Recently in Election 2009 Category

With their runoff election less than three weeks away, City Council candidates Paul Krekorian and Christine Essel sparred Wednesday during a spirited debate before San Fernando Valley business leaders.Daily News.

Krekorian, a Democratic Assemblyman from Valley Glen and Burbank, portrayed Essel as a candidate "beholden to downtown special interests," while Essel called Krekorian "a career politician ... looking for his third office in four years."

The two are running in the Dec. 8 special election to fill the District 2 seat vacated when Wendy Greuel was elected as city controller.

In the race for endorsements i nteh 2nd Council Disltric race, Asaembyman Paul Krekorian announced Fridah that nearly a dozen neighborhood leaders and activists from Sunland-Tujuga are endorsing him in the Dec. 8 runoff.
"We believe that Paul Krekorian is the person who should fill the seat on the City Council," the letter said. "His successful track record in public service demonstrates his ability to identify issues, come up with creative solutions, and work hard to get them implemented. We need this fresh approach in City Hall."
The authors include leaders on the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, La Tuna Canyon Community Association and Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council. Business leaders, parks advocates and teachers are also included.
Busiensswoman Chris Essel also recently announced endorsemenbts from City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and the Los Angeles Police Protective League.

After only five months in office, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has become one of the most polarizing figures at City Hall.Daily News.

Labeled a "bully" and a "thug" by some, Trutanich insists all he is trying to do is be the city's lawyer and do the best job he can.

"What lawyers do is provide advice and alternatives," Trutanich said during an interview in his eighth-floor City Hall East office. "It's up to the client whether to take the advice.

As the runoff election for the 2nd City Council district prepares to ramp up, there's a new round of endorsements coming out for the two finalists, Christene Essel and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian.
The most recent was the announcement that Richard Close of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association is backing Krekorian.
"Paul Krekorian is a true leader for our neighborhoods and the right person at the right time for this job," Close said. "He is our best hope to fight overdevelopment and to fight for the interests of Valley residents."
Last week, education leader Louis Pugliese also endorsed Krekorian.
Essel, who has the support of numerous city leaders, also picked up the backing of Frank Sheftel, one of the 10 candidates in the priamry election for seat.
And, in next year's race for governor, former Mayor Richard Riordan announced he is supporting former EBay executive Meg Whitman for the Republican nomination.

Where the heck is Woodbury University -- Burbank or Los Angeles? Dana Bartholomew in the Daily News.

The answer has fueled a donnybrook in the Los Angeles City Council's 2nd District race, but not between its candidates.

The fight is between the Valley Industry & Commerce Association - host of a CD2 candidates debate at the supposedly Burbank-based university next month -- and critics who want the event to be held in the city of Los Angeles.

Tipoffs: CD 2 turnout renews calls for possible changes in how elections are run; mayor has a full plate.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and businesswoman Christine Essell will face off in a a Dec. 8 runoff for the Los Angles City Council to fill the seat vacated by Wendy Greuel's election as City Controller. Daily News.

Final returns from Tuesday's election showed Krekorian, D- Burbank, with 4,929 votes, for 34.1 percent, and Essel with 4,101 votes, for 28.39 percent, in a 10-candidate field. Los Aneles school board member Tamar Galatzan came in third with 1,871 votes, for 12.94 percent.

In heading to the runoff, Krekorian and Essel also bested a field of seven comunity and neighborhood activisits who had criticized the two for the amounts of money they had raised and for moving into the district only to run for the City Council seat.

>Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and businesswoman Christine Essell will face off in a a Dec. 8 runoff for the Los Angles City Council to fill the seat vacated by Wendy Greuel's election tas City Controller.

Final returns from Tuesday's election showed Krekorian, D- Burbank, with 4,929 votes, for 34.1 percent, and Essel with 4,101 votes, fro 28.39 percent, in a 10-candidate field. Los Aneles school board member Tamar Galatzan came in third with 1,871 votes, for 12.94 percent.
In heading to the runoff, Krekorian and Essel also bested a field of seven comunity and neighborhood activisits who had criticized the two for the amounts of money they had raised and for moving in to the district only to run for the City Council seat.The "Little Seven" of those identified themselves as grassroots candidates who have been active in the community through neighborhood councils and homeowners associations.

Those candidates are neighborhood council leader Mary Benson, Candy Factory owner Frank Sheftel, county commission member Jozef "Joe" Thomas Essavi, businessman Augusto Bisani, neighborhood council member Michael McCue, community organizer Pete Sanchez and community activist David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg.

Much of the campaign focused on the political connections of Essel, Galatzan and Krekorian -- as well as the fact that Essel and Krekorian moved in to the district only to establish residency so they could run for the $178,789 a year seat.

The Council District 2 seat, which stretches from Studio City to Sunland-Tujunga, was held by Wendy Greuel until she was elected city controller earlier this year. The term ends in 2011 and after that the incumbent would be eligible to run for three four-year terms.

Galatzan, a neighborhood prosecutor in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, also has had to fend off criticisms that she used her brief term on the Los Angeles Unified School District board -- she was elected in 2007 -- only as a stepping stone to higher office.

Krekorian, a Democrat whose district is based in Burbank but includes a portion of the City Council district, has had to fight similar arguments over his quick move to leave the Assembly.

He was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 after a career on the Burbank Board of Education and has moved up quickly. He now serves as the assistant majority floor leader.

Essel is a former executive at Paramount Pictures and has been involved in Los Angeles civic life, serving on city panels that included the Community Redevelopment Commission and the Airport Commission.

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Businesswoman Chris Essel and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian were leading and looking at a Dec. 8 runoff, with school board member Tamar Galatzan in third place.
For returns, go to: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/Results.htm

Voters in City Council District 2 will head to the polls today to fill the vacant seat left by Wendy Greuel, who was elected City Controller in March.Daily News.

It will be the third trip to the polls this year for District 2 voters, who will likely have to return again in December to decide a runoff between today's two top vote-getters.

Two events came together in recent weeks to elevate the importance of Tuesday's special election to replace Wendy Greuel on the Los Angeles City Council. Daily News.

The Station Fire, which has scorched more than 160,000 acres, serves as a searing reminder of the importance of the Los Angeles Fire Department, even as budget problems threaten to reduce its responsiveness.

A near capacity crowd greeted the ten candidates at the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council candidate forum held at the Sherman Oaks Elementary School. Village to Village blog

Kevin James announced that Paul Krekorian could not participate because he was on the floor of the Assembly where the final bills of the session were being considered. Village to Village blog

Later in the program, Kevin stated he had heard that the session had actually ended prior to the start of the show. However, he did not believe Krekorian was attempting to duck the broadcast.

This was easily one of the best forums of the campaign. My complements to Kevin James for intelligent questions and moving the discussion along. Village to Village blog

After the customary introductions, Kevin's first question concerned the city's infrastructure in wake of fires and water main ruptures. Everyone expressed disgust with the DWP for its neglect, but no one addressed the issue of allowing development in fire zones.

Tipoffs: Mailers begin to hit; political rumors.