Recently in Election 2009 Category

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian will become Councilman Paul Krekorian today, nearly a a month after his election to succeed Wendy Greuel on the 15-member Los Angeles City Council. Daily News.

Krekorian will represent the city's 2nd District that runs from Studio City to Sunland-Tujunga.

Hosting a farewell party for his Sacramento staff on Monday, Krekorian will take the oath of office after the City Council certifies the election results today. But he is not expected to participate in today's council meeting, choosing instead to begin on Wednesday even though it is the Armenian celebration of Christmas. Krekorian is Armenian.

Tipoffs: Some in Los Angeles Police Protective League upset with
$400,000 spent in council race.

There has been little time for the city's newest councilman to bask in his victory. Daily News/.

Councilman-elect Paul Krekorian found himself on a familiar commute Thursday -- back to Sacramento, where he carried out his duties as assemblyman to vote on some key measures before the holiday break.

"There are some votes I have to cast in the next few days and then I hope to focus on what to do in the council," Krekorian said.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian won an easy victory over businesswoman Christine Essel in Tuesday's special election to fill out a term for the 2nd City Council District seat.
Krekorian had 10,998 votes, for 56.56 percetn of the votes, compared to Essel's, 8,304, for 43.44 percent. The election saw a turnout of 15 percent of the district's voters.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian took an early lead in balloting for the 2nd City Council District seat over businesswoman Christine Essel.
Krekorian captured 58 percent of the vote by mail ballots.

On the surface, there are few differences between businesswoman Christine Essel and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, who face off Tuesday in the special election for the 2nd City Council District seat. Daily News.

Both agree on the need to boost business development, deal with runaway film production and pay more attention to neighborhood needs in a district that stretches from Studio City to Sun Valley.

"This election is about an opportunity to restructure government, to put together reforms to make the city more efficient," Essel said at a recent debate.

Krekorian has tried to tap into voter anger.

Mailer causes controversy
A last minute mailing by the Essel campaign created a weekend controversy with accusations of sexism and anti-semitism.
Essel sent out a picture of City Hall with barbed wire wrapped around it an a headline: "'Intolerance has no place at City Hall."
It goes on to campaign about a website for an Armenian newspaper that contained harshly critical comments about Essel and featrured a picture of her in ropes. Theorigianl Krekorian mailing said it was to show she is :"the puppet" of special interests.
Both campaigns responded quicklyu,k with Krekorian bringing out Jewish supporters and the Essel forces saying it showed they had touched a nerve,.

Neighobrhood activists in Sunland-Tujunga have developed their won web ad for Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Valley Glen, in the race for teh 2nd City Council District seat, using the new media better than either candidate has.

Former Councilman Joel Wachs, who once represented the district, announced Wednesday he is supporting Christine Essel in the 2nd District election next Tuesday over Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Valley Glen.
"For years, I've known Chris Essel to be an honest, hardworking businesswoman. I trust her to protect Valley neighborhoods from rampant overdevelopment," Wachs said,

With less than two weeks remaining, the 2nd City Council District election has turned into a contest of who is the outsider. Daily News.

In mailings, in robo-calls, in attacks on one another, businesswoman Chris Essel and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, have sought to portray each other as the "insider" who cannot be trusted.

To Krekorian, Essel is the "downtown special interest" candidate who has received endorsements from a number of City Council members, city employee unions and Controller Wendy Greuel, who was the council member of the district until her election last March.

Valley Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith announced today that they are supporting Valley businesswoman Christine Essel in the race to succeed Wendy Greuel as City Councilwoman for District 2. Village to Village blog.

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.