Candidates Focus on Education

Mayor JamesHahn accused challenger Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday of mismanaging a $9-billion state bond measure to the "detriment of the city's schools", while the city councilman fought back with a charge that Hahn has neglected the education system for four years. Hahn and Villaraigosa sparred from miles apart over education even though the City Charter does not give the mayor power over the Los Angeles Unified School District. (LA Times, 4/26)

Hahn Releases Appointments Calendar

Following the lead of his mayoral opponent, Mayor James K. Hahn on Friday afternoon finally released the calendar of his activities since he took office.The mayor's decision came less than 3 1/2 weeks before he faces reelection against Villarigosa who, on the campaign trail, has repeatedly criticized Hahn's refusal to release the records. Earlier this week, a Villaraigosa supporter also threatened to sue Hahn to acquire the calendar.
With Hahn's announcement, county Supervisor Don Knabe is the only elected official in the county and city of Los Angeles who has not made his calendar public. (LA Times, 4/24)

Hahn Continues His Attack On Villaraigosa

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, locked in an hard fought race for reelection, sharpened his attacks Saturday on Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa in their final scheduled debate and for the first time cast himself as the candidate who will upend the status quo."We can't afford to go back to … policies of the past. Let's go forward into the future," Hahn said, linking his opponent to policies he said have failed at the city's Police Department and its public schools.
The mayor also took a new swipe at Villaraigosa's past, injecting into the campaign a 28-year-old misdemeanor assault charge that was ultimately dismissed. The tenacious attacks by Hahn hewed to a reelection strategy that has tarred Villaraigosa for his work for the American Civil Liberties Union, his lackluster record on the City Council and his ties to former Police Chief Bernard C. Parks. (LA Times, 4/24)

Villaraigosa's Spanish Is One of L.A.'s Languages

(From LA Times Text): Villaraigosa's Spanish stumbled, caught in the perilous rules of the subjunctive. Was it juzguen or juzgan? People in the room called out their suggestions."You know, I was born here, man," Villaraigosa said finally, switching back to English. "It's hard…. It's hard."The room erupted in laughter and applause. They understood.With Villaraigosa as the front-runner for the May 17 runoff against Mayor James K. Hahn, the campaign is in many respects a fully bilingual affair. News conferences, television advertisements, mailers, speeches and debates reach voters in both English and Spanish.Today, the contenders are to engage in a bilingual debate broadcast by Spanish-language network Univision. Questions will be posed to both candidates in Spanish and translated to English by earpiece. All answers will be translated to Spanish.Hahn does not speak Spanish. In official settings, Villaraigosa sometimes offers remarks in distinct blocks, one language after the other. He might opt for that approach in the debate, said campaign spokesman Nathan James.But on the trail, the candidate's Spanish is different. It's a looser bilingualism that shows a self-effacing candor over an aspect of his heritage that many U.S.-born Latinos consider a source of mild embarrassment: Spanish that is less than perfect. Even bad. (LA Times, 4/23)

Hahn Defends New Education Stance

Mayor James Hahn said Wednesday that he changed his mind about playing a major role in reforming the city's public schools because he has learned during his re-election campaign that voters regard it as their No. 1 issue.
Meeting in a Canoga Park home with members of local Neighborhood Watch groups, Hahn defended his proposals to involve the Mayor's Office in education issues, but acknowledged that he'd said less than a month ago there was no formal role for the city in Los Angeles public schools.
"Everywhere I go, people ask me what I'm doing about the schools -- why the dropout rate is so high, why there aren't more teachers," Hahn told about two dozen residents at the home of Bob and Betty Green. (LA Daily News, 4/21)

Villaraigosa Hits $1.8 Million Fundraising Cap

After raising nearly $1.2 million in the past two weeks L.A. Mayoral Canidate Antonio Villaraigosa has raised $1.8 million since the March 8th primary.
According to a statement from the Villaraigosa campaign Tuesday, Villaraigosa is the first runoff candidate to reach the $1.8 million contribution cap invoked under city ethics rules when he accepted public funds. However, that cap is likely to be lifted because of “independent expenditures on behalf of both runoff candidates”.
The Hahn campaign has not issued any fundraising updates beyond the required April 2 filing, when the campaign reported raising $408,000.
The announcement of this latest fundraising for Villaraigosa caps a dramatic 10 days, during which he won endorsements from basketball superstar and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson and mayoral rival Bob Hertzberg and has been pulling away from Hahn with an 18-point lead in a Los Angeles Times poll. (LA Business Journal, 4/19)

Hahn and Villaraigosa Trade Barbs At Debate

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa exchanged barbs during a hard fought debate Sunday, challenging each other on issues of trust and accomplishments.
The two interrupted each other frequently, with asides designed to appeal to a partisan audience of some 325 invited guests at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance. The exchanges among audience members grew so heated that moderator Marc Brown threatened at one point to eject people from the studio.
Villaraigosa pushed a message that it was time for a change.
"We cannot afford four more years of corruption probes and stagnation," Villaraigosa said, as he defended his decision to cut short his term on the City Council to challenge Hahn this year. "We need a mayor who can restore trust in city government, who can deliver on the promises made." Hahn, who defeated Villaraigosa four years ago, stayed on the offense throughout the hourlong session, defending his record and his accomplishments during his term.
(LA Daily News 4/17)

Hahn Blasted For Stem Cell Blunder

A City Council panel complained to Mayor James Hahn's office Thursday for the city's failed proposal to house the state's $3 billion stem cell research agency.
"The mayor's office blew it," said Councilman Jack Weiss, who chairs the Information Technology & General Services Committee, which met in a special joint meeting with the Conventions, Tourism, Entertainment Industry and Business Enterprise Committee to find out how the city lost the bid.
"The city of Los Angeles was in the running for hosting a multibillion dollar stem cell headquarters and the mayor's office -- because they followed such a closely held, rather secretive process -- blew it and they were disqualified by the state of California.
"The mayor took the credit when the bid was submitted so the mayor ought to be a man about it and take the blame for the bid's failures." (LA Daily News 3/15).

Villaraigosa Campaigns In The Valley

After picking up the backing of former opponent Bob Hertzberg, mayoral canidate Antonio Villaraigosa returned Thursday to the campaign trail and accused Mayor James Hahn of failing to provide leadership in developing new technology.
Villaraigosa focused on the rejection this week of the city's application to host the state's $3 billion stem-cell research center because the proposal was incomplete.
"As mayor, I will make sure we have professionals filling out grant applications like this to make sure Los Angeles stays a leader in this field," Villaraigosa said. "Los Angeles missed out on an historic opportunity. I will make it a priority to grow the biomedical and biotech industries here in Los Angeles." (LA Daily News 4/15).

Hertzberg to Endorse Villaraigosa

Former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who narrowly missed making the L.A. mayoral runoff last month, will endorse City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday, according to a source close to Hertzberg.
Hertzberg’s endorsement, which was also sought aggressively by incumbent Mayor James Hahn, is expected to boost Villaraigosa’s support in the San Fernando Valley.
It also adds momentum to the Villaraigosa campaign. Earlier this week, former basketball superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson endorsed Villaraigosa, and on Wednesday, a Los Angeles Times poll showed Villaraigosa with an 18-point lead. Last week, City Councilman Bernard Parks endorsed Villaraigosa. (LA Times, 4/13)

Villaraigosa Has Big Lead In Election

Antonio Villaraigosa has opened an 18-point lead over incumbent James K. Hahn in the Los Angeles mayoral race, with nearly every large voting bloc supporting his effort to bounce Hahn from City Hall, according to a new Times poll.The survey shows that Hahn has yet to rebuild the historic coalition of South L.A. blacks and San Fernando Valley whites that thrust him into office four years ago. Both groups favor Villaraigosa by wide margins in the May 17 runoff.

The councilman and former state Assembly speaker holds a double-digit lead over Hahn among likely voters in every region of the city. He runs far ahead of the mayor among whites, blacks, Latinos, liberals, moderates, Democrats, Jewish voters and union members.There are glimmers of hope for Hahn. Republicans — roughly a quarter of the city's electorate — firmly favor his reelection, as do conservatives. He is also receiving more credit for accomplishments now than in polls earlier in the campaign — particularly for the drop in crime.If the election were held today, the poll found, Villaraigosa would win, 53% to 35%, with 12% undecided. (LA Times, 4/13)

Hahn Again Raises Drug-Dealer Issue of 2001 Race to Attack Rival

Recycling a charge from the 2001 mayoral campaign, Mayor James K. Hahn called a news conference Tuesday to accuse rival Antonio Villaraigosa of poor judgment when he asked the White House to review the case of a convicted drug dealer.

The mayor, who summoned the media to his Miracle Mile campaign headquarters, said the councilman's 1996 letter to the White House on behalf of Carlos Vignali raised issues that Villaraigosa has failed to address.
The mayor charged that Villaraigosa "continues to evade responsibility" for his actions and he called on Villaraigosa to release all of his phone records and electronic communications pertaining to Vigna.

The city councilman, who was on the East Coast for fundraisers, has said previously that he should not have written the letter and that he let his emotions as a father get in the way of his judgment.Villaraigosa's campaign manager, Ace Smith, who stood outside the Hahn headquarters during the news conference, dismissed Hahn's demands as "sad" and called them the actions of "a desperate politician." (LA Times, 4/13)

Villaraigosa Garners "Magic" Support

Los Angeles Mayoral canidate Antonio Villaraigosa continued gaining support from the highly coveted African American sect by gaining the endorsement of former Laker and NBA Hall of Famer Ervin "Magic Johnson". Johnson, who endorsed James Hahn for mayor four years ago, was pivotal in getting out the black vote for Hahn in his 2001 race against Villaraigosa.
“Under Mayor Riordan, the city of Los Angeles was a partner with private enterprise, and we invested in some of the most underserved communities. In the last few years, we have lost that focus," Johnson said in making his endorsement. "I’m supporting Antonio because he will reinvigorate L.A.’s business team and focus city resources on bringing economic development.” (LA Business Journal, 4/11)

Hahn and Villaraigosa Trade Jabs at Fierce Debate

Mayor James K. Hahn and challenger Antonio Villaraigosa clashed over race and integrity Saturday in a hard fought debate that highlighted their fierce competition for the support of African American voters.
Both canidates pledged safer street, better schools and more jobs for the South Central area. Much of the hourlong debate was about who could undercut voter confidence in the other. At one point Hahn directed a jab at Villagaigosa saying "There's only one person up here who's demonstrated that they violated the public trust, and that's you." Villaraigosa responded " Much as a mayor did to Tom Bradley some 30 years ago, I know exactly what you're doing, Jim. You're trying to demonize my candidacy for the purpose of creating a climate of fear, and I won't tolerate it."
The 8 a.m. debate was sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper and took place in the glass atrium of the California African American Museum in Exposition Park. (LA Times/ LA Daily News 4/10)

Hahn and Villaraigosa Gain More Support

In the continuing saga of "who will woe the most African American voters" in the 2005 Los Angeles Mayoral election, incumbent Mayor and run-off canidate James Hahn secured two high profile African American endorsements. Assemblymen Mervyn Dymally and Jerome Horton both put their support behind the Mayor Friday.
Not to be outdone his opponent Antonio Villaraigosa picked up support from developer who plans to spend more than $62,500 to back Villaraigosa. (LA Times 4/9).

Supporters Give $653,000 to Villlaraigosa

It looks like Los Angeles Mayoral Canidate Antonio Villaraigosa is racking up the fund raising money. His run-off campaign fund has raised over $653,000 in the first 3 1/2 weeks after his first-place finish in the March 8th primary. It's reported that Hahn will report that he has raised less money then Villaraigosa, but that his campaign will have enough funds neded to win a second term. This is a repeat of what happend in the 2001 run-off when Villaraigosa raised $1.4 million over the first 5 1/2 weeks compared to Hahn's $1.2 million. Some of Villaraigosa's contributers include singer Don Henley, actresses Susan Clark and Doris Roberts and The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (Los Angeles Times, LA Daily News, 4/7).

Hahn Won't Release His Calendar

Putting himself at odds with many other state politicans, LA Mayor, and current run-off canidate James Hahn has refused to publically disclose his appointment calendar, even though his rival Antonio Villarigosa has disclosed his. Many California politicians including Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger (who commented that "I have no secrets") and Attorney General Bill Lockyer have made their calendars public after California voters over whelmingly passed a constituional ammendment in November to encourage more openness from politicans. According to mayoral spokeswoman Shannon Murphy "For secutity reasons and concerns, we do not release the mayor's schedule". (LA Times, 3/6/05

Parks back Villaraigosa's Mayoral Campaign

Los Angeles Mayoral Canidate Antonio Villaraigosa picked up a key endorsement Tuesday when City Councilman and former Mayoral Canidate Bernard Parks formally threw his support behind his campagain. Parks came in first among African-American voters in March's primary.
Accoding to the LA Daily News this endorsement is key to Villaraigosa because "The African-American vote is key to the campaign. Hahn defeated Villaraigosa in 2001, in part because of his strong showing in South Los Angeles."
Villaraigosa also picked up other endorsement's on Monday. Both the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the San Fernando Democratic Party threw their support behind Villaraigosa. Both he and run-off rival Mayor James Hahn are running as Democrats (LA Times, LA Daily News, LA Business Journal, 4/5/05).

Villaraigosa finally picked by his party

The Los Angeles County Democratic Party voted Saturday to recommend the endorsement of Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa in the May 17 runoff over Mayor James Hahn. The final decision will be made on Tuesday. The Party endorsed Villaraigosa over Hahn in the 2001 election as well. (LA Times, 03/20/2005).

Leaders claim endorsements for Hahn were forged

Three Jewish civic leaders allege that endorsements that support the reelection of Mayor James Hahn were fraudulent. The leaders, that include Rabbi Steven Weil, developer Ira Smedra and dentist Irving S. Lebovics learned of the forgery when they found their names listed in Hahn-for-mayor advertisements in Jewish newspapers. Copies of endorsement cards confirm that each of their signatures was forged. They are calling on Hahn to find out who is responsible for the forgery and to take action against them. Hahn says that he has no knowledge of forged endorsement cards and although he respects the feelings of the complaining civic leaders, he has no intention to launch an investigation on what he called a "pretty minor thing."

In other news Hahn endorsed a plan that would replace 1% of the city's electricity with solar power in the next twelve years. However, many feel the plan is too expensive to pursue at the moment and that Hahn is only endorsing the plan to pander environmentalist votes. (LA Times, 03/19/2005).

Ballot inspection is fruitless for Hertzberg's campaign

Bob Hertzberg, who losing the second runoff spot to Mayor James Hahn, decided Friday that he would not challenge the election because his observers of the ballot inspection were satisfied that no fraud had occurred. On Friday 14, 271 mail-in votes were counted as well as a random review of ballots that had been "overmarked". The only discrepencies in the count resulted in a 78-vote gain for Hahn. However, Hertzberg's team still remains bothered by what they call the "great deal of subjectivity" and "arbitrariness" that went into City Clerk Frank Martinez's decision to "overmark" ballots, some of which may not have needed "overmarking", without approval from the California Secretary of State. Martinez defended himself by saying that although "overmarking" may not have been necessary with all of the ballots on which is was used, he wanted to be conservative in what he expected to be a close decision. (LA Daily News, 03/19/2005).

Ballot inspection may have Hertzberg demanding a recount

City Clerk Frank Martinez invited Bob Hertzberg's lawyer, Fred Woocher, to look at ballots today that were "over-marked" by city workers after voters failed to completely ink their intended circles in a manner that could be detected by vote-scanning machines. Martinez said workers used state guidelines, making their markings with light blue ink that would allow the original marking to be seen, but would also allow the scanning machine to detect the intended vote. With thousands of ballots in question and just a margin of 5,800 votes between Hertzberg and Mayor James Hahn, Woocher said that he just wanted to make sure the count was accurate before deciding to request a recount. Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa said they would also have representatives on hand to observe the ballot inspection. Meanwhile, the California Secretary of State's office is questioning Martinez about the errors as well as the fact that it took him eight hours to count the votes on election night. (LA Times, 03/18/2005).

Hahn proposes a $15 million movie-subsidy

Based on a program adopted by New York City, Mayor James Hahn has proposed a plan that would reimburse production costs of movies made in Los Angeles, using as much as $15 million in public funds, in an effort to keep filmmaking in Hollywood, rather than seeing film production companies leave to less expensive locations. Although the city budget is already struggling to make ends meet, Hahn feels that this is something the City Council should approve because he feels keeping film production in Los Angeles will surely increase tax revenues and economic growth. However, Councilman Martin Ludlow feels Hahn is reckless to propose such an incentive so late into the planning of the budget, when for years the mayor had resisted similar incentives.

In other news, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa secured the endorsement of Republican Assemblyman Keith Richman, who won the vote for the failed drive for Valley cityhood and was co-chairman of Bob Hertzberg's campaign for mayor. (LA Times and LA Daily News, 03/18/2005).

Low voter turnout, except in key areas

Including absentee ballots, total voter turnout was 26%, the lowest it has been in 16 years. Analysts feel this is in part because the presidential election was just four months ago, and because the campaign failed to capture the public's interest. However, in areas known to be strongholds for the candidates such as the San Fernando Valley, Boyle Heights and San Pedro, voter turnout was as high as 45%. (LA Times, 03/14/2005).

Hahn challenges Villaraigosa to a debate on education

The candidates focused on education again on Tuesday, saying that although the mayor has no jurisdiction over the Los Angeles Unified School District, they could help find sites for new schools and seek more funding for the city's school district.

Appearing before the Board of Education, Mayor James Hahn declared his support for the Small Schools Alliance and urged the board to do the same. He challenged Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa to a debate on the issue of education. Villaraigosa, who spent the day at San Fernando High School, said that he would debate Hahn before the May 17 runoff and that education would be one of the issues covered. Villaraigosa also issued a news release questioning Hahn's dedication to education considering Tuesday was only his second time visiting the school board as mayor. The news release was entitled "Jimmy Hahn, Please Report to the Principal's Office". (LA Times and LA Daily News, 03/16/2005).

Candidates' education rhetoric holds little promise

Mayor James Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa spent Monday appealing to the most critical issue for many voters: the city's public schools. However, since the mayor's office has no jurisdiction over the Los Angeles Unified School District, their talk was little more than rhetoric, offering few solutions for the problems that plague public education in L.A.

Hahn announced that he would be attending today's school board meeting to discuss the Small Schools Alliance, for which he signed a pledge last month. Later that afternoon, Villaraigosa held a press conference expressing his support for small schools. Although it is the second time since last Friday that Villaraigosa made a public statement that mimicked an announcement of Hahn's, his campaign officials are saying it is a coincidence.

The sudden attention from the candidates has made the Small Schools Alliance very happy. Just last month the group began a $1.5-million campaign seeking support from the mayoral candidates. (LA Times, 03/15/2005).

Hahn wins business endorsement amidst allegations of corruption

Mayor James Hahn is beginning to pick up endorsements from business leaders after big business's favorite candidate, Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg got knocked out of the race last week. Among his new endorsements are the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Central City Association and billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad. However, political analysts say that the criminal investigation into city contracting corruption have presented a serious problem for Hahn, whose popularity ratings are already low. After winning a spot in the runoff last week, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa made a televised vow to dig out "the waste and fraud infesting our city departments", as City Controller Laura Chick, whose audits launched the investigation into City Hall, was at his side in support. Analysts feel that Hahn's credibility problems may make it difficult for him to attack Villaraigosa, whose electoral showing was stronger, and be believed by voters. (LA Times and LA Business Journal, 03/14/2005).

Crenshaw Stroll

Both, Mayor James Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Crenshaw district hoping to get voters to vote for them. Villaraigosda visited a grill where he ate a chili turkey dog, talked with customers and later on visited a barbershop where he played some pool. Hahn was a few blocks away also chatting away in Barbershops and visiting a car-wash. Since Bernard Parks did not make the run off the 54 percent of the votes that he received from black voters are up for grabs. Yesterday county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke had endorsed Villaraigosa in the May 17 runoff, which could be a significant boost to Villaraigosa as he courts black voters who backed Hahn four years ago.

(LA Times 3/13)

County Supervisor supports Villaraigosa

County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, one of the most prominent African American supporters of failed mayoral candidate Bernard C. Parks, endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa on Friday, a move that could help the Los Angeles city councilman expand his support among black voters. On the 2001 election she endorsed Mayor James Hahn, a big reason why he got 71 percent of the black votes. Bernard Parks, the city councilman and former police chief, won more than half of the black votes Tuesday but fell short of making the runoff. Both Villaraigosa and Mayor James K. Hahn intend to compete for those votes, which could prove pivotal in the May 17 runoff election. In two radio appearances Friday, Hahn continued to sound an upbeat note about selling his record over the next 10 weeks and recapturing support from voters in South Los Angeles. Late Friday, Hahn's staff announced he would campaign today in South Los Angeles, including a walk on Crenshaw Boulevard. Less than an hour after Hahn's schedule was released, Villaraigosa's campaign said he too would stroll Crenshaw Boulevard today.

(LA Times 3/12)

The Endorsement Race

As the runoff race begins, Mayor James Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa begin to try to pick up endorsements form around the city. Antonio Villaraigosa won the endorsement from City Controller Laura Chick, Chick, whose 2003 audit of the city's airport department helped spark a federal investigation into city contracting, has been openly feuding with the mayor for more than a year. The Chamber of Commerce endorsed Hahn citing his fight against crime and the stable economy that L.A. had in his tenure. It is not known if the three major candidates that did not make the runoff will endorse Hahn or Villaraigosa.

(LA times 3/11)

Final Voting Results

With 99 percent of the precints reporting Mayor James Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa won enough votes to run against each other in the May 17 runoff. As in last year they wasted no time going after each other, Hahn accused Villaraigosa as someone who talk in generalities, Villaraigosa wasted no time in returning the assault by criticizing Hahns leadership skills. The final results showed that Villaraigosa who 33 percent of the votes compared to 30 in the last election. Hahn won 24 percent of the votes, dropping one percent from the 2001 election. Villaraigosa ended up winning 825 precints, mainly East L.A. and the north eastern region of the Valley. Hahn won 102 precints, dominating his neighborhood of San Pedro and coming in 2nd in many precints to qualify for the runoff. Hertzberg won 474 precints mainly the Jewish neighborhoods and many of the wealthier precints. Bernard Parks won 185 precints mostly neighborhoods with black voters. Fog delayed many of the votes, forcing many helicopters carrying votes to be grounded. This was also the first year L.A. used the Inka-Vote system which is more time consuming to count.

(LA Times 3/10)

Reaction to Hahn's campaign - *yawn*

While Mayor James Hahn has stuck with his record, it has not impressed anybody. He had to remind Angelinos that crime had dropped dramatically under his watch, that the economy has remained steady, over all people are impressed. Many of his criticisms come from his very boring attitude, in a city of stars, Angelinos obviously want one to run their city too. Although Hahn could claim credit for installing left-turn lanes and expanding the LA's BEST after-school program, commuters remained stuck on the 405 Freeway and parents scrounged to find money to get their children out of beleaguered public schools. Two things Hahn touted as his primary achievements, his successful fight against San Fernando Valley secession and his replacement of Police Chief Bernard C. Parks with William J. Bratton alienated many of the Valley and African American voters who had been crucial to his 2001 election, in an earlier Times poll, people said they couldn't name an important Hahn accomplishment. Though he is likely to make it to the run off it's clear that he has an up hill battle to wage.

(LA Times 3/9)

The finish line

Months of non stop campaigning in the Los Angeles mayoral race drew to a close Monday, with candidates scattering across the city in a final burst of handshakes and personal appeals to voters who will head to the polls today.The major candidates, all Democrats, also spent much of the day trying to stir enthusiasm among the campaign workers who will beg supporters to show up and vote before polls close tonight.

As Hahn campaigned for a second term, his main challengers, Richard Alarcon, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and City Councilmen Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa, pressed their case for shifting direction at City Hall. Hertzberg, a Sherman Oaks lawyer, campaigned on Hahn's home turf in San Pedro before heading back to more familiar political territory in the San Fernando Valley. Parks dashed from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he endorsed efforts to lure a professional football team to Los Angeles, to the Valley, where he spent much of his day passing out campaign fliers. Alarcon, stumping in the pre-dawn darkness, greeted sanitation workers and Metrolink commuters in his Valley Senate district. On a more aggressive note, Hahn predicted success in making the runoff, and in winning reelection in May.

(LA Times 3/8)

Mayor and rivals trying to create excitement

As the marathon runners were racing across LA on Sunday, the Mayor and the rivals were racing across LA today to get some kind of excitement going for mayoral election, which is tomorrow.

Mayor James Hahn fired the starter pistol for the L.A, Marathon then hoped on his white Winnebago and traveled across the city hoping to get people to vote for him. All the other mayoral candidates were scattered across the city fighting for last minute votes. Antonio Villaraigosa was in South L.A. talking to African American churches, Richard Alarcon was in the valley and North Hollywood and to fin Hertzberg you would just to look for Hahn, because everywhere Hahn went, Hertzberg was to far away.

The election is not expected to produce a winner; the top two vote-getters probably will advance to a May 17 runoff. In addition to the major candidates, seven others, none well known, are also on the ballot.

48hrs and counting

With 48 hours left the Mayor and the candidates traveled across L.A. trying to get the final votes. Hahn continued to go after Bob Hertzberg, while Hertzberg stuck with his themes: traffic relief, more police, smaller school districts." Antonio Villaraigosa greeted bus drivers in the wee hours of the morning, Richard Alarcon traveled with comedian George Lopez and Bernard Parks made a quick detour from his campaign to visit an old friend, Muhammad Ali.

Hahn's African American vote has been taken by Parks, his votes from the Valley have been taken by Hertzberg, yet crime has dropped and the economy has remained steady and he hired a popular police chief. "The key for me is turnout," Hahn said. "Who votes Tuesday is going to win this election."

(LA Times 3/6)

The Jewish Vote

As the race moves into its frenzied final days, Hertzberg has more support from Jewish voters than other candidates, according to a recent Times poll, although significant numbers also back Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa. Hertzberg frequently drops snatches of Yiddish into his speeches and even posted a guide to Yiddish terms on his campaign website. Lately, Hertzberg has taken to wearing a blue wristband signifying peace, which he said he got from the Israeli consulate. Los Angeles has elected lots of Jewish politicians, including congressmen, state legislators and city councilmen, but never a mayor. If he wins, Hertzberg would be the first.

(LA Times 3/5)

Hahn and Hertzberg go at it

Mayor James Hahn went after Bob Hertzberg claiming that the reason for the deficit in California is because of Hertzberg, who discussed legislation proposals with Enron. Hertzberg fought back, having his lawyers urge the L.A. ethics commission to investigate Hahn's labor backers. The complaint alleges that the unions had improperly exceeded campaign finance limits. Hahn has decided to go after Hertzberg because they are both seeking the conservative vote.

(LA Times 3/5)

Ad wars begin

Mayor James Hahn has started the ad wars by slamming both Antonion Villaraigosa and Bob Hertzberg for seekeing early prison release on drug traffickers. This is not your typical Hahn, but after an LA Times poll showed him tied with Villaraigosa and Hertzberg, he has been forced to change his approach. Hertzber raised some eyebrows when his ad potrayed him towering over LA in his "think big" camapign.

(LA Times 3/4)

Rivals leave money trail

Mayoral candidates Antonio Villaraigosa and Bon Hertzberg are being investigated by Mayor James Hahn his administration gave his campaign donors special treatment in in awarding city contracts. When gambling was a hot topic both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg received five and six figure donations from casinos. The type of fundraising they did could open Villaraigosa and Hertzberg for attacks from Hahn.

(LA Times 3/2)

Hahn goes on the offensive

While Mayor James Hahn's opponents spent previous debates criticizing Hahn, they were more polite on Monday's debate. Not Hahn, frequently calling Antonio Villaraigosa, Bob Hertzberg and Richard Alarcon "Sacramento Politicians". He also attacked Villaraigosa and Bernard Parks for voting against his proposed sales-tax to hire new cops.

(LA Times 3/1)

Poll shows 3 way tie

L.A. Times poll showed the Mayor and two candidates are on a three-way tie for next week elections. Hertzberg with his big idea campaign has sored in popularity in the last few weeks. The poll showed that if the election would be held today, Antonio Villaraigosa would win.

(LA Times 3/1)

The Republican

GOP Mayoral candidate Walter Moore could have cared less about politics, that was 19 months ago, today with his unorthodox approach and witty sense of humor he is trying to make a splash in the heavy Democratic campaign race. After hearing Mayor James Hahn wanted to spend 9 billion dollars to modernize LAX he became angry and decided to run, he has never held an elective office and is not afraid to talk about immigration, in his website a video spot bluntly states, " I don't speak Spanish and I don't intend to learn."

(LA Times 2/28)

Win may hinge on voter turnout

Little public interest in the mayor race suggest that overall turnout could be very small. Since all the candidates and the Mayor are crunched together according to recent polls, volunteers and paid staff are working around the clock to get voters just not to vote for them, but to vote period.

(LA Times 2/27/05)

Hertzberg gets boost from Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on Friday with Bob Hertzberg to endorse the L.A. mayoral candidate plans for educational reform; giving Hertzberg a televised boost as he struggles to keep pace with the two better funded rivals. The Governor did not officially endorse Hertzberg, but Hertzberg hopes he can boost his standing with conservative voters, the same people that Mayor James Hahn attracts.

(LA Times 2/26)

Los Angeles growth is a big concern

With the biggest construction boom happening in Downtown Los Angeles right now, very few people are thanking Mayor James Hahn. All candidates are claiming that Hahn has not don enough to attract businesses to downtown.

Candidates have their own idea about re-vitilizing downtown. Candidate Bob Hertzberg wants the city to lease the 2,400 of land lots which the city own at "very low rates" to encourage business growth. Richard Alarcon wants to give more credit to companies that provide good wages and good benefits. Ever since the city council voted for big box companies such as Wal-Mart to conduct studies about how opening a new store would effect the surrounding neighborhood, has made Los Angeles a bad city for businesses.

(LA Times 2/25/05)

Villaraigosa, Parks Gain Key Backing

More than two dozen African American religious and political leaders endorsed challengers Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa in the March 8 election. "It is time for a change" said Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, one of the city's largest and most influential black churches. Both city councilmen said Wednesday that they planned to aggressively publicize the endorsements, and several of the endorsers said they would work hard to rally support for Parks and Villaraigosa in the African American community. This a major blow for Mayor James Hahn who with the help of black was bale to win the 2001 race over Antonio Villaraiosa. (LA Times 02-24-05)

Candidates compete with the rain.

After his Tuesday media coverage only brought one reporter to listen to his news conference, he had to find a way to beat the rain for news coverage, or join it.

In a span of 2 1/2 hours, Mayor Hahn held four media events at mud and water ravaged locations. He was not alone Villaraigosa did the same in red tag home in Highland Park. Hertzberg on the other hand blame the weather damage to Hahn. "The roads are crumbling" said John Shallman, Hertzberg's strategist. "Traffic is an absolute nightmare."

(LA Times 2/23/05)

Preparing for the ads

Two weeks before the Los Angeles mayoral election, the top candidates are locked in an increasingly complex game of chicken as they brace for a blast of negative television ads.
As they maneuvered for advantage Monday, their strategic debate was whether negative ads would help the candidate who airs them — or doom him to defeat in a voter backlash. With polls showing at least three top candidates vying in the March 8 election for just two slots in the likely May runoff, the stakes are huge and the outcome unpredictable.
Setting the stage for a rise in hostilities, candidate Bob Hertzberg, a former Assembly speaker, called on incumbent James K. Hahn on Monday not to use misleading negative ads or personal attacks — and to urge supporters to uphold the same standards for independent spending on the race. The Sherman Oaks lawyer gave Hahn 48 hours to accept his challenge, which included a one-on-one debate.

(LA Times 2/22)

Candidates look to minorities

In an attempt to get more votes, mayoral candidates were reaching out to minorities on Sunday. Councilman Villaraigosa, who had little support from African Americans in the 2001 mayoral race, visited two African American churches in Los Angeles. Bob Hertzberg tried to woo the Latino voters in Eagle Rock, while Councilman Parks went to several African American communities in South Los Angles. Hahn attempted to recapture the support of the African American community as he visited three African American churches. Hahn later visited the site of a sinkhole in Sun Valley. -(Los Angeles Times, 02/21/2005)

Teen death still a concern

As mayoral candidates made their way campaigning around the city Saturday, they were bombarded with questions about a LAPD reform. After a fatal police shooting that left a 13-year-old boy dead, some residents want to see changes. The issue was brought to Hahn’s attention twice during the day. Hahn said a new policy adopted last week will help prevent incidents like this one because it restricts officers from shooting at moving vehicles. Parks agreed and said the new policy adds clarification to existing policy. –(LA Times, 02/20/2005)

Hahn says drop in crime under his watch

At an event at the Orpheum Theater on Friday Mayor Hahn said that a drop in crime and increase in business during his term has helped revive downtown. Hahn said crime was down 18 percent, while business increased 15 percent. Councilman Villaraigosa responded by asking if taxpayers would be left with the legal bill for the corruption inquiries at City Hall. Hahn said the attorney’s office would have to decide. –(LA Daily News, 02/19/2005)

Traffic a big issue

In an attempt to win votes, mayoral candidates have shifted their campaign focus to traffic congestion and are offering their solutions to ease the problem. According to a Los Angeles Times poll, traffic along with education is the top concern among eligible voters. Villraigosa said he will extend the Red Line subway to the beach, while Alarcon would impose a toll on motorists crossing county borders. Defending himself against his four major challengers, Hahn said traffic has improved while he has been in office. Although all the candidates are making large promises to improve freeways, the mayor of Los Angeles has little power over major projects. –(LA Times, 02/19/2005)

Hahn and Hertzberg trade jabs

Mayor James Hahn and former State Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg exchanged attacks Thursday about government mismanagement and their record in office. Hertzberg accused Hahn of trying to raise taxes to pay for his empty promises and questioned some of his spending habits. Hahn replied by accusing Hertzberg of wasting taxpayer dollars during California’s energy crisis. Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, meanwhile, started running his first television ad—a 30-second spot outlining his career leading up to city councilman. (LA Times& LA Daily News, 02/18/2005)

Education group calls for changes

The Small School Alliance, a group pushing for a reform of the Los Angeles Unified School District, introduced a $1.5 million campaign Wednesday to attract support from mayoral candidates and the district. The reform calls for the district to set a limit on each school’s enrollment to 500 students and budget decisions to be made at the school level. The plan also recommends teacher salary raises and requires parents to give 30 hours a year to school activities. Several mayoral candidates said they agreed with some of the points made by the group, but none of the candidates backed the entire plan. (LA Times, 02/17/2005)

Villaraigosa said city should help with health care

Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa vowed Wednesday that the city will play a larger role in health care issues, if he is elected. Villaraigosa said children should be registered for taxpayer-funded programs and a low-cost prescription drug plan should be made available. Villaraigosa said he would work with the school district to make sure kids were enrolled in the Healthy Families Program and hospitals to ensure newborns were cared for. (LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/17/2005)

Radio debate

Mayor Hahn was dodging attacks by his opponents on Tuesday at a radio debate between mayoral candidates. Hahn’s challengers were questioning his leadership and his role in the defeat of the 2002 Valley secession. They accused Hahn of being corrupt and alienating the Valley. Hahn denied the accusations. –(LA Daily News, 02/16/2005)

Hahn starts TV ads

In his bid for a second term, Mayor James Hahn started running two television commercials Tuesday. The ads state that Hahn deserves a second term because he was able to keep the city from splitting up, he increased after school programs and he restructured the police department. The 15- and 30-second spots will run for the next three weeks, up until the primary election. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/16/2005)

Hanh to encourage stem cell research

With his attention focused on attracting new business, Mayor James Hahn announced Monday that he would offer free office space downtown for California’s new stem cell research program. This announcement came after Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa said he planned to encourage biomedical business development throughout Los Angeles. A Hahn official said the mayor had been developing the proposal for weeks. -(LA Times, 02/15/2005)

Hahn finds way to hire new cops

Mayor James Hahn signed a City Council measure Monday that would allow borrowing against expected state revenue in order to hire 278 more police officers. Hahn, who originally opposed the plan, decided to sign the new measure after the City Council rejected his sales tax increase proposal twice last week. The plan will borrow $66 million in revenue over the next three years from vehicle license fees. Villaraigosa, who wasn’t at the signing, said Hahn was trying to take credit for the plan. Hahn is expected to start running his television campaign ads today . -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/15/2005)

Hertzberg's plan to break up the district or not

Although he has previously called for breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District, Bob Hertzberg recently said in an interview that giving the mayor control of the school district is more important than its size. Hertzberg, if elected, would propose a plan that to would trim away the smaller cities—still leaving over 600,000 students. In the last couple of years the district’s test scores have been increasing and a $14 billion building project is underway to reduce overcrowding. While Hertzberg’s ads fail to give plan specifics, he said he wanted to assign a task force to deal with a majority of the details. (LA Times, 02/15/2005)

For a Los Angeles Times article detailing the scandals that have affected Mayor Hahn's bid for a second term please click the link below:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-probe15feb15,1,7252873.story

Hertzberg's poll

Bob Hertzberg said Sunday that an inside mayoral race poll shows him in second place tie with Mayor James Hahn. Of the 404 registered voters that were polled, 27 percent said they were likely to vote for Villaraigosa, while Hahn and Hertzberg each received 20 percent of the vote and 21 percent said they were undecided. A recent Los Angeles Times poll showed Hertzberg in fourth place, just behind Hahn. (LA Daily News, 02/13/2005)

Alarcon starts TV ads

Los Angeles mayoral candidate state Sen. Richard Alarcon will start running a series of four 15-second television ads starting Wednesday. Alarcon, the third candidate to run ads, will use the time to state his opposition to water rate increases and his plan to securing more funding for police. Mayor James Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, the two considered leaders in the race, have plans to air ads in the future. –(LA Daily News, 02/13/2005)

Candidates hit the streets

Los Angeles mayoral candidates paraded around the city Saturday in an effort to sway voters and take donations. Councilman Bernard Parks joined a woman’s organization for breakfast, where he blamed Mayor James Hahn for corruption in the city and problems with the Los Angeles Police Department. Hahn spent the morning at a barbershop and press conference in South Los Angeles with Police Chief William J. Bratton, where he addressed the shooting last week of a 13-year-old boy. In the afternoon Parks and Hahn joined state Sen. Alarcon at a parade in Chinatown, while Bob Hertzberg spoke to a Jewish organization in Century City. Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, who was in Washington D.C., did not do any campaigning on Saturday. -(LA Times, 02/13/2005)

To view a Los Angeles Times editorial about valley residents and the mayor's races click the link below:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-valley13feb13,1,6007594.story?coll=la-util-news-local

Also an article that takes a look at Los Angeles mayor's first terms:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-mayors13feb13,1,3074784.story

Candidates now have no spending limit

The $2.2 million expenditure cap for Los Angeles mayoral candidates was removed Friday after city firefighters announced they will spend $124,080 on a Hahn mailer. The cap was eliminated because the total independent expenditure now exceeds $200,000, allowing all candidates to spend as much money as the want to in the primary election. Mayor Hahn is the only candidate to benefit from the lift so far, with an approximate campaign fund of $2.4 million. -(LA Times, 02/12/2005)

Parks calls Hahn racist

Councilman Bernard C. Parks accused Mayor Hahn on Friday of running a racist campaign in 2001 against Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa. At USC’s mayoral forum Parks said an ad that Hahn ran in 2001 showing a crack cocaine pipe in front of a Villaraigosa picture was racists attack. The television spot said Villaraigosa wrote a letter in 1994 to the White House asking for a pardon on a convicted drug trafficker. During the 2001 campaign Villaraigosa initially said he didn’t write the letter, but when presented with it he said he remembered incorrectly. In response to Parks' allegations, Hahn paid little attention and Villaraigosa said it was four years ago. -(LA Times 02/12/2005)

Riordan backs Hertzberg

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan gave his endorsement to mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg Thursday. This came the day after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yielded his support to Hertzberg’s plan of breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District. Riordan and his wife, who is Hertzberg campaign official, both gave $1,000 contributions to Hertzberg’s campaign. Hertzberg has modeled his campaign after Riordan’s 1993 race for mayor. –(Los Angles Times, LA Daily News & LA Business Journal, 02/11/2005)

Parks shows sympathy for weekend shooting

Councilman Bernard C. Parks met with angry residents of South Los Angeles Thursday, following this weekend’s police shooting of a 13-year-old boy. Although Parks failed to say whether the shooting was justified or not, he was the only Los Angles mayoral candidate to visit the protest area. The four other major candidates said they didn’t go to the area because they didn’t want to politicize the incident. –(LA Times, 02/11/2005)

Hahn's tax increase is defeated

After the City Council turned down Mayor Hahn's half-percent sales tax increase Wednesday, Hahn pleaded with City Hall the next day and asked them to reconsider. The measure, which would have placed the increase on the May 17th ballot, fell short of passing by one vote. Hahn, who proposed the item to help fund an additional 1,260 cops, said he was disappointed. Councilmen Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa were two members that voted against the proposal that was backed by Police Chief William Bratton . -(LA Daily News, 02/10/2005 & 02/11/2005)

O'Donnell will face charges

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge decided Thursday not to dismiss charges against Pierce O’Donnell, who is facing 26 counts of laundering political contributions to Mayor Hahn’s 2001 campaign. A judge set aside accusations against six of O’Donnell’s business associates, citing that five of the statements given to the district attorney’s office were used improperly. O’Donnell, who hasn’t entered a plea in any of the counts, is accused of reimbursing associates for contributions totaling $25,500. -(LA Times, LA Daily News & LA Business Journal, 02/11/2005)

Alarcon shows concern for disabled

In an effort to promote the expansion of transportation services for the disabled, state Sen. Richard Alarcon said Wednesday that if elected mayor he would appoint a disabled person to the county transit board. Alarcon, who spoke to a group of mostly disabled people, said he would try to keep the Department of Disability from being consolidated. Alarcon also proposed making more curb cuts in sidewalks and the availability of affordable house for the disabled better. Although all five of the major mayoral candidates were invited to the event sponsored by Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, only Alarcon showed up. –(LA Times, 02/10/2005)

Pollution may be problem for Hahn

Mayor Hahn’s task force to cut pollution in the port announced Wednesday they would not meet again until March 2 and 3, leaving little hope for Hahn to have a pollution-slashing plan before the primary election. The task force, which was expected to present a plan last December, missed the deadline because the process of collecting and analyzing the information took longer than expected. Hahn, who promised to control the pollution in 2001, has had a tough time because emissions have grown since then. –(LA Times, 02/10/2005)

Second round of debates and Hahn still stands

For the second night in a row, the top five Los Angeles mayoral candidates squared off Tuesday at a debate in Studio City that sent Mayor Hahn on the defensive. Hahn received a welcoming applause from the 250 attendees as he was introduced, but the mood was quickly thwarted by his opponents’ attacks. Councilmen Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa, state Sen. Richard Alarcon and Bob Hertzberg criticized Hahn’s performance in office and said why they should replace him. Alarcon raised questions about the public’s view of City Hall amidst a week of ongoing investigations involving fund raising and contract awarding. Parks focused his attention on public safety and said police officers should work a full week, instead of a flexible three-day week. Hahn defended himself by saying the quality of life improved under his watch. Highway congestion, another topic addressed, hit close to home after the debate started late because several candidates were stuck in traffic on the 101. –(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/09/05)

Abrams to pay hefty fine

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission imposed a $270,000 fine Tuesday on developer Mark Alan Abrams for laundering political contributions to Mayor Hahn’s 2001 campaign. The panel found Abrams in violation of 48 campaign finance laws and ordered him to reimburse contributions totaling $28,500 made in the name of employees. Although Mayor Hahn denied any involvement, some people were upset that the panel failed to ask questions about his possible connection to the violations. The fine is the largest given to an individual in the commission’s existence. Abrams, who admitted no guilt, did not attend the decision. -(LA Times & LA Business Journal)

Los Angeles Times Candidate Profile Links

Please see the following links for the candidate profiles available at the Los Angeles Times:


state Sen. Richard Alarcon
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-alarconprofile11feb11,1,3372496.story?coll=la-mininav-california


Bob Hertzberg
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hertzbergprofile10feb10,1,3117319.story?coll=la-mininav-california


City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-villaprofile8feb08,1,5658288.story?coll=la-util-news-local


City Councilman Bernard C. Parks
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-parksprofile9feb09,1,583177.story?coll=la-mininav-politics


Mayor James K. Hahn
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hahnprofile7feb07,1,7386219.story?coll=la-mininav-politics

Challengers gang up on Hahn

The five Los Angeles mayoral hopefuls met Monday night in a heated televised debate before 600 members of the city’s neighborhood councils. The 90-minute debate was often harsh, with many attacks focused on Hahn’s administration. Hahn’s challengers, Councilmen Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa, state Sen. Richard Alarcon and Bob Hertzberg, questioned his ethical standards and ability to relieve traffic congestion. Alarcon, who purposed giving more power to neighborhood councils, was the most outspoken candidate of the evening, receiving several roaring applauses from the audience. Although no charges have been brought against Hahn or his administration, Villaraigosa was quick tell Hahn to take responsibility for his administration’s corruption. Parks was constantly addressing the need for integrity in City Hall, while Hertzberg said he plans to increase funding on public safety. Crime, education and campaign finance were other issues addressed by the candidates. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/08/05)

Hahn makes last minute impression before debate

Mayor Hahn announced he would authorize giving city councils $7.5 million for street repairs Monday, just hours before the live mayoral debate. Shortly after his announcement, Hahn’s opponents criticized him for using it as a debate advantage. Several city leaders thanked Hahn for his gesture—a gesture that still must be approved by the City Council. -(LA Times, 02/08/05)

Candidates cross lines to enjoy a day of football

Dr. Gary Gitnick, chief of the Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA's School of Medicine hosted four Los Angeles mayoral candidates at a Super Bowl party on Sunday. Gitnick has held a Super Bowl party at his house for the last 19-years, inviting famous people and politicians from California. Councilmen Antonio Villaraigosa and Bernard Parks, state Sen. Richard Alarcon and Robert Hertzberg all joined Gitnick at his house to watch the game, while Mayor Hahn failed to attend. The four mayoral hopefuls set aside their campaign differences at the event and even put their arms around each other to sing "Kumbaya." At the halftime the big game was turned off to allow the candidates some time to discuss ways of improving education. Each candidate stressed the importance of giving the mayor more control over the education system in the city. After the night's festivities had ended, the four candidates again put their arms around each other to pose for photographs. -(LA Times, 02/07/05)

Candidates face off in LA

Three mayoral candidates, State Sen. Richard Alarcon and Councilmen Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa, met Saturday in South Los Angeles to debate the economy and crime. The three agreed on expanding healthcare and combating gang violence. Alarcon presented his plan to control poverty and promote universal health insurance, while Parks argued against too much government involvement and said education is the best way to reduce crime. Villaraigosa, who offered fewer details than his opponents, said City Hall needs better leadership. –(LA Times, 02/06/05)

Parks plans to change city rent-control

City Councilman Bernard Parks called for an overhaul on the city’s rent-control Friday at City Hall, saying rent prices need to include the higher costs that apartment owners are paying. Parks, who is backed by several city apartment associations, said he wouldn’t repeal the 1978 rent-control measure, but said owners shouldn’t be punished. –(LA Daily News, 02/05/05)

High prices leave candidates with little air time

With the higher fees for television ads, the Los Angeles mayoral candidates are forced to hold off airing their commercials until the last few weeks of the primary race. The shorter time frame is likely to display more severe and aggressive spots as candidates try to push ahead in the final stretch. In the last four years the cost of a 1,000-point ad has risen from $500,000 to $750,000. Another factor limiting mayoral hopefuls is the city’s public matching fund’s program, which places a $2.2 million cap on each candidate’s spending in the primary. Hahn who is the only one to have raised more than the limit, will be able to use his $2.7 million because the ban can be lifted if an independent group spends over $200,000 on an individual campaign. –(LA Times, 02/05/05)

Chick knocks down Hahn

City Controller Laura Chick released a memo to Mayor Hahn’s four major competitors on Friday that criticized the mayor’s ability lead. The 30-page document outlined eight areas that her office has studied since she was elected in 2001 and included her analysis of Hahn. Chick, who earlier kept the report private, decided to release it after City Council members said her behavior could cause them to withdraw their support of a new waste and fraud unit in her office. Hahn's team said Chick is abusing her power and using the position politcally. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/05/05)

Hahn pleads to commissioners

Facing the eye of political criticism, Mayor Hahn gave an executive order Friday to set a stronger code of ethics for city commissioners and ordered that city contracts be decided in an open process. Hahn lacks the authority to enforce these changes because the agencies are independent, but it is likely that the commissioners will go along with his appeal. Hahn sponsored a similar plan last year that was designed to place restrictions on commissioners, but the City Council has not adopted the reform as law. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/05/05)

City commissioner at Hahn fundraiser

Fred Gaines, a prominent lawyer and Hertzberg backer, said he saw a city commissioner Thursday hosting a breakfast fundraiser for Mayor Hahn at the Pacific Dining Car. A new city law, which was passed with Hahn’s support, allows commissioners to attend fundraisers, but bans them from soliciting contributions. Gaines claimed he saw Dominick Rubalcava, the president of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, introducing Hahn at the event and asking for contributions. Hahn’s team denied the accusations and said Rubalcava was having a private breakfast. –(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/04/05)

2001 mailers may be linked to Hahn's team

Erika Eskes told police that her former boss and Troy Edwards, Mayor Hahn’s 2001 campaign finance director, may have talked about mailers attacking Villaraigosa, according to new information released on Thursday. Eskes was a personal assistant to Mark Alan Abrams, a Los Angeles developer, and said she overheard a phone call where the two discussed the financing of anti-Villaraigosa ads. Laws allow spending on influential campaign material by individuals, as long the candidates are not involved. Hahn and his team have denied the allegations and Edwards said he never discussed the mailers with Abrams during the campaign. -(LA Times, 02/04/05)

Three-man debate without major contenders

Three candidates for mayor, Councliman Bernard Parks, state Sen. Richard Alarcon and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, all criticized Mayor Hahn at Thursday’s debate, while giving reasons why they would make a better mayor. Both Hahn and his challenger Bob Hertzberg were absent from the event that took place at the Stephen Wise Temple in West Los Angeles. The three contenders in attendance also threw attacks at one another, but spent some time talking about their individual qualities. Parks blamed the city’s current problems on “career politicians” and said he was different because he has only been in politics for the last two years. Villaraigosa said he would bring a new a new meaning to the city, while Alarcon described himself as a “long shot” and said he would tackle special interests.-(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/04/05)

Villaraigosa makes traffic a top concern

Making it a top priority in his campaign, Villaraigosa announced a plan on Thursday to ease traffic congestion in the city. The candidate proposed a plan similar to the one he pitched in his 2001 bid for mayor. The multibillion-dollar plan calls for the expansion of trains and subways throughout the city and the implementation of reverse-flow lanes on busy streets. Mayor Hahn, in an effort to improve the environment, spent the day launching a program that brings recycling to multifamily residences. –(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/04/05)

Candidates promise gold

With less than five weeks away, the Los Angeles mayoral candidates are making promises that may be hard to keep. Bob Hertzberg, who once voted against breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District, now hopes to fix the district he calls a “failure” by splitting it up. This could be a hard task to accomplish on his own, because an independently elected school board governs the district. If elected, State Sen. Alarcon plans to add 1,000 new police officers and leave the airport, port and Department of Water and Power picking up a portion of the tab that could cost each $75 million per year. Alarcon said the plan would be setup to cover homeland security costs, but some city officials said this plan is illegal. Mayor Hahn has proposed turning El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into an airport, but the Navy is already selling the land to private developers. Other candidates have promised to trim down congestion on state freeways that are beyond the city’s jurisdiction. -(LA Times, 02/03/05)

Parks vows to stop DWP rate increases

Mayoral candidate Bernard Parks promised Wednesday to freeze the Department of Water and Power’s rates to slow the city’s draining of money from the utility to balance its budget. Parks accused Mayor Hahn of taking $600 million from DWP customers to pay for salary increases and pension benefits for city workers. Parks, who previously voted to transfer DWP money to the budget, said at the time there was no other option. Parks also accused Hahn of being corrupt and implied that Hahn was aware of false bills that were allegedly submitted to the DWP by the public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard. Hahn’s team denied the allegations.-(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/03/05)

Hahn doesn't get wanted endorsement

City Council President Alex Padilla, who was in support of Mayor Hahn four years ago, said as of now he won’t be endorsing any candidate in the primary election. Ever since Padilla turned down Hahn’s request for more police officers in 2002, the two have been at odds . Padilla’s office said the mayor’s team has requested an endorsement, but it has been turned down for now. -(LA Business Journal, 02/03/05)

City Controller Chick won't back any candidate

After she met with all four of Mayor Hahn’s major competitors, Laura Chick, Los Angeles city controller, said she would not endorse any mayoral candidate. Chick, who withdrew her prior endorsement of Hahn, offered her views to the candidates during the meetings and later said she was impressed with each of them. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/02/05)

Hahn signs found at city yard

Even though campaign laws prohibit political activity on city property, more than 20 campaign signs for Mayor Hahn were found stored in a Los Angeles municipal yard on Monday. Several yard workers said they saw the signs that were produced by the Service Employees International Union Local 347. City officials claimed they had no idea how the signs got there. Hahn’s campaign followed, issuing a statement vowing no involvement. Local 347 General Manager Julie Butcher said that sanitation truck drivers the union represents could have left the signs, but that the union is not distributing the signs at the city yard. Butcher, who accepted no blame for the incident, apologized if it was the union’s fault. An employee at the yard was ordered to remove the signs the following day, but the signs were already gone. –(LA Daily News, 02/02/05)

Hahn may see trouble with uncertainty of O'Donnell's charges

Pierce O’Donnell, a lawyer charged with laundering funds to Mayor Hahn’s 2001 campaign, attempted to get the charges dropped Tuesday, stating that the city’s two-year statute of limitations had run out. O’Donnell’s lawyers asked that the 26 counts of money-laundering be dismissed because they weren’t filled until May 20, 2004—three years after the alleged reimbursements took place. The District Attorney’s Office is pushing for the four-year state law. O’Donnell, if convicted could face up to 13 years in jail. -(LA Times & LA Daily News, 02/02/04)

Hertzberg kicks it up a notch

With the primary election just over a month away, lawyer Bob Hertzberg heats up the Los Angeles mayoral race today by being the first candidate to advertise on television. It is estimated that the battle for the spot, which will be decided by voters on March 8, will have candidates spending millions of dollars on television ads. Hertzber’s 30-second announcement focuses on his plan to make changes in the Los Angeles Unified School District, improve traffic conditions and add new police officers.While Hertzber is the only candidate currently running ads, Mayor Hahn’s team has plans to air announcements later and said Hertzberg’s early ads wouldn’t affect their campaign plans. City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa will also wait to broadcast his advertisements, while challengers City Councilman Bernard Parks and state Sen. Richard Alarcon don’t have enough campaign finances to air extensive television spots. –(LA Times, 02/01/05)