Retired U.S. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Culver City) returned briefly to the campaign wars yesterday afternoon when she stood up at the Culver Hotel and heartily endorsed her former Chief of Staff, Jim Clarke, for a City Council seat in next Tuesday’s election.
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From left, Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, Mr. Clarke, and his old boss, Ms. Watson
She said his turn in victory lane has come.
Is this the kind of prestigious nudge that that can shove Mr. Clarke across the finish line in what looks like the closest race since Stew Bubar defeated Roger Maxwell on a marble draw for a School Board seat eight years ago last December?
In his first run for public office at a mature age, Mr. Clarke, longtime Culver City resident, has stressed the variety of his political experience, at the state level, in Washington, and most recently as a deputy in the office of Mayor Villaraigosa.
It is a uniquely hybrid resumé that distinguishes him from all five of his rivals – mostly natives – in the competition for four open Council seats.
“When you vote for Jim Clarke,” Ms. Watson told the assembled in the ornate Culver Hotel lobby, “you are voting for a career in public service that been in public service long before he was (hopefully) elected.”
Ms. Watson was followed by Alan Corlin, the noted wit, one of 10 former Culver City mayors who have endorsed the candidate with the most unusual resumé.
Mr. Corlin said that he has known Mr. Clarke longer than most people.
“I have seen Jim work personally with people who have problems,” Mr. Corlin said. “I have seen Jim prescribe very difficult things for people. I have seen Jim make promises to people.
“Even though I have seen all of that, I am voting for Jim anyway.”
(To be continued)
