Just who are the heroes and villains of this race?
It depends on what role they played.
Let’s talk about the candidates first.
Being classified as a hero or villain has little to do with who wins. The art of attracting votes has been a dirty business over these last few weeks. You can choose to believe or doubt the assertions made by Paul Krekorian and Chris Essel.
Regardless of the rhetoric and promises, the winner has to earn the status of hero based upon performance while in office.
Paul Krekorian is a class act. He did make some missteps along the way and his record in the Assembly on fiscal matters gave me pause (although why he didn’t spotlight his excellent work on ACA 3 during the campaign is a mystery – it could be the most important piece of legislation before the state). Nevertheless, his mastery of local issues is unsurpassed.
If Paul wins, he can become a hero by drawing a line in the sand with his fellow Council Members. I know that he values his negotiating skills, but there is little time to negotiate change regarding the direction of the city. We are bleeding cash reserves at a rate of a million dollars each day. We are going down.
The Council needs an intervention session and Paul has the skills to handle the challenge. What’s more, he has nothing to lose. Essel received the backing of a solid majority of the City Council, so Paul owes the horseshoe nothing. In their eyes, he will be a pair of brown shoes in a world of tuxedos (I believe George Gobel was the one to coin this analogy). He would not exactly be welcomed as a member of the club.
Paul must use the seat as a bully pulpit and harp on his colleagues to enact the serious measures necessary to balance the budget, not only for the current year, but several years out. No smoke and mirrors either as they are trying with the pension plans. Very little else matters at this stage.
Will they listen to him if he confronts them? Perhaps not, but when the city goes under or sinks deeper into the tank next year, Paul ‘s reputation will shine in the eyes of the voters.
To succeed, he must put caution aside and be the taxpayers’ advocate.
What about Chris? Can she become a hero if she wins?
By accepting independent expenditures from the IBEW and PPL in copious amounts, she carries a serious handicap. Compensation will be at the heart of resolving the budget crisis along with reining in the DWP. If she is willing to alienate the two union giants and do what is right for the taxpayers and ratepayers, Chris could emerge as a hero – but with a big target on her back. The very people that helped elect her would seethe with vengeance. Let us not forget that the campaign for re-election will begin anew in a matter of months; memories are longer than that.
There were many other players in this campaign that have earned final hero or villain status. Their roles are complete at this stage. Some will undoubtedly figure heavily in the future.
John Shallman is a villain. He represents all that is wrong with the political process. As a hired gun he plays to win, otherwise he would not be able to command top dollar. He has no scruples. When you hire Shallman you play things his way or it’s the highway.
I truly believe that deep down inside Chris was uncomfortable with some of his tactics. I am basing that on my meeting with her – she is not the Wicked Witch of the East (actually, Doheny Estates is south of here). Frankly, she is an intelligent and personable professional. Unfortunately for her, she was drawn into the wrong crowd. Our parents always warned us about the dangers of that.
This brings us to the true villain of this campaign: ………………………….Wendy Greuel.
When I think of Wendy’s role in this campaign, I can’t help but recall the famous scene in the Caine Mutiny when Jose Ferrer confronted Fred McMurray (to cut to the chase, start at the 3:30 mark). Substitute Greuel for McMurray and the message is spot-on for the former Council Member and Mayor-wannabe. The only thing missing is the drink.
Wendy was the “true author” of the plot to enhance her political fortunes. She wanted an ally on the City Council and would go to any extreme to make it a reality.
Why did she string along a NC activist with a commitment not to endorse anyone until the runoff, then do an about-face and run a surrogate using her team of Shallman and the IBEW as the workhorses?
What about all of this talk of having a friend on the Council to gain support for her audit reports? How objective is that? The city’s chief auditor collaborating with a Council Member to push her agenda – is that independence, or is it manipulation?
Do you really think Wendy would have Chris push hard on audits concerning the DWP?
Greuel is an opportunist who cares not for CD2, but her own career. That’s the story of her involvement in this contest.
I do not want to leave this article on a negative note. There are several heroes to acknowledge.
Let’s start with the campaign staffs. I cannot say enough about the professionalism of Tom Berman (Essel) and Jeremy Oberstein (Krekorian). They had the challenging task of guiding their bosses through a complex course of public events, meetings and chats. I deeply respect them for the manner in which they served.
Finally, there are the eight candidates who didn’t make the cut, but should be admired for their tenacity and candor.
I want to particularly recognize Tamar Galatzan, Mary Benson and Pete Sanchez. They had an impact on this race. If the winner of the runoff succumbs to business as usual at City Hall, I hope one or more of these three steps up to the plate next time around.
For the record, I voted for Pete in the primary. I would vote for him again.
Well said, Paul. I hope that the voter turnout will better than in the Primary. Good Luck to Krekorian.
This race has always been about Wendy’s ambition above all else. PK has ambition, too, but not about becoming Mayor. If he is elected, I hope he keeps an eye on our esteemed City Controller. She has many friends on the City Council.