Hertzberg banking on business: supporters see candidacy as a challenge to status quo.Shortly after Robert Hertzberg Robert Myles Hertzberg was born on November 19, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, was an attorney and businessperson, and served in the California State Assembly from 1996-2002. arrived in the state Assembly in 1996, he helped launch what became known as the "rood rood (r  d), crucifix mounted above the entrance to the chancel and flanked by large figures of the Virgin and St. squad,"
a group of moderate Democrats who opened up a dialogue between party
legislators and business leaders.
"I was shocked that the two sides weren't even talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to each other," Hertzberg said. With his decision to challenge L.A. Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California next year, Henzberg says he wants to bring that same attitude to City Hall, where business interests have become marginalized since former Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. left office in 2001. Hertzberg, who returned from Sacramento two years ago, has positioned himself for a business-friendly run, joining the boards of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the 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. County Economic Development Corp., where he currently serves as chair. He also has enlisted the support of numerous business figures, including downtown attorney David Fleming
David Fleming and real estate mogul Richard Ziman. "The difference between Bob and Jim Hahn is night and day. Hahn feels comfortable with the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. . But there are a lot of people in the business community not happy with the status quo," said Fleming, of counsel to Latham & Watkins LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol , a co-chair of Hertzberg's campaign along with Ziman. "The business community is upset about business tax reform being shelved," Fleming added. "For that reason alone a lot of businesspeople who voted for Hahn three years ago are not going to support him anymore." Running against history If only it were so easy. Not only does Hertzberg face a fundraising challenge against incumbent Hahn, he's running against history. L.A. voters have seldom looked for business acumen in their mayors, choosing time and again the institutional comfort of a Tom Bradley Noun 1. Tom Bradley - United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998) Bradley, Thomas Bradley or a James Hahn. The exception, venture capitalist Venture Capitalist An investor who provides capital to either start-up ventures or support small companies who wish to expand but do not have access to public funding. Notes: Venture capitalists usually expect higher returns for the additional risks taken. Richard Riordan, arrived at a time when riots had broken the city apart. His promise of more police, combined with a record of business accomplishments and a soothing, avuncular a·vun·cu·lar adj. 1. Of or having to do with an uncle. 2. Regarded as characteristic of an uncle, especially in benevolence or tolerance. presence, appealed to voters who yearned for healing. But Riordan's success proved an anomaly. His handpicked successor, Steve Soboroff, failed to cross over to union or ethnic groups, while Hahn and Villaraigosa each put together broader coalitions. "With Soboroff, we saw that business couldn't get out the votes like labor did," said Raphael Sonenshein, professor of political science at Cal State Fullerton. The other big problem facing Hertzberg is name recognition. Though an L.A. native who's prominent in political circles, Hertzberg has spent his entire political career in Sacramento, and he's not widely known outside his home base in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Sacramento lifers have compiled a mixed record, at best, challenging better-known local names since term limits forced them into citywide races. Among the mayoral candidacies in the scrap heap scrap·heap also scrap heap n. 1. A pile or heap of waste material. 2. A place for discarding useless or worthless material. : Villaraigosa, a former state Assembly speaker, former state Controller Kathleen Connell, and former state Assemblyman Richard Katz. But while others likely to run are better known, including Hahn and city councilmembers Villaraigosa and Bernard Parks, they have drawbacks that may even the playing field somewhat. State Sen. Richard Alarcon, like Hertzberg, has more name recognition in Sacramento than outside of his Valley base. Parks has had difficulty expanding from his council district in South L.A. Villaraigosa would be a force if he runs, but he hasn't yet said whether he will. In Hertzberg's favor: a runoff system that gets him into a one-on-one contest, presumably pre·sum·a·ble adj. That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster. with Hahn, if he can cobble together enough votes in the March 2005 primary to place first or second. If Villaraigosa doesn't run, Hertzberg is the early favorite to take the other spot in the run-off. "What you're likely to see is each candidate going around and trying to get a piece of the various voting blocks in L.A.," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of political science at the School of Planning, Policy and Development at the University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission . "Hertzberg will try to get support from his home base in the Valley, among Westside liberal and Jewish voters, and maybe even among the Latino community." However, Villaraigosa made significant inroads inroads Noun, pl make inroads into to start affecting or reducing: my gambling has made great inroads into my savings inroads npl to make inroads into [+ among liberal Westside business leaders, including support from billionaires Eli Broad and Ron Burkle, in 2001. "Without Villaraigosa in the race, I would say Hertzberg has the best chance of any of the challengers to make the runoff," Sonenshein said. "But with Villaraigosa in, all bets would be off." Fundraising boost Even trying to stake out a position as the pro-business candidate is problematic for a business community that has long been fractured, and seldom provides a significant chunk of support. Nonetheless, this support can be crucial for Hertzberg, not least because it would give him the ability to raise money quickly. At this stage in the race, fundraising is critical because Hahn has already raised $1.3 million. "Bob (Hertzberg) is going to have to raise seven figures," said Fleming. "That's a tough task, but he can do it." Compounding the problem: most business people tend to give to the incumbent seeking re-election. "A lot of people I know are reluctant to write checks against the incumbent, particularly this one," Hertzberg admitted. "They will be concerned about retaliation from City Hall." But many businesspeople these days give to multiple candidates. That could help Hertzberg, especially if they see him as the most viable alternative to Hahn. Impact of investigations The biggest wild card is the continuing investigations into "pay-to-play" contracting practices within various L.A. city departments. Those investigations have already forced the resignations of two of Hahn's top aides and supporters: Airport Commission president Ted Stein and Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards. If the investigations lead to indictments, Hahn's standing is further eroded. The result could be the once unthinkable scenario of Hahn not even making the runoff. However, there's a chance Hertzberg himself could become ensnared in the same investigations. Last year, he took on an advisory role with public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most giant Fleishman-Hillard, which is now under investigation for its $3 million-a-year contract with the Department of Water & Power. Fleishman last month dropped that contract and all other contracts with city departments. "This is the point where I would expect much of the business community to galvanize gal·va·nize tr.v. gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing, gal·va·niz·es 1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current. 2. around Hertzberg, especially if Hahn continues to look weak and vulnerable," said Richard Lichtenstein, president of Marathon Communications, an L.A. lobbying and public relations firm. Indeed, Hertzberg's campaign co-chairman, Arden Realty Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Ziman, is an example. "In the last election, I hacked the Mayor (Hahn)," Ziman said. But Hertzberg, he said, "is a guy who understands the issues and really knows how to lead and make things happen. For too long, we've dilly-dallied when it comes to traffic and the economy. We're at a big turning point for the city right now." Mayoral Scorecard JAMES HAHN Resume: Los Angeles mayor Status: Filed papers to run for re-election Strengths: Incumbent; won seven citywide elections; $1.5 million campaign stash stash Drug slang noun A place where illicit drugs are hidden ; hired Police Chief William Bratton; lower crime rates Weaknesses: Administration dogged by "pay-to-play" investigations; little ability to inspire or articulate a vision for city RICHARD ALARCON Resume: State senator, D-Van Nuys; former L.A. city councilman Status: Formed exploratory committee in early March Strengths: Reliable ally of labor; popular in northeast San Fernando Valley Weaknesses: No base of support outside of home turf; liberal with limited cross-over appeal; Villaraigosa entry would siphon siphon (sī`fən, –fŏn), tube through which a liquid is lifted over an elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere and is then emptied at a lower level. Latino, labor votes ROBERT HERTZBERG Resume: Attorney in private practice; former state Assembly speaker; board chairman of Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. Status: Announced candidacy last month Strengths: Appeals to San Fernando Valley electorate; earned reputation as moderate, consensus-building Democrat Weaknesses: Little support outside San Fernando Valley; never held post in city government; child-support case could generate bad publicity, as could affiliation with PR firm Fleishman-Hillard BERNARD PARKS Resume: L.A. city councilman, former L.A. police chief Status: Announced in March he was interested in mayor's job; holding community meetings to determine whether to proceed Strengths: Citywide name recognition; considerable support from African-Americans Weaknesses: Has shown little ability to garner support outside of South L.A. district; perception of his campaign as revenge match against Hahn, who did not support his reappointment reappointment Hospital practice The renewal of medical staff membership and privileges of a practitioner whose previous service on the medical staff has met the staff's standard of Pt care. See Appointment. ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA Resume: L.A. city councilman; former state Assembly speaker Status: Has sent conflicting signals on whether he will run Strengths: Put together coalition of Latino and liberal Westside voters in 2001; has some union support Weaknesses: In 2001 election, unable to gain support of moderate or conservative voters; must enter race soon to raise enough funds |
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