First in a seies
[img]2333|left|Christopher King||no_popup[/img]After spending fully three years researching, strategizing and fine-tuning his first run for the City Council, “working as hard as I could,” young Christopher Patrick King placed third, one out of the money, in last week’s election.
While his finish was a disappointment, it could not have been surprising because he was pitted against two of Culver City’s best-known personalities.
Mr. King’s original planning called for a campaign that differed in dynamics from the way it turned out. He intended to run against Scott Malsin, who would have been termed out this spring had he not resigned two years ago last December.
Most candidates – especially freshmen – would have regarded that as sufficient advance notice, and might even have delayed their maiden run for two years when the City Council campaign will be configured much differently. Three seats will be open. Only one officeholder will be defending her chair.
Already Mr. King, a 31-year-old mortgage company owner, has begun to plot his 2016 run three seats held by Mehaul O’Leary, Andy Weissman and Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells will be available.
Messrs. Weissman and O’Leary will be termed out. This figures to make Mr. King’s second run less imposing.
His late run was uphill from the start – he faced entrenched incumbents Mayor Jeff Cooper and Councilman Jim Clarke, who own two of the highest profiles in the community.
If you doubt incumbency is a huge advantage, consider that Mr. King, at the latest reporting, raised $7,000, Mr. Clarke $25,000 and Mr. Cooper nearly six times as much, $40,000.
(To be continued)
