[Editor’s Note: This essay by the KABC radio host and twice-weekly Daily News columnist appeared in yesterday’s Daily News.]
The 39th mayor of Los Angeles wants Kevin James to be the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles.
“Kevin is the only candidate capable of creating real pension reform,” said former Mayor Richard Riordan. “His complete independence from the special interest groups at City Hall will allow Kevin to establish real change for L.A.,” Mr. Riordan continued in his much-coveted endorsement last Friday.
“I strongly encourage my fellow Angelenos to support him.”
How much weight Mr. Riordan's nod will carry with the public remains to be seen, but it certainly encouraged Mr. James as the mayor's race enters the home stretch.
“It answers the viability question,” said a clearly pleased James in a phone interview. “Can I win and can I do the job? Well, a man who did the job for eight years says yes to both.”
Mr. Riordan's endorsement didn't just land in Mr. James's lap. According to Mr. James, it was a long courting process.
L.A.'s former mayor was an early supporter of businessman Austin Beutner. When Mr. Beutner tossed his hat out of the ring, Mr. James was quick to ring up Mr. Riordan and make his pitch.
“Dick said he wasn't ready to endorse,” says Mr. James.
“`I want to see your campaign first',” Mr. Riordan told him. “And he grilled me on policy, especially the budget and pension issues.”
Obviously, Mr. Riordan liked what he heard.
Of course the Riordan brand doesn't shine quite as brightly as it did prior to last year's aborted campaign to place a public employee pension reform initiative on the ballot. Still, compared to what passes for leadership in L.A. today, Dick Riordan's tenure as mayor would qualify him for Mt. Rushmore. Mr. Riordan's thumbs-up gives Mr. James's long-shot campaign a big shot of adrenaline as Election Day nears.
In a city dominated by liberals, the 2013 mayor's race has thus far been oddly conservative both in policy and tactics. The candidates seem to be in a can-you-top-this competition to out-business-friendly each other.
Wendy Greuel, Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry, Emanuel Pleitez and Mr. James have tripped over each other with pledges to cut the business payroll tax and oppose the proposed sales tax hike the 41st mayor is pushing. Ms. Greuel upped the ante by promising to hire 2,000 new cops and 800 firefighters without raising taxes.
And if she can pull off that trick Wendy should not only be our next mayor but also a headliner at the Magic Castle.
It's unlikely any candidate will win the race outright so this campaign is all about making the runoff in May. Mr. Jame’s best shot is to build on the grassroots base established by attorney Walter Moore who carried the banner of opposition to Antonio Villaraigosa in 2009.
“Walter didn't have access to the mayoral forums” says Mr. James. “The media really has no choice but to cover my campaign, a luxury Walter never had.”
The James path to victory rides on the establishment candidates splitting the union and traditional City Hall vote while he exploits anti-City Hall sentiment wherever he can find it.
Armed with a two-term former mayor's endorsement the outsider now claims the seal of approval of one of L.A.'s most prominent insiders.
Mr. McIntyre may be contacted at Doug@KABC.com and at Doug@dailynews.com
