Election 2012: February 2012 Archives

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich picked up the support on Tuesday of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, in his race for Los Angels County District Attorney.
Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary- treasurer of the labor organizatoni, said Trutanich is being backed because of his commitment to use the office to enforcoe labor laws to protect the health and safety of workers.
Trutanich said he was pleased with the union's endorsement, saying "it sends an enormously powerful msssage....(and) sets the tone for the coming months."
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Tipoff: Do court ruings undermine campaign reform? Mayor's ambitions and timing.

Democratic Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman and Republican candidate Mark Reed faced off in Tarzana on Tuesday night as part of the heated race for the newly drawn San Fernando Valley 30th congressional district seat. Dakota Smith in the Daily News.

Held at the Temple Judea and hosted by the Jewish Journal, topics at the debate - one of a half dozen held so far this year - ranged from foreign policy to the nation's unemployment rate.

Off the bat, the issue of Israel - and the country's tensions with Iran - was put to all the candidates, with all three backing tough sanctions against Iran, as well as the threat of military action.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, will serve as national co-chairs of the re-election campaign of President Obama, it was announced today.
They are among 100 national co-chairs selected by the Obama for America campaign across the country.
"They will serve as ambassadors for the President, advise the campaign on key issues, and help engage and mobilize voters in all 50 states. The President's National Co-Chairs will be tremendous assets on the ground as we build the biggest grassroots campaign in history," said Jim Messina, Obama for America Campaign Manager.
Villaraigosa was a national co-chair for Villaraigosa in his first campaign and was recently named chair of the DNC Convention to be held in Charlotte this summer.

Tipoff: Mayor denies role as DNC conventioni chair could lure him from L.A.

Tipoff: AnonymouA critical of Councilman Richard Alarcon in the 39th Assembly District RACE.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled this week to be named as the next Convention Chair for the Democratic National Committee, sources close to the mayor confirmed on Tuesday.Daily News,

The official announcement is scheduled to be made this week and will give the mayor a prominent post at the national convention scheduled for Charlotte, North Carolina, the week of Sept. 3.

Villaraigosa would not comment on the post.

Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, announced Tuesday the launch of his campaign for city attorney, following the announcement by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich that he's running for district attorney.

"I'm running to become Los Angeles' next city attorney because the people of L.A. deserve secure neighborhoods, innovative solutions to our toughest problems and a city government that inspires confidence and trust," Feuer said.

Previously, Feuer had said he would not challenge Trutanich for the seat. But his advisors said he needs to prepare for the election.

Democrats just can't wait to engage the Republicans in this year's election.
And, with all the attention being given to the GOP as it determines who it will nominate, the Democratic Party is announcing its own "truth squad" to try to counter some of the attacks on President Obama.
To help make it's case, specialized webistes will be created to try to engage voters _ and perhaps raise some money along the way.
In Los Angeles, the "truth team" includes City Controller Wendy Greuel, Councilman Eric Garcetti, Rep. Judy Chu of Los Angeles, Eric Bauman oft the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Dolores Huerta of the United Farm Workers and others.

Rep/ Howard Berman was able to convince the state's Democrats to stay out of his race against Rep. Brad Sherman for the new 30th Congressional District.
Demorats, meeting in San Diego, decided against an endorsement of either of the two involved i the June primary election.
Berman issued a statement claiming it as a victory.
"Tonight's outcome was just and appropriate," Berman said. "This race will now be decided on the merits of our candidacies, and I'm confident that my record of effectiveness will earn the support of the voters of the 30th Congressional District."
There was no immediate reaction available from Sherman.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, ending months of speculation and going back on his promise to voters in 2009, announced Thursday he plans to run for district attorney this year. Daily News.
Trutanich, who portrayed himself as the nonpolitician when he campaigned for city attorney against former Councilman Jack Weiss, said he decided to run in the June 5 election because of District Attorney Steve Cooley's decision against seeking a fourth term.

The 60-year-old Trutanich was in private practice and recruited by Cooley to run for city attorney.

ity Attorney Carmen Trutanich, who has raised more than $1 million for his exploratory campaign for district attorney, said Thursday he is getting closer to announcing a final decision on whether to seek the seat. Daily News.

"It will be within the next couple of weeks that there is an announcement," Trutanich said, just before a City Hall news conference on a lawsuit filed against Northern Trust Corp. for mishandling the city's pension assets.