Bob Hertzberg was first of the "names" to file Monday, (following only the very busy-looking senior citizens' advocate Addie Mae Miller). He was trailed by Mayor Jim Hahn (whose web site has gone strangely dark), Walter Moore and one Mitchell Jackson. The Times and the City Clerk's office identify Jackson as working in "media relations" by the Times and the City Clerk's office, Daily News and LAObserved say he's USC student Jeff Mitchell ...
Today saw filings from retired bus driver James L. Thompson, newspaper publisher Ted Crisell (who may or may not be the guy who lost a bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in 2000), and finally, (shrugging off that pesky recall effort) councilman and onetime Hahn nemesis and race-baiting victim Antonio Villaraigosa .
"The centerpiece of my campaign is making Los Angeles first again in public safety, in economic development, in education and in relieving traffic congestion," Hertzberg told reporters at the city clerk's office after he filed his papers Monday morning.
He accused Hahn of bringing a "malaise" to City Hall. "It's a place where the mayor has made a whole list of promises to bring 1,000 police officers and we have a handful," Hertzberg said.
When Hahn appeared at the clerk's office in the afternoon, he told reporters that there were several good reasons for Los Angeles voters to elect him to another four-year term, including improvements to the economy and tourism.
And Hahn sort-of deflected it with weak protestations about the rosy state of tourism and the decrease in Part I crimes.
For his part, Hahn's still hedging on whether to face his opponents in the Dec. 2 League of Women Voters debate - something for which Hertzberg has continually needled him. To be eligible for public matching campaign funds, Hahn has to step up to the debate mike at least once before the March 8 primary, and twice more if he survives into a runoff May 17.
Meanwhile, it's worth noting that neither the Times nor the Daily News quoted Villaraigosa - Hahn's sturdiest opponent in 2001 - as saying anything about the race. Possibly to come later tonight.
It may also bear noting the hodgepodge of endorsements to date: Hahn has the backing of seven of 15 City Council members. Villaraigosa's supported by Congressmen Henry Waxman and Howard Berman and Councilman Jack Weiss (prompting Hertzberg's black-kettle accusations of political insiderness).
And Parks has accumulated a crazy-quilt of celebrity endorsements, including: Tim Allen, Arsenio Hall, Nancy Wilson, Cicely Tyson and Don "Soul Train" Cornelius.
"Anyone who has run against Jim Hahn has to be prepared to be attacked," Villaraigosa said. "I am not going to stand by and let my candidacy or that of anyone else be diminished by this mayor or anyone else."
He also proclaims Los Angeles to be "adrift" thanks to Hahn's hands-off tenure - a pretty fair assessment, IMHO.
