CA: Is any of us really ready for the reign of 'Mayor Hertzy'?

LA Daily News ^ | 11/29/04 | Rick Orlov

[NormsRevenge]

What do you get the man who turns 50? For Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, it was a surprise party at the exclusive Jonathan Club with a quasi-endorsement in his bid for mayor from Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger and his Democratic wife, Maria Shriver, former Mayor Richard Riordan and his Democratic wife, Nancy Daly, were among the 100 or so who roasted Hertzberg at the dinner.

Schwarzenegger, according to guests, made it clear he could work well with a Mayor Bob Hertzberg, who was a key player in helping the governor get started in Sacramento.

While not coming out officially for Hertzberg, the governor was heard talking about "Mayor Hertzy" as he mingled in the crowd.

Riordan and Daly have both contributed $1,000 each to the Hertzberg campaign, which was second to MayorJames Hahn in money received as of the last reporting.

Hertzberg grew close to Schwarzenegger after the recall election and served as one of the co-chairs of the governor's transition team.

Also, Hertzberg has made no secret that he hopes to tap into whatever Republican vote there is in the city and more moderate Democrats in his challenge to Hahn.

The party also included a guest list of Los Angeles political activists as well as some former Assembly colleagues of Hertzberg, such as now-Councilman Tony Cardenas.

Cardenas had backed Hahn in the past election, but he has been mum on what he will do this time around. On a related note, a $99-per-person fund-raiser is scheduled for this week for Hertzberg.

What is interesting about the amount -- which backers say is intended to draw in more contributors who are unable to give big money -- is that it is also the cutoff for reporting who gave the money.

Under the city's ethics laws, only those giving $100 or more are required to be identified.

Hertzberg campaign aides said they will not identify the contributors. Mayor Hahn and one of his other opponents, state Sen. Richard Alarcon, learned firsthand last week about perhaps the biggest complaints of most Angelenos -- traffic.

Hahn was nearly 15 minutes late last Wednesday for his monthly "Ask the Mayor" show on KFWB-AM (980) because of accidents that held him up on the freeways.

Similarly, Alarcon was nearly 20 minutes late to a scheduled news conference in front of Parker Center, blaming traffic on the freeways from the Valley as well as a lack of parking downtown. If nothing else, Police Chief Bill Bratton knows how to be a good host.

With the city welcoming the International Association of Police Chiefs recently, Bratton was given the opportunity to show off the department and the city.

Thanks to the Police Foundation -- a private group that has been involved in a variety of fund-raising activities for the LAPD -- Bratton also handed out, in plush velvet boxes with his autograph, commemorative gold coins.

[anniegetyourgun]

I isn't ready.

[kellynla]

While the entire state is going into a financial abyss, it is certainly comforting to know that the politicos are enjoying themselves...at our expense.

[Constantine XIII]

Is you is, or is you ain't? :P

[Uncle Hal]

At one time LA's Jonathon Club was very discriminating in who was allowed as members and who could even enter the club. Absolutely no Jews or blacks were allowed and women had their own dining area and could not eat in the main dining room. This policy changed in the 70's as I recall.