Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

In the last election the LA Times finally (kind of?) woke up to the fact that the status quo in LA they have long promulgated - whether it was the whites only Committee of 25 cabal of the real Mayor Sam's day or the current Latino-left-labor-developer unholy alliance of today - might not be good for the City.  Now they call on the status quo incumbents (and incumbent lite in the form of CD12 Clowncilman-Elect, Mitch Englander) to lead.  Ha.





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Open Thread for Election Day

No HotSheet today as it's Election Day but updates will be posted as they happen.  Feel free to post up your election day observations, predictions, voting irregularities, observations, etc.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Another story that Council President Eric Garcetti is seriously considering running for Mayor.  Like Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney in Iowa, EGar has gone to Westwood.

When the real Mayor Sam had his TV show, his sidekick was none other than Wally George.  Franklin Avenue has pulled up an old video of Wally's show from back in the early 90s.  Wally was definitely the forerunner of most of the hot boiled cable political talk shows of today.

The Daily News' Mariel Garza sums up elections in Los Angeles.  Most folks who could vote don't pay attention and "the passionate people who run for elective office each year are an inspiring bunch, if occasionally wacky." How could both be true?

The City is still struggling with a medical marijuana policy following a court case.  Just legalize the stuff.

Outtakes from CD 14: "Team Huizzy/Villar going the sleaze route"

"Team Huizzy/Villar is watching you!!"

Hola from a undisclosed location within CD 14 where the prying eyes of Team Huizzy/Villar, cannot see our efforts in bring you the latest on the dirty chisme that suffices for campaign news.

From the "private hilltop bunker" above CD 14/1/South Pasadena, Parke Skelton unleashes his latest attack that the LA Weekly covers this morning. Parke's M.O. is all over this "leak" as the Weekly reports that somehow CD 14 Candidate Rudy Martinez had an authentic LAPD badge on his possession and was linked to former LAPD Deputy Chief David Kalish, who was one of the first openly gay command officers on the force.

Kalish, who Martinez met as a LAPD Explorer Scout and is an employer for the candidate's house-flipping firm Piedmont Financial, was relieved of duty in 2003 while under investigation for allegations that he had molested a explorer under his charge. But the Weekly cites a reliable source who states that Kalish "was exonerated in court". Martinez who was a explorer at the same time of the alleged molestation, cites Kalish as a mentor and father figure in his response to the Weekly post today.

For those who have met Martinez and listen to his life story, one will find that he has the upmost respect for law enforcement and would find it hard that he would do anything to lose the trust of many, that he had befriended in the law enforcement community.

But what is amusing here in Parke's latest attempt to smear Martinez and introduce "innuendos" into the CD 14 elections proceedings, is that fact that Councilman Jose Huizar has used LAPD and General Services Police resources on multiple occasions to "monitor or prevent actions"( ask Elena Popp what happen to her at the "Great CD 14 Filibuster") of CD 14 constituents, that would cast Councilman Huizar in a negative light (notice photo above?).

but most egregious here is the "smear by association" of former LAPD Deputy Chief David Kalish and Rudy Martinez. Lets hold nothing back here by stating that while the badge issue is one worthy of further vetting, the fact that the same "LAPD tipster" would seek to introduce some sort of "inappropiate innuendo" regarding the relationship between Kalish and Martinez, deserves to be denounced and condemn by all within the diverse CD 14 community. Can we discuss the issues, not supposed innuendos regarding two now business associates past relationship?

** By the way, the supposed LAPD tipster might be interested to see and hear what Councilman Huizar had to say about the supposed unprovoked actions of his colleagues on an infamous day in recent LA history. Or more likely it wasn't a LAPD officer who provided the tip to the LA Weekly?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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

Kamala Harris and Steve Cooley

Shades of Florida 2000 at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Office?

If you listen to the charges and counter-charges from the respective spokespersons for San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, as the vote count trickles on in the California Attorney General Election. Then the California version of Bush v. Gore may not be far off.

You can click on to the link above for the blow by blow spin but at the time of this post, the Daily News is reporting that Kamala Harris holds a 14,089 vote lead over Steve Cooley. More drama to come.

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Paper-pulling galore for Los Angeles City Council and LAUSD Elections

"Who's who of candidates for Los Angeles City Council and LAUSD."

Candidates, you may pull your papers now, ............. and many have as of Friday.

The City Clerk of Los Angeles has the latest list of potential candidates for the upcoming City Council and LAUSD Elections in March of 2011. We offer below, brief comments on the notable candidates and potential match ups. Lets keep in mind that all the candidates listed here, have to meet the requirements and are not certify candidates for the March, 2011 Elections, until noted by the City Clerks Office.

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