Randy Scott Leslie. Cary Anderson. Jeff Cooper. Gary Russell. Dr. Loni Anderson. Andy Weissman, Dr. Luther Henderson. Christopher Armenta. Mehaul O’Leary.
These are names to clip and save for the next two months.
Late in the morning of the first Community Forum of the campaign season, the nine candidates for three City Council seats in the April 8 election are a blend of nervous, anxious, curious, eminently relaxed as their first group appearance looms at 1:30 this afternoon at the Senior Center.
Candidates such as Mr. Leslie, Mr. Anderson, Dr. Henderson, Mr. Russell and Mr. Cooper will be making their first official public team appearances, presumably ready to perform.
They will be studied and analyze for the content and the style of their answers and general comportment.
Some candidates have been turning up regularly in print. Others are less known than before they started a few weeks ago.
Five Are Familiar
Five of the nine could claim varying measures of name recognition, but only Mr. Weissman and Mr. O’Leary have run for the Council once before.
The team actually debuted yesterday morning when seven of the nine appeared before a Chamber of Commerce panel seeking its endorsement. Due to a death in the family, Mr. Leslie was absent, and Mr. Russell, too, was missing.
The results will be announced in tomorrow’s edition.
Mr. Russell, Mr. Weissman, Mr. O’Leary have been profiled, so far, by the newspaper. The other six will be throughout this month.
Meanwhile, here are important developments for several candidate
Dr. Luther Henderson
The accent will be on all-star jazz at 2 on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 23, for Dr. Henderson, a Los Angeles City College professor and major Culver City cultural maven.
He will officially launch his campaign with a fundraising musical extravaganza at the Jazz Bakery,32133 Helms Ave. With performances at 2 and 3:30, Dr. Henderson promises a 17-piece ensemble, the Winston Byrd & Clayton Cameron Big Band.
Jazz aficionados will recognize many of the names: Garnett Brown on trombone; Gary Herbig, alto saxophone; Ron Barrows, trumpet; Frank Fontaine, tenor saxophone; and Charley Davis, trumpet.
Reservations: 310.495.0202. Also see www.LutherHendersonForCouncil.org
Mehaul O’Leary
This Saturday, from 11 until 3, in the lower grass area at Culver City Park, Mr. O’Leary will host a free picnic-style, Meet the Candidate outing.
Games for children, music, a raffle with a mountain bike and a $100 gift certificate are promised. Mr. O’Leary will extensively explain his vision for Culver City, will answer questions in an organized setting and one-on-one.
Campaign hotline: 310.837.1917 or www.vote4mehaul.com
Chistopher Armenta
On Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3 at a private home, 4170 Madison Ave., Mr. Armenta will conduct an introductory meeting with residents of the Carlson Park neighborhood.
All residents, all business owners are invited. Former Mayors Dr. Jim Boulgarides and Gary Silbiger, former School Board member Barbara Honig, and Carlson Park activists Tom Camarella, Ronnie Jayne and Brian Pogue will host the afternoon.
Information: 310.836.7557 or www.votearmenta.com
Jeff Cooper
Last Thursday evening, Mr. Cooper held a Meet and Greet event at the family home to formally open his first run for office.
The candidate was introduced by the co-chair of his campaign, City Councilman Scott Malsin, who said:
“He is a man to rely on when you want to get things done. Jeff Cooper will add a reasoned and intelligent voice to our city government. Mr. Cooper said he would seek to build a “healthy” Culver City. “I will promote the health of our city by fighting to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe, by encouraging programs and policies that promote the protection of our environment and the efficient use of our resources
by supporting smart-growth policies that balance the preservation of our neighborhoods with needs of business by looking for creative solutions to ease the traffic congestion on our city streets, by improving our parks and park programs, and by applying my business acumen to our city budget.
“I will be open-minded and accessible on the issues. But make no mistake, as I have repeatedly shown, I won’t shy away from controversy, especially when it comes to protecting our city and its citizens.”
