Second of two parts
Re “King Fine Tunes His Message for Today’s Senior Crowd”
[img]1845|right|Jeff Cooper||no_popup[/img]Generations before the present City Council race was a gleam in the City Clerk’s eye, incumbents Jeff Cooper, this year’s mayor, and Jim Clarke, were favored from here to Sochi to defend their seats in the April 8 election.
No one but relatives gave the so-called details in the chase – Christopher Patrick King and Gary Abrams – a chance to do more than enjoy a brief sniff of victory roses.
Until yesterday when upstart young Mr. King showed the guys he us going to be a handful and a saddle-ful to deal with in the 62 days until Election Day.
When the Candidates Forum season got under way yesterday afternoon at the Senior Center – supposedly a spring training exercise for all four of them, each acquitted himself okay, grades ranging from passable to impressive.
Form Holds
[img]1792|right|Jim Clarke||no_popup[/img]Mr. Cooper and Mr. Clarke comported themselves as seatholders – as contrasted with placeholders – are intended to do in a race that the wise guys in City Hall will be formful enough to cause yawn-stifling.
The incumbents – congenial middle-aged fellows of whom complaints are more rare than a hen visiting an orthodontist – were light when warranted, and spent valuable minutes ticking off accomplishments that they inspired or achieved. This is where incumbents are supposed to shine.
Mr. Clarke, not at all bashful about being 65 years old, especially since he was addressing an audience of peers, kidded about his compilation of years on earth and his record-shortest two years on the City Council.
“I often refer to myself as the newest oldest member on the Council, since I was elected to fill an unexpired term two years ago, ” Mr. Clarke said.
Gazing down the table at Mr. Abrams, early 60s, Mr. Cooper, mid-50s, and Mr. King, early 30s, Mr. Clarke said he was reminded of a President Reagan observation to his opponent Walter Mondale during a televised debate. “‘I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth or inexperience.’
“I am 65,” Mr. Clarke said, and I realize to many of you, I am just a kid.”
Mr. Cooper was conventional in his approach, listing the promises he made four years ago and confirming how he had fulfilled all of them.
“Four years ago when I asked for your support,” said the mayor, “I talked about the future and what Culver City would be like in 20 years.
“I talked about what I would do to help create a plan that would keep Culver City on firm financial footing, develop more affordable housing, follow environmentally sensitive practices, and above all, protect our neighborhoods.”
Mr. Cooper graded himself high as a promise-keeper.
In 62 days, voters will tell if they agree.
