Re “Candidates Meet the Realtors, and the Winner Is Malsin? Maybe.”
Incumbent City Councilman Scott Malsin and second-time contender for Council Jeff Cooper were announced this morning as winners of “support” — rather than endorsement — after participating yesterday in a Candidates Forum before a development-oriented group.
The chosen two failed to gain the more prestigious form of backing, an endorsement, perhaps, because as candidates they are seen as generalists without a specific perceived history of support for development.
Culver City realtor Dannie Cavanaugh, moderator of the forum for the Public Policy Committee of the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Assn. of Realtors, told the newspaper:
“Our endorsement is very rarely given to anyone, and when it is, it must come from our Board of Directors. Our committee only can make recommendations to the Board.
“Although we admired all four of the candidates, we did not choose to endorse.”
On the “rare” occasions when endorsements are given, Mr. Cavanaugh said, they go to politicians such as state Sen. Curren D. Price (D-Culver City), who has a record of support for development.
Mr. Cavanaugh, of longtime family-operated Cavanaugh Realtors, is chair of the association’s Local Candidate Recommendation Committee.
The association will make contributions to both the Cooper and Malsin campaigns.
Mr. Cavanaugh said the more elaborate concept of endorsement would mean a far deeper involvement by the Board, including staging fundraisers.
The two candidates can reference our support in their campaign literature and we are making a financial contribution to each one of them.
