Kaye gives her a 3. "She has a constituency among women. She's tremendously likable, and she's run for citywide office." But she can't handle the budget or unions: "She has been very timid with fixing the budget with the power of city controller. She hasn't said one word about the unions." Critics will target her "as not being up to the job of dealing with the [economic] crisis in L.A." Women, contractors, developers and unions will give her money. Like Villaraigosa, she may be shallow in her policies.
Klink gives her a 7. "Wendy is very in touch with the city of Los Angeles. She knows where the waste is because she looks for it every day." She can handle the budget and unions. Critics should take note: "She's tough."
Alex Padilla
PHOTO BY TED SOQUI
Jan Perry
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Regalado gives her a 7. "She has widespread appeal with good-government types, a moderate Democrat." Also, "She has the skills" to cope with the budget and unions. Business groups, Valley groups and the rich will give her money.
Riordan gives her a 7. "People like her. She's capable of getting things done." At the same time, "She doesn't show the strength enough to get things done." Unions will ask themselves if she's the strongest candidate. "Are the unions going to pick out one person for the primary? It doesn't look that way from this list."
South gives her a 6. "There's going to be some interest in her because she could be the first woman mayor of the second-largest city in America." She can handle the budget and unions: "She should not be underestimated." But critics will research her many votes on the City Council. Unlike Villaraigosa, "She has the ability to learn from her own errors and the errors of others."
Kevin James is a gay Republican and graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, became an assistant U.S. attorney, and now is an entertainment lawyer and talk-show host at 870 KRLA. He has long worked on fundraising efforts for AIDS Project Los Angeles. He almost never talks about gay rights on the air but focuses on local issues. During the 2008 presidential race, James locked horns with MSNBC talk-show host Chris Matthews during an infamous exchange over Barack Obama and the Munich Agreement of 1938. James says he has pledges of $500,000 in campaign donations. He lives in Laurel Canyon.
James is last in the field of eight.
Gilliam gives him a 0. "He has no name recognition, and he can't buy it. He's irrelevant, quite frankly." He has "no idea" how to fix the budget or deal with labor. If Caruso chooses to run, James won't get much traction with Republicans.
Kaye gives him a 1. "He'll have enough money to be visible." But he could only win if there's a "complete collapse" of the city's political machinery. Critics will "hit him on his stupid interview with Chris Matthews" — but he might raise $2 million.
South also refuses to rank him. "Is there a minus-10 category?" Buying name ID will be very difficult: "It's a hugely expensive media market." Critics will research "every single thing that he's said on his talk show." Fundraising prospects look dim: "He won't have two nickels to rub together, unless there are a lot of gay Republicans in Los Angeles."
Alex Padilla was a rising star in L.A. politics when he was elected to the City Council in 1999 at age 26. Padilla had powerful supporters in Riordan and labor leader Miguel Contreras. Padilla soon became L.A. City Council president and in 2006 was elected to the state Senate. A graduate of MIT, Padilla is smart and personable. But his tenure in Sacramento has been low-key. Gavin Newsom tapped Padilla, once named one of America's "100 Most Influential Hispanics," to be chairman of his ill-fated 2010 California gubernatorial campaign. The son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla is single and lives in Pacoima. Despite Garcetti's occasional attempts to style himself as Latino, Padilla is the only big-name Latino in the field.
Padilla is tied for fourth in the field of eight.
Gilliam gives him a 5. Padilla's Latino background will "work against him. I don't see the city electing another Latino mayor" on the heels of Villaraigosa. Critics will "look at his relationship with the unions and they'll say he's in their pocket." He doesn't have the needed political stature to "galvanize the Latino vote." Also, "He's tied with the old labor left — as Antonio was."
Kaye gives him a 3. "He is Hispanic. ... He would have the single largest base of voters to draw on." But he can't handle the budget and unions: "There's nothing in his record to support he's tough enough." Contractors, developers and unions will give to him: "The money will come to him just so people don't miss out and make an enemy."
Klink gives him a 7. "Like Garcetti, he's been council president, he knows how the city works, he's Latino and he's from the Valley. It's an interesting combination." On the downside, he's from the Valley: "Starting with [Tom] Bradley, there hasn't been a mayor from the Valley." Fundraising is "clearly a challenge for him."
