[img]1644|left|||no_popup[/img]The most personalized political entertainment in town this election season may be when incumbent Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and his most serious challenger, Mike Feuer, are on the same stage.
They scuffled on Monday night at Temple Israel in the residential section of Hollywood Boulevard and again last evening at the dazzling Taglyan Cultural Complex on North Vine Street in Hollywood.
Two months ago before a Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. audience at Notre Dame High School, you might have thought both once had been married to the same woman, or one had lost her to the other.
Mr. Feuer, a matinee-handsome 54 years old, still recovering – but only covertly – from a serious auto accident six weeks ago – has been in elective office throughout the last two decades, as a City Councilman and as a Sacramento legislator.
Mr. Trutanich, 61 years old and known to his friends as Nuch, was in private practice all of his career until he was plucked from the quiet life four years ago to seek elective office for the first time.
He earns a traditional form of applause when he opens every forum by introducing his wife and children, individually, especially since most of them practice law.
Why He Is ‘Unworthy’
Mr. Trutanich insists that the politically widely experienced Mr. Feuer is unfit to take his job – either in the March 5 primary or May 21 runoff – because he never has tried a case.
Mr. Feuer counters that Mr. Trutanich’s priorities are upside down, that he concentrates on radioactive cases instead of combatting the thrust of neighborhood crime.
But the prickly jabs they exchange when they see each other is not about a personal vendetta, Mr. Feuer said this afternoon.
“I wouldn’t call it a feud,” he says. “That suggests something different from what this race is about.
“For me, this race is about the future leadership of the city. It’s not about a particular person. It’s about the best way to lead the city forward as we enter a new generation of leadership, starting this summer, on the biggest problems in the city, to protect the neighborhoods in the city.
“It is not about personalities at all.”
Mr. Trutanich and Mayor Villaraigosa get along the way he and Mr. Feuer dart-throw at each other when they are in public.
The mayor didn’t and does not like Mr. Trutanich. He has emphasized his disapproval by shrinking the funding for the city attorney’s office. Just last week, with a splash, Mr. Villaraigosa enthusiastically endorsed Mr. Feuer.
Mr. Trutanich, City Hall’s go-to lawyer, arrived as Mr. Villaraigosa was starting his second and final term, and a stormy 48 months it has been.
Question for Mr. Feuer: What is the principal advantage you hold that voters should know about?
“It is a combination,” he said. “It boils down to the ability to lead effectively. My priorities are different from his. That is why I focus on the city’s most important issues.
“My emphasis is on neighborhoods, combatting gun violence and gang activity, and making schools and school neighborhoods safer.
“These differ tremendously from what Mr. Trutanich focuses on. This is a huge advantage with the electorate, which shares my priorities.”
(To be continued)
See http://www.votemikefeuer.com/
