Upon further, and occasionally artificial, reflection — with the aide of a considerably brainier friend — it now appears that once and future (?) City Councilman Scott Malsin may have out-thought the wise guys.
Executing a nifty sheet-rustling political maneuver that will, or should, win him national attention before the embers go out, Mr. Malsin’s chances for returning to the Council glow the color of gold — thanks to a nudge from a guy who is wise but not a wise guy.
Two days ago, Mr. Malsin became the sixth warm body in the April 10 election for four Council seats, one or two more than he originally had guessed.
So what? Meaningless.
Consider:
Incumbents Mayor Mehaul O’Leary and Andy Weissman will win the hearts and votes of the traditionalists, of Culver City’s core.
Second-timer Meghan Sahli- Wells and first-timer Jim B. Clarke have locked up the progressive vote, which is organized, loyal and devoutly committed to seeing their philosophical soulmates ascend into office.
It is fine for the traditional voters to back Mr. Weissman and Mr. O’Leary. But how in the world are they going to fill the other two chairs?
Seth Lennon Weiner is an unknown rookie, and therefore perhaps not worth the risk.
We are down to Mr. Malsin, and still there is a blank chair remaining.
Voters may ethically or morally object to Mr. Malsin’s exaggerated antics during his I Am Thinking It Over (Wink-Wink) period, which he belatedly turned into a Leap Year on Dec. 12. He leaped off the Council to keep his hefty healthcare benefits from being sliced. Now he wants to return because, with slick footwork and clever strategizing, he has outwitted the rulesmakers and code enforcers to potentially rejoin the Council even though all doors supposedly were secured.
