INSIDE CITY HALL - It was a routine re-election for City Council President Eric Garcetti last week, along with President Pro Tem Jan Perry and Assistant Pro Tem Dennis Zine. But behind the scenes, there was a lot of rumbling about the trio serving only through January as their own political ambitions take shape and as the newer council members look to the day the old guard is termed out.This might seem like a political merry-go-round, but here goes:
Perry has already announced she plans to run for mayor and has raised more than $200,000 for her campaign.
Garcetti has also indicated he plans to run for mayor.
Zine plans to run for city controller as Controller Wendy Greuel runs for mayor.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn is the front-runner in the July 12 special election for the 36th Congressional District. If she wins, that would open her council seat in the 15th District.
Those in their third and final four-year term, which began on Friday, are Tony Cardenas, Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks.
Two others are in the last two years of their terms - Ed Reyes and Richard Alarcón.
And five - Paul Koretz, Paul Krekorian, Jose Huizar Bill Rosendahl and Herb Wesson - still have the option of running for additional terms.
Alarcón is said not to be interested in pursuing a leadership position. Plus, he's focused on fighting charges that accuse him of not living in the district he represents.
Reyes is said to be looking for some kind of leadership post to help boost his resume for once his days in public office are over.
Parks said he plans to serve out his final four years and then retire.
Wesson, a former speaker of the state Assembly, is said to be the odds-on favorite to serve as the next council president. (More Rick Orlov here)
(Rick Orlov covers City Hall for the dailynews.com. His Tipoff column appears Mondays. For a daily political fix, go to the Sausage Factory at insidesocal.com/politics. You can contact him at [email protected] ) –cw
Tags: political, Zine, Garcetti, Hahn, Perry, Koretz, Krekorian, Alarcon, Huizar, Reyes, Wesson, Koretz, Parks, Greuel, Cardenas, Rosendahl, City Council, LA Council, mayor, controller
CityWatch
Vol 9 Issue 53
Pub: July 5, 2011
