Even with ballots from the March 8 primary still being counted - and with Councilman Bernard Parks holding on to his narrow lead over businesswoman Forescee Hogan-Rowles - the 2013 city election is heating up.
In particular, the race for mayor is already drawing a lot of interest from a variety of candidates.
Conservative radio talk show host Kevin James filed paperwork last week to start raising money, joining Controller Wendy Greuel, Councilwoman Jan Perry and Northridge businessman Y.M. Draiman.
Others said to be considering a run are City Council President Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, state Sen. Alex Padilla and uber-wealthy First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner and developer Rick Caruso.
Among those attending James' announcement on the steps of City Hall was District Attorney Steve Cooley.
"It's too early to say who I will support, but I have been a friend of Kevin's for a number of years and wanted to encourage him," Cooley said.
Cooley also continues to be coy about his own plans and whether he will seek re-election in 2012.
"A lot of people call and encourage me to run again," said Cooley, who has been elected to a record three terms.
As far as mayoral ambitions for Garcetti, he says he is still considering whether to run, but is happy where he is.
"I'm planning on running for council president on July 1," Garcetti said, adding he would not step down even if he declares his intent to run for
mayor.It does not appear that any council members want to challenge him for president, partly because of the time the job takes sitting in the chair to govern over meetings.
Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Westlake Village, has known for a while that he was being recalled to active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He is a lieutenant commander, working in the intelligence division.
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Gorell, 40, was elected just last November and has been working to do as much as he can before his deployment on Friday.
He will not draw his legislative salary during his one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan.
"As a staff, we have been preparing for this," spokesman Doug Lorenz said. "We will be here for the constituents. We will be able to do everything but vote on the floor."
As for any particular needs that needs a legislator's direct involvement, Lorenz said other members from both sides of the aisle have volunteered to help.
The situation involving Gorell is not new. Thirty-seven other lawmakers have been called to active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks. The one drawback is that he cannot deduct the time from his term limits.
"I see dead people."
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That line from the movie "The Sixth Sense" was circulating about a mailer sent out on behalf of the campaign of Councilman Bernard Parks in this year's city election.
It cited endorsements from a number of folks who are no longer with us, such as soul musician Ray Charles, TV and film producer Aaron Spelling, and Ethel Bradley, who was married to former Mayor Tom Bradley.
The mailer was sent out by an independent expenditure committee. And the consultant involved with it resigned from his job as a result.
Rick Orlov is a Daily News staff writer. His Tipoff column appears Mondays. For a daily fix on politics, visit the Sausage Factory at insidesocal.com/politics. To contact him, call 213-978-0390 or write to rick.orlov@dailynews.com.
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