sam Exclusive into questionable donations by official and associates of Bet Tzedek, to the City Attorney Campaign of its former Executive Director Assemblyman Mike Feuer. The Feuer Campaign finally commented on the record to the Metropolitan Press-Enterprise, while attacking the Greg Smith Campaign for having the temerity to broach the subject at Monday‘s night City Attorney Candidate Forum at Temple Israel in Hollywood.

“The donations identified in the blog are lawful.  Although not addressed in the blog, one contribution was made in error and returned.  Anyone who tries to score cheap political points at the expense of the poor, the elderly, Holocaust survivors and disabled people who are Bet Tzedek’s clients should be ashamed.”

** The same ABC 7 poll reference above in our mayoral coverage, also showed current City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, holding a lead over Feuer, Smith and fourth candidate Noel Weiss-Hahn.

In the election for city attorney of Los Angeles, the poll finds incumbent Carmen Trutanich edging Assemblyman Mike Feuer, 27 percent to 21 percent.Greg Smith trails in third with 14 percent and Noel Weiss takes 10 percent.

** As longtime Mayor Villar staffer and now CD 13 City Council Candidate Matt Szabo, garners the endorsement (of political death?) of his boss, voters in CD 13 would be wise to read the comments of Robert Guevara at the bottom on the linked report.

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

City Council punts again on CRA while waste continues under Chris Essel



Would CRA/LA file legal challenge to pervent this type of Billboard blight?



CRA/LA Executive Director Chris Essel (in center)

Blogger note: The City Council punted again today the issue of protecting nearly $1 Billion dollars of Community Redevelopement Agency/ Los Angeles's local property tax money from California Governor Jerry Brown. Brown, who is seeking to close the state's dire budget deficit by reclaiming jurisdiction over property tax money set aside for CRA-like projects statewide, would benefit from reading the following on a forlorn twelve year legal battle by the CRA against Regency Outdoor Advertising.

More after the bloggin leap.
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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday: JERRY!

Who would have thunk it? When liberal leaning Democratic pols in Los Angeles and all over California went all out for JERRY! little did they imagine Governor Brown would propose killing their fabled golden calf - Community Redevelopment Agencies. If you don't know what CRAs are they are basically welfare for rich developers, who contribute to local electeds, and who can create (often failed) major real estate projects in "blighted" communities the politicians point to as "progress."  Jerry rightly feels that this tax money is better used for jails, schools, roads, police, higher education, health care for the poor, etc. than going to otherwise failed developers.  This has sent a shiver up the spine of City Fathers/Mothers throughout the Golden State who are now spending money faster than a drunken sailor before JERRY! comes and gets it.  Case in point, our own lovely berg, who has found amazing efficiency to get dollars fast to building Eli Broad's mausoleum in Downtown LA.

More after the jump...

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday

Will Governor Moonbeam II take out CRA's in California?

Will Chris Essel's CRA/LA survive the wrath of Bitter Jerry?

If Governor Moonbeam II needs any help in finding the office of CRA/LA in his quest to liquidate the functions of CRA's statewide, many in the local political bloggersphere are waiting and willing to point the way.

"WWG 2", known to the thinning ranks of graying readers of the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street as Bill Boyarsky, pens "right on Jerry"! Ron Kaye, formerly the editor of the Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet, says "Abolish the CRA" Cary Brazeman, penning his thoughts at the "blogging cyber commune of neighborhood council activists" City Watch, calls it "Time for a New Way". Can we call this a bloggin consensus?

For this blogger, CRA's Adelante Eastside and its Biotech Corridor Project area, has provided a education on the brute force of mis-guided government. In 1999, without any notice to community members and park activists, Hazard Park was place within the Adelante Biotech Corridor Project Area. The CRA employee who I discussed this finding with, stated that the park was included due to "criminal blight". But the likes of longtime Hazard Park Activist Alex Man have stated for decades that Hazard Park, has been targeted by USC and LA County for hospital expansion. Thus, it was no surprise that the likes of USC's City Hall Lobbyist David Galaviz was a member of the CRA Adelante Advisory Board

With the powers granted CRA's across America by the repugnant Kelo Decision of the United States Supreme Court in 2005, the likes of CRA/LA had a new way of taking decades long homes of many and giving them to the connected developers like USC (one should see the former home sites on Playground St next to Hazard Park) . Thus, if Governor Moonbeam II can put a stop to this egregious practice of taking private property and selling it in return for campaign contributions (the LA way). Then lets point Jerry in the direction of CRA/LA.

OTHER NEWS:

** The latest batch of financial reports for the March 2011 LA Municipal Elections, are online at the City Ethics Commission Website.

** Assemblyman Gil Cedillo crusades on the behalf of the undocumented, continues with his California version of the Dream Act.

** Will Governor Moonbeam II get any republican support for his plans to raise taxes for the next five years?

** Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez can't break those bad political habits regarding gifts. This time to prison officials.

** Shout out to Michael Trujillo, guess who finally took the Lt. Governor's "Oath of Office"?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Over 125 medical marijuana dispensaries filed for permits under the City's new get tough law.  However only 41 of those shops met the criteria in the City's view to qualify. Joseph Mailander's favorite assistant City Attorney told the Daily News "We were surprised more did not meet the standards."  The City may have set itself up for a war with the pot shops' operators however as San Fernando Valley activist/businessman Frank Sheftel, operator of the Toluca Lake Collective, said "The City Clerk gave no reasons for why they deemed someone eligible or ineligible. They are opening themselves to a floodgate of lawsuits."

Curbed LA reports that Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency Chief of Operations Glenn Wasserman has resigned.  This follows the replacement of former chief Cecilia Estolano by former CD 2 Candidate Christine Essel.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Ron Kaye reports that the City of Los Angeles wants to sell a valuable piece of Hollywood real estate to a well heeled developer for 15% of the property's actual value.  And the developer has a track record of bad deals and driving Hollywood film production out of LA.  Must be a friend of new CRA head Chris Essel.




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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Party time at Getty House!

Ron Kaye notes that the Mayor may have figured out a way to lay low while Ticketgate blows over.  Instead of making the rounds of glittering events and parties, he's brought the party to his crib, Getty House which is actually your house to the tune of at least $125k per year.  Monday evening the Mayor hosted a party for the cast of the musical The Heights.  Among the gliterrati in attendance were That 70s Show star Wilmer Valderama, legendary actor Edward James Olmos and pop star LaLa (Tweeting away about the event) who caught the eye of former Mayor Sam Blogger Michael Trujillo who wrote on Facebook that the musical diva was "his date."

Dueling posts at Griffith Park Wayist about the possibility of a potential run by City Attorney staffer Jane Usher for the 4th Council District seat held by Tom LaBonge.  First off veteran blogger Mulholland Terrace quotes a Rick Orlov piece quoting Usher that she has no plans to run.  MT, who has been a persistent Usher critic, is pleased not such much to the chagrin of many CD4 denizens who feel Usher is simpatico with their anti-development leanings and that replacing LaBonge is critical.  MT however has been critical of Usher for her association with "Republican" policies of her boss City Attorney Carmen Trutanich as well as efforts by Usher that many viewed as an attempt to intimidate MT away from criticizing her boss.  On the other hand MT's blogging partner Petra Fried in the City is coming down hard in favor of an Usher run.  Citing Usher's opposition to the controversial state planning law SB1818 and her experience on development issues, Petra makes the point that Usher has endeared herself to many community activist types.  Stay tuned.

Speaking of next year's races the LA Times reports on efforts to gear up for the spring's City Clowncil elections.  Two candidates are set to oppose Jose Huizar; non-profit worker Arnulfo Yanez and, as reported last week by Red Spot, businessman and reality TV star Rudy Martinez.  While various community organizations seek to recruit others to run against incumbents and/or anointed ones, another candidate gearing up is West Valley activist Armineh Chelebian who will seek the 12th Council District seat being vacated by Greig Smith.

One of the few but consistent media outlets covering local Los Angeles politics has been radio talk show host Kevin James of KRLA.  Due to some recent schedule shuffling, James' 9:00 p.m. show is being pushed back to an 11:00 p.m. start time.  However, as Paul Hatfield reports and as James told me over the weekend, the broadcaster intends to use his evenings visiting Neighborhood Council and other community meetings across Los Angeles and to report on his findings on his show the same evening.  Sounds like an excellent way to get good on the ground reporting of what is happening in LA's neighborhoods.

Hope you caught our story on the LA Business Journal's interview with Chris Essel.  We learn that the former CD2 candidate was once a hippie traveling Europe with a guitar.  Who knew?

And finally speaking of Chris Essel, her number one fan Phil Jennerjahn plans a few days of blog down as he drives a rented Mustang to Las Vegas to seek entry into the World Series of Poker.

Chris Essel: 60s Troubadour turned Political Hack

Good fluff interview piece on former CD2 candidate Chris Essel as she takes over as Antonio Villaraigosa's pick to head the LA Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

In the LA Business Journal we learn that Essel ran away from Cal State Northridge in the early 70s to head to Europe with a boyfriend to become a songwriter. Essel eventually found some success contributing to an album by Spanish pop band Los Pop Tops which had somewhat of a hit with the tune Mamy Blue.



Despite some songwriting achievement, Essel figured out she would better off to come back to the US and become an accountant, a career path that eventually led her to her role as chief lobbyist for Paramount Pictures. Later, she became BFFs with Wendy Greuel and decided that if Wendy could turn a studio government affairs position into a Council post well Chris could too. And the rest is history.

More Politicians in Costume

Chris Essel Appointed Head of CRA

The Mayor's candidate in last year's Council District 2 special election, Christine Essel, has received her consolation prize and has been appointed head of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

The appointment had been rumored for weeks.

Chris Essel's failed City Council campaign had come under harsh criticism for the tremendous amount of money raised through independent expenditure contributions by the IBEW and a donors list that featured nearly every special interest that feeds at the municipal trough or wreaks havoc in local communities.

The downtown insiders and developers of the Central City Association, of which Chris is a former chair, could be heard licking their chops as news of the appointment was announced.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Christmas Eve

Wendy Greuel and her Mini-Mitch

Paul Hatfield has a conversation with City Controller Wendy Greuel.  Besides discussing more mundane and technical matters within the Controller's office, Hatfield chatted with Greuel about the recent race to replace her in the District 2 Council Seat.  Notably, Greuel attempts to distance herself from Chris Essel, essentially throwing the former movie executive she endorsed under the bus.  Nothing stinks like losing.

Rick Orlov is reporting despite cuts made to the City's budget and expenses - including a controversial early retirement program for city workers - Los Angeles is still exceeding it's payroll budget by $85 million.  In a letter to the Mayor and City Council Controller Wendy Greuel stated "...salary expenditures continue to exceed the budgeted amount."

One area where the City is doing well is in revenues from red light cameras.  According to the LA Times Los Angeles' income from catching red light runners from these cameras has doubled since 2007 and is outpacing other local agencies.

We've heard about who the Ass Clown of the Year should be; who would LA's Grinch of the Year be? Go vote at Metblogs.

If you're harried about what to do for your holiday celebrating, the bloggers at the Cooking With Trader Joe's blog have some lost minute entertaining tips.

All of us at Mayor Sam wish each of you a very happy holiday and Merry Christmas.  We appreciate your patronage throughout the year.

Desperate Essel Thugs Don't Want Anyone to Vote Today

Taking a cue from ACORN as well as Klan thugs in the South who try to repress various segments of the vote, apparently Essel campaign staffers are up to monkey business across CD2.

The first report, as noted by the EsselWatch blog is that political operative Aaron Green was allegedly spotted stalking voters in Sunland-Tujunga:

As much of the Valley and Foothill communities went to the polls Tuesday morning to vote for change, Christine Essel’s developer lobbyist friends knew they needed to swing into action. By 10:30 a.m., reports began to trickle in that Aaron Green, the Director of Political and Community Relations for The Afriat Consulting Group, Inc., in Tujunga to monitor the voting. Green was watching voters at the Discount Tire Center on Foothill Boulevard in Tujunga – right down the street from what is now a huge empty lot after residents waged a five-year battle to block Home Depot.

Green you may remember is the one who pulled the bonehead move of sending out an email hitting up developers for Esselcash confirming Paul Krekorian would not do developers' bidding.

Next it got a little hairy at a voting location at Burbank and Hazeltine in the newly re-christened Sherman Oaks. At my old polling place at the Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge (actually I think they call them Aviaries) a known Essel operative was reportedly standing right outside the door of the log cabin like structure handing out Essel flyer, a clear violation of election law. City Clerk officials had to be called in and our sources tell us a chaotic scene occurred when the Essel thug refused to leave.

If you see or hear of voter intimidation or other nonsense, please call us at 818-308-4745.

Summation: Why Paul Krekorian Over Chris Essel

In less than 24 hours voters will go to the polls and sometime Tuesday evening we'll know the results. It's been a bitter, hard fought campaign becauae the stakes are high.  Will we continue the status quo or try something different? The answer comes down to three key points.

Experience
Paul Krekorian has the experience to hit the ground running.  He is the only candidate who actually has a track record serving and representing this community.  As a former school board member and a member of the state legislature he knows what it takes to service constituents and to stand up for the community.  He knows the area, has grown up and owned businesses here and can find places without a GPS. On the other hand Chris Essel hasn't lived in the San Fernando Valley since Ronald Reagan was in office and when asked could not name one school in CD2.  Her role has been as a corporate lobbyist and shill for special interest groups who are responsible for things like massive, government funded development such downtown, the CRA financial meltdown and the destruction of neighborhoods and businesses via the use of eminent domain, a "legal" way for government to seize private property (yes, a form of socialism).

Ability

Paul knows the issues, has produced on issues such as film production.  He's been all over the community working with leaders on various issues. He has a staff that is unrivaled. In fact Krekorian's staff is so good that eventually Wendy Greuel outsourced constituent calls her lackluster staff could not handle.  Greuel's performance and staff were so poor it led even the Daily News to call CD2 a disaster area.  Christine Essel will not only need on the job training but as many of noted she will re-hire those members of the Greuel staff who were not qualified enough to go with Wendy to the Controller's Office, many of whom have poor reputations in the community such as Dale Thrush and Pat Davenport.  More importantly Essel will be beholden to the IBEW, developers and public employee unions who provided massive funding to her campaign.  On the other hand Krekorian will be held accountable by the 90% of community leaders who endorsed him, who represent their communities, and for whom he will have to perform.

Fit
As noted Christine Essel has not lived in the San Fernando Valley since the 1980s.  Paul has been here his entire life.  Chris comes from a world of gated communities, the entertainment industry and the highest echelon of LA's power structure whose leadership experience is limited to shilling for corporate interests and homeowner associations in multi-million dollar homes so out of touch with the working class demographic in CD2.  On the other hand Paul Krekorian has lived in middle-class neighborhoods in North Hollywood and Burbank, who put himself through school by cleaning toilets.  He lives in that working class reality of taking your kids to school and ball games and making sure you meet the mortgage every month.  His wife Tamar has worked for years as a pharmacist working for a small community pharmacy.  Contrast that to the world Essel and her husband live in where a Beverly Hills adjacent mega-million dollar mansion is home.  Who matches North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Sunland Tujunga, etc. more?

When you look at the facts and address them realistically Chris Essel does not have the experience or ability to serve CD2 and would be a horrible fit for all the communities that make up the District.  Electing her would be handing CD2's destiny over to Dick Riordan, Eli Broad and Brian D'arcy.  Are we prepared for that?

We will find out soon.

Correcting Kevin Roderick aka "Westside White Guy" on CD 2 Debate ** Updated Information regarding "Sexist, Vulgar" Comments by Chris Essel Supporter

First, a bloggin disclaimer: This post is undertaken with no financial compensation or editorial oversight from CD 2 Candidate Paul Krekorian's campaign consultant Eric Hacopian.

It seems that the "Observing West LA and his Westside Times" blogger Kevin Roderick has some "breaking news" about a previously unknown "debate" between CD 2 Candidates Paul Krekorian and Chris Essel.

From his "morning buzz" for today.

"With one day to go In the CD 2 runoff, the talk is all of the massive campaign spending, especially by labor — notably the DWP union and the Police Protective League — on behalf of Chris Essel. She and Paul Krekorian debate this morning on KPCC's "Airtalk." LAT, KPCC News, DN, News-Press, CityWatch"

It seems that when one is rooted in all things west of the Arclight Theater, some times facts can get muddle as they make their way seaward into West LA, or from the nearby West LA Times.

Fact is that as I type this (at 10:30 AM), Krekorian is being interview by Larry Mantle (recorded earlier) with Chris Essel soon to follow. All one had to do in ascertaining this, was to call the respective campaigns.

Observation here is this, to continue debating Essel at this point is fruitless. Krekorian as the perceived front runner, must stay on message and by giving Essel a forum, he opens himself to attacks of dubious validity. Kinda like this blogger getting paid for typing these words, right Shallman?

** This is priceless!! Chris Essel is playing the sexist and anti-Semitic card as she talks to Mantle. She also called out Mayor Sam (not in name of course) for our supposed bias toward Krekorian and she insinuates that Phil Jennerjahn was kicked off this blog for his pro-Essel leanings. But, Mantle hit her hard with the response from an prominent Rabbi, that called on her to apologize for her anti-Semitic claims. I find it interesting that Essel remains silent about the sexist, vulgar attack (caution, this link contains graphic language) against Tamar Galatzan by one of her "supporters". (** Link here for related story at Paul Hatfield's "Village to Village" blog)

"Hi, I am Frank (Sheftel) of North Hollywood". Talk about "telephone rescue".

Updated at 2:00 PM via "Village to Village" blog: On KPCC’s “AIRTALK” this morning, CD2 Candidate, Christine Essel was taken to task by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Associate Dean of the world’s leading Jewish human rights organization, demanded an apology from Essel.

As previously reported, last week the Essel campaign sent out a campaign flyer utilizing images of the Holocaust, and accusing her opponent, Paul Krekorian of sexism and anti-semitism. The images includes the word “Intolerance” over a picture of City Hall covered in barbed wire, as well as what many are referring to as “skinhead imagery.”

Rabbi Cooper said, “The flyer was disgusting and inappropriate.” He strongly added, “She should apologize.” Essel responded on air response to the Rabbi, “There are different views on that subject from different sides of the Jewish community.”

Village To Village has contacted the Essel campaign for further comment. We have been informed they have “not received a statement from any Rabbi”, so they have “nothing to respond to at this time.”

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

Ron Kaye on why Chris Essel is Bad News for the Future of CD2

The best agrument yet - read it at Ron Kaye. No one knows the Valley better than Ron Kaye!

Even more to read: Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center condemns Chris Essel for her Holocaust imagery flyer attacking Paul Krekorian.

Shallman was for Krekorian Before he was Against Him

Chris Essel's campaign consultant may have been a consultant scorned. Before any of the CD2 nuttiness started Shallman sent a message to Paul Krekorian - before Krekorian even announced (though we had scooped the competition and broke the story well before this) - seeking employment with Team Paul. In the message Shallman said.

Subject: CD2

I understand you are interested in running. We should talk. I'm in the middle of running Trutanich for City Attorney right now but I'm getting calls from various candidates. I've always liked and admired you and wanted to see what you decided. If you're in and have a consultant already, don't sweat it.

Be well,

John

Oh well. John was better off, Chris Essel had the connections to pay him more. And Paul was already set with one of LA's best and most ethical consultants, Eric Hacopian.

Its All About the Money In CD 2, or Lack Of ?

"Boss D'Arcy of IBEW. His member's dues keep Essel's Campaign afloat"


"Can any of you spare some cash??"

The last Saturday in the long and grueling process to replace Wendy Greuel, as CD 2's representative to the "Horseshoe on Spring Street", is near. Both campaigns spend the day in "counter spin" mode in attacking and refuting, supposed anti-Semitic claims made by the Chris Essel Campaign.

But just as it was easy to get caught up in the drama of the outlandish charges made by "Team Essel, the real story continues to be the "financial avalanche" of independent expenditures by Essel's Special Interest supporters and at the same time, Essel's lack of "hands" on cash.

Boss D'Arcy and his dues-paying members, are keeping "the vessel called Essel" afloat with these attack pieces on Paul Krekorian.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 PAC Pasadena, CA 91101 (Independent Expenditure) Oppose Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819) [Election: 12/08/09] 12/03/09 12/02/09 Mailer - printing, postage, design, consulting, research MAIL-8 $13,379.40

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 PAC Pasadena, CA 91101 (Independent Expenditure) Oppose Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819) [Election: 12/08/09] 12/04/09 12/03/09 Mailer - printing, design, postage, consulting, research MAIL-9 $13,904.00

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 PAC Pasadena, CA 91101 (Independent Expenditure) Oppose Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819) [Election: 12/08/09] 12/05/09 12/04/09 Mailer - printing, design, postage, consulting, research MAIL-10 $10,850.20

Meanwhile, IBEW is still investing in highlighting the positive of their "vessel of choice".

Local 18 Water and Power Defense League (IBEW) Los Angeles, CA 90004 (Independent Expenditure) Support Christine Essel City Council Member - District 02Chris Essel for City Council 2009 - General (1321633)[Election: 12/08/09] 12/02/09 12/01/09Printing, production, postage, research MAIL-19 $15,168.00

Local 18 Water and Power Defense League (IBEW) Los Angeles, CA 90004 (Independent Expenditure) Support Christine Essel City Council Member - District 02Chris Essel for City Council 2009 - General (1321633)[Election: 12/08/09] 12/04/09 12/03/09 Printing, production, postage, research MAIL-22 $11,625.00

** Interest to note here the two separate expenditure committees set up by IBEW to funnel as much money as they legally can into the CD 2 race.

While IBEW shills and attacks for Essel, in their "independent ways". Team Essel is almost running on empty when it comes to their financial state. Since the start of campaigning, the Essel Campaign has collected $627,404 in contributions and $184,259 in matching funds. But with the cost of paying the likes of Shallman, Berman and Burnside, eating away at available finances, her campaign has "big gulped" $902,201 in expenses.

With her hands on cash near nil, Chris Essel has loaned her campaign $10,000 of personal money.

11/30/09 CHRISTINE ESSEL (BUSINESSWOMAN/NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE, NONE) LOS ANGELES, CA 90010 CHRISTINE ESSEL Council Member - District 2 1321633 - CHRIS ESSEL FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL B - Loan Received [Period:11/22/0912/02/09] $10,000.00 [Election:12/08/09] This is not looking good...

As this long, arduous campaign heads for the finish, "Team Essel" should be thankful for the likes of IBEW, the Painters Union, the Police Protective League among others, for supporting her campaign. But the question for CD 2 voters is whether they can afford the "repayment of services rendered" for their "Vessel of Choice".

** Morning Update: Los Angeles Times Scribe Maeve Reston reports on the latest doings in CD 2, as posted earlier on Mayor Sam. In addition, Essel Campaign's John Shallman had some choice words about the content originating from this blog.

The mail from Essel's campaign also charged that Krekorian and his supporters "have unleashed a shocking barrage of nasty, sexist and anti-Semitic personal attacks" on a website. Shallman provided a list of comments that the campaign had collected from readers of Mayor Sam's Sister City blog as examples.

Krekorian's campaign stressed that it has no relationship to the independent blog, created in 2004 by Valley resident Michael Higby. In a telephone interview, Higby said he supports Krekorian but has no official role in the campaign. He and two other writers on the blog have authority to approve reader comments, he said.

But the "real story" is in the content above.

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

Did Kevin James Flip-Flop on Chris Essel?

Many of us have been baffled at what drives folks to support Chris Essel.  We know what drives developers, special interests, the Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller and 90% of the City Council in backing Essel.  Otherwise though she has no natural constituency, no community who knows her and no warm and fuzziness about her that draws the folks like an Obama, Reagan, etc.

Even more curious is the support of those who were convinced she would be bad news for the Clowncil.  Case in point is our old radio friend Kevin James.  Just a few short months ago Phil Jennerjahn reported that James had no love lost for Essel and let her have it on an episode of his radio show:

A good portion of the show was dedicated to Kevins opinion that Chris Essel is a terrible candidate for Council District 2. "I wouldn't vote for her if she was the only name on the ballot!" he repeatedly exclaimed to listeners. James went on to unload on Essel...calling her a "carpetbagger" who doesn't even live in Council District 2. He described as "shady" her connections to the money that donors from AEG have poured into her campaign. (Yes... that AEG...of the Michael Jackson funeral fiasco.)

Essel, who James also called "the Queen Bee of runaway film production", was the only one to turn down the offer to appear on the radio show. James called it "giving the voters the middle finger salute".

"The level of arrogance truly amazes me" he said in disbelief.

 

James recently announced that if he lived in CD2 he would vote for Essel.  As a conservative Republican I can understand James' reluctance to vote for a Democrat such as Paul Krekorian (though Essel is also a liberal Democrat but the position is non-partisan).  However how that squares with his past remarks - which were right on - is baffling me.