LA County Big Government Unions [BGU] thought they could double down. With Business strangely detached, BGU’s could grab the 2nd Supervisorial sweepstakes. Originally, BGU’s promised to spend up to 2 million in January. After Ridley-Thomas was promised millions of dollars from unwilling union members, MRT announced in December, he was running for one of California’s most significant political posts. LA County Board of Supervisors. 2 million constituents.
Of course, If Ridley-Thomas wasn’t guaranteed the I.E. support he never would have run. So much for liberals "clean money" campaigning. BGU’s did not merely "coordinate" the campaign with MRT, but created it.
Both Chief Bernard Parks and MRT raised nearly a million each the old fashion way. At $1000 at a time. But MRT cheated. And everyone knew he would because BGU’s said they would.
Anticipating one of the lowest primary voter turnout in decades, the BGU’s guessed if they would double down their I.E. beyond $4,000,000.00 they might get MRT over 51% of the vote and make the inevitable November run-off unnecessary. They wanted to "steal" the election with a dramatic ambush.
BGU’s turned on the floodgates. A vote for MRT cost the BGU’s over $100 worth of mail and campaigning from BGU’s, but MRT missed the prize with only 45% on election day. Parks, outspent 5-1, closed in at 40%. Parks even got a majority of black voters. Six other candidates divided the rest.
But where was the LA Business community? In general, AWOL. Sleeping at the wheel. Irrelevant. Heads buried in the political sands. Out for a 3 martini lunch.
There were some exceptions. New Majority LA, was the ONLY pro market I.E. to deliver for Parks, New Majority took on itself the task of communicating with the 20% Republicans in the district. They issued mail and calls from Mayor Dick Riordan, Supervisor Antonovich. David Fleming recently of the LA Chamber of Commerce, was fighting behind the scenes to wake up business.
Luckily, Chief Parks and his team held on and prevented an outright loss on June 3. Campaign manager John Shallman hunkered down, not waiting for outside help and targeted middle class and senior voters. The plan worked and prevented a MRT win. Again, no thanks to the LA Chamber, LA’s paper tiger. No thanks for industries headquartered in LA. Developers were no where to be seen. Sadly, even developer Rick Caruso was backing MRT despite MRT’s shrill anti business posture and complete submission to any BGU demand.
This Supervisorial position is a big deal. With term limits of 12 years, a Supervisor could be in office until 2020. The Board is divided between to reliable conservative Republicans and two liberal democrats. Clearly, the Third vote will be decisive. Bernard Parks, a life long democrat has long worked with Republicans, is a tough law an order person and supports strong business development in the 2nd District. MRT has nothing but contempt for business and development.
The path for lurching toward third-world poverty with corresponding corrupt government union domination would underscore a Mark Ridley-Thomas administration.
And, most entrepreneurs know this. Many executives raise their families outside of LA County. They dream and plan of moving their businesses outside the county as well. The gentrification of west LA leaves large swatches of LA with a growing underclass and the middle class threatens to leave in droves.
Given that LA County is some 30% of California’s population, what happens in LA is a tsunami for all California.
The question remains will Business, entrepreneurs and developers take advantage of the additional 4 + months until November 4 and build I.E.’s to combat BGU’s or will they continue to slouch and slumber ?
Care to comment on Shawn Steel’s post? You can do so on it’s entry on the FR blog here.