Second in a series. 

Re: “Wyant Not Left Enough for Dem Left?” 

The tallest person on the noisy, crowded upper floor of Rush Street on Election Night was forced to elevate his voice to be heard.

The odiferous reality of a fifth place finish in the City Council race still was a new smell to Scott Wyant.

“If honesty and decency and hard work lose to fluff and viciousness, what is next?” he asked in an even tone.

Labeled a tool of the Chamber of Commerce in recent days, Mr. Wyant was portrayed in blind mailers as anti-resident because he made pro-business statements, depicted derisively as a “white homeowner.”

Mr. Wyant was stunned and disappointed “by the idea that negative campaigning works this well in Culver City.”

Anticipating a top three finish for a seat on the retooled City Council, he was disgusted that fellow Democrats would “take people who don’t know anything” and through the slick power of negative advertising “tarnish the reputations of people who are honest citizens who want to do their best.

“This way,” he said, Democrats to his left can elect “people who have no community involvement. That will change the whole way we do things here.”

When he believes he owns peerless liberal credentials as a lifelong Democrat, Mr. Wyant wondered “how could I be portrayed as a “Republican monster who wants to rape and steal from the poor people of Culver City.”

Progressives saw Mr. Wyant as an enemy because of his long association with the Chamber of Commerce.

It may be recalled that in January’s endorsement meeting at the Culver City Democratic Club, a clique froze out Mr. Wyant. When he spoke, members were instructed not to applaud.

(To be continued)