Patch Blog: 'All Politics Is Local'—L.A.'s Mayoral Candidates

The legendary U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Tip O’Neill is credited with having coined the memorable phrase, “All politics is local.” I agree. And instead of paying lukewarm interest to the 2012 Presidential race I’m keeping my eye—as are other folks in local media and the blogosphere—on the early dance moves of Los Angeles’ 2013 Mayoral candidates.

If you haven’t seen the recent dance card, let me tell you: There are more than three candidates for mayor, regardless of what the Los Angeles Times tells and forgets to tell you. Apparently, candidates without dysfunctional Spring Street Horseshoe credentials can’t get an honorable “also running” slug line in the Times—a not-so-gentle reminder that yesterday’s mainstream media is getting smaller in our rear-view mirror.

Before business, labor, Hollywood and that pesky neighbor start wringing your wrist about whom to choose as L.A.’s next top dog, I have a suggestion for you: Take a quick lap around the Internet to see a bit about the candidates before several reinvent themselves into being someone for whom their polling says you will cast your vote. The following insights might help:

• Council member Eric Garcetti has led a Truman-esque political life—as in “The Truman Show” not President Harry Truman—and his record on the issues is fairly easy to track. He’s likable, impeccable, and often times predictable but not always for reasons you might be partial to.

• Controller, former Council member and one-time “Disaster Queen” Wendy Greuel made an —though carrying water that would have been much better delivered by experts from the city’s Emergency Management Department. She appears to have the stamina, cash flow, and stomach to run a strong race.

• Council member Jan Perry is trying to parlay her South L.A., then Downtown L.A. and now AEG shill experience into a campaign that has already lasted longer than Kim Kardashian’s faux marriage. If I were a betting man, I’d take the “under.”

• Short-stint Deputy Mayor—but still a billionaire—Austin Beutner is worth a serious look, in my opinion. I keep reading unusual statements from him not typically attributed to a politician. His swagger and real-life credentials are interesting, to say the least.

• Former radio personality and ex-U.S. Attorney Kevin James is a fiscal accountability hawk who has no real ties to the L.A. political machine. This means he’s got a snowball’s chance but will force all the other candidates to establish and express positions on legitimate issues of concern.

• County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsy has yet to announce his candidacy—and who knows if he will. What I do know is that he’s going to need an awful lot of ointment if he keeps straddling the fence of indecision.

All politics is local—and we’ve got 16 more months to watch the mayoral race play out. Before I miss my opportunity, let me apologize right now if I happen to be that pesky neighbor.