In a different setting, last night’s bizarre, almost surreal, interlude at the monthly meeting of the Culver City Democratic Club would have been a publicist’s juicy dream.
It could have warranted a headline blaring:
“First-Time City Council Candidate Upstages Mayor’s Speech.”
[img]58|left|Mr. Gary Russell||no_popup[/img]Instead, there was fury and anger, with a sprinkling of shock and puzzlement, over an annoying and ongoing confrontation between an unknown City Council candidate and the Mayor of Culver City.
Alan Corlin’s Farewell-to-Office address before longtime friends at the Democratic Club was cheerful, strong and well-received — except by Council candidate Gary Russell.
Mr. Russell positioned himself on the perimeter of the audience. From there, he proceeded to hector Mayor Corlin, throwing verbal pebbles throughout his 50-minute speech.
A Solid Reputation
In fashioning a thoroughly favorable reputation the past eight years as arguably the most savvy and polished member of the City Council, Mr. Corlin has also been known as the King of Tarts with his piercing, satirical and bullseye jabs at critics.
Although in real time he was uncommonly reticent about the interruptions — flicking at his heckler as if the heckler were a fly on his shoulder — Mr. Corlin unleashed a fusillade of fiery fury this morning.
At first, the mayor said he was certain he was entering a congenial environment last night. He is a longtime member of the Democratic Club, and he was endorsed by the club during both of his Council campaigns.
Tossing and Burning
But when he went home, he was sorely troubled by the byplay, and he battled getting to sleep.
Mr. Corlin said his distress “and anger” were building overnight.
“If it had not been for my friends in attendance and my many supporters in the club over the years, I would have left,” the mayor said.
“No one who speaks to the Democratic Club should be subjected to the harangue and abuse I put up with last night. I appreciate that Tom Camarella did his best to keep this individual under control. But the other officers of the club sat there in silence, acquiescing in what this person was doing.
“Had I known the tumult that was going to result, I never would have offered to speak.”
Fighting Back
Reaching for a dash of his trademark saltiness, Mayor Corlin said the experience turned out to be an adventure in positivity for him as far as Mr. Russell’s nascent candidacy was concerned.
“Sometimes when people you don’t know declare they are going to run for office, you like to get an idea of what the person is like,” the mayor said.
“Gary Russell gave us all a gift. With his actions, he showed how little respect he has for the office he holds (in charge of the club’s newsletter), how little respect he holds for the officers of the club and how little respect he has for the members.
“To find out all these things about a candidate before the election is a gift.
A Good Ending?
“Out of all bad things, good has come.
“I now know somebody I will not vote for, should he garner enough votes to qualify for the race.
“I have spoken all over Culver City. Something like this never has happened,” Mr. Corlin said.
As for Mr. Russell, sometimes he paced during the mayor’s speech, sometimes he sat, all while maintaining a running commentary, regardless of where he was in the Rotunda Room at the Vets Auditorium.
He did not seem mad at Mr. Corlin but rather he was determined to interject opinions that tended to melt into teflon.
Light Reaction
Except for petal-soft calls to hush, most of the several dozen Dem Club members seemed too paralyzed to react with anything resembling forcefulness.
With perhaps the scant exception of Mr. Russell, everyone else in the room — including other candidates for the City Council — paid rapt attention to the mayor, whose talk will be reviewed in tomorrow’s edition.
One Person in Control
No club member doubted where the upper hand reposed.
Mr. Russell curiously had the leverage to control the scene. He seemed to be in charge as the unscripted dialogue played out in what felt like slow motion.
In the absence of President Greg Valtierra, who was out of town, past President Tom Camarella was in charge of the meeting.
Two Tries
Twice he attempted to tame the candidate. First, Mr. Camarella discreetly left his seat in the rear and went over to abjure Mr. Russell to allow Mayor Corlin to speak without further heckling. That did not work.
Moments later, Mr. Camarella, no shrinking violet, spoke out for all in the room to hear. He ordered Mr. Russell to stop interrupting the mayor.
But he lost that round too when Mr. Russell snapped back at him, “This is a democracy.”
Without missing a single line by Mr. Corlin, the candidate resumed pecking away at the speaker.
A Different Dimension
Club members who did not want to be quoted by name were taken aback. During his two years of membership, they have known him as a committed, green-oriented progressive, definite about his political beliefs but typically low-key of personality.
Mr. Russell’s website is culvercitycouncil.com.
Three other City Council candidates — Jeff Cooper, Christopher Armenta, Dr. Loni Anderson — all Democratic Club members, were in the audience, closely watching every nuance. At least two of them appeared to roll their eyes over the unprecedented events.
