EDITORIAL BUYING CITY HALL WHY L.A. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS RAISE BIG BUCKS FOR EASY RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.IT'S a good thing that Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. has raised $226,000 for her re-election campaign. She'll sure need all that cash to beat, um, what's-his-name. And Councilmen Greig Smith Greig Smith is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 12th District, which includes Granada Hills, Northridge and other parts of the Western San Fernando Valley. Smith is also a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. and Tom LaBonge Tom LaBonge (b. Los Angeles 1953), member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 4th district. He has served since 2001, taking over the position upon the death of John Ferraro. are wise to have amassed hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions for the tough fight in the March 6 election. Just because no one is running against them doesn't mean they couldn't lose to a last-minute write-in candidate Noun 1. write-in candidate - a candidate for public office whose name does not appear on the ballot and so must be written on the ballot by the voters write-in campaigner, candidate, nominee - a politician who is running for public office . It could happen. In theory. Although all seven of the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. members running
for re-election are unopposed -- or virtually unopposed -- the campaign
donations are flowing in like champagne. Council members say they need
this money, you know, to help get the word out to constituents about
what great things they've done for the district.
Oh, c'mon. Just how stupid do they think we are? The reason politicians raise cash when they don't need it is for the same reason people climb Mount Everest. Because it's there, and because they can. The business interests, the lobbyists, the power brokers, the unions, the developers, the advocates aren't interested in helping LaBonge (who, by the way, does a pretty good job of constituent communication already via his newsletters and ubiquitous presence in every corner of the district) get the good word out. It's just an investment. They're sowing some good will for the future, when they might need a little City Hall love. We know it. They know it. And all politicians know it. So why the farce? Probably because the truth -- that money is the lifeblood life·blood n. 1. Blood regarded as essential for life. 2. An indispensable or vital part: Capable workers are the lifeblood of the business. of politics -- is pretty ugly. We're not naive enough to think any sane politician is ever going to refuse campaign contributions. But it would be refreshing, for once, to hear someone admit it. The simple truth is that this is dirty money, part and parcel of City Hall's corruption. CAPTION(S): box Box: Daily News endorsements to date |
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