OLD foes square off
for a rematch
L.A.'s mayoral race
BY STAN PAUL
UCLA Today
The March 8 election in Los Angeles pits incumbent Mayor James
Hahn against his political rival, Antonio Villaraigosa once again,
but don’t expect a replay of the battle they waged four years
ago for mayor, said political experts on a post-election panel March
10 on campus.
While each of the panel members had a different take on the upcoming
race, all agreed that it would be a rematch of the 2001 contest
only on the surface. The discussion, hosted by the School of Public
Affairs, was moderated by former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis,
a visiting professor at the school.
“Villaraigosa is in an immensely stronger position than he
was four years ago,” said Raphael Sonenshein, who gave him
a slight edge following the primary election. Sonenshein is a professor
of political science at California State University, Fullerton,
and author of “City at Stake: Secession, Reform, and the Battle
for Los Angeles.”
As for a rerun of the 2001 election, Sonenshein said, “It
isn’t yet. ... Hahn needs it to be a rematch.” Four
years ago, Hahn had a well-defined coalition supporting him. This
time, his support is “undifferentiated,” cobbled together
from all over the city, the professor said.
“The most important thing in this election is something that
nobody has talked about, which is immigration,” said Sonenshein,
also a Los Angeles Times poll consultant.
Xandra Kayden, a Senior Fellow at the school and former president
of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters, said the election would
end up being closer than it appeared right after the March election.
“The lesson Antonio learned from the first election is you
gotta fight back,” said Kayden, predicting the use of more
negative ads. Hahn, she said, “will have a very hard row to
hoe” as the campaign becomes more focused.
Panel member Richard Katz, a former state assemblyman who lectures
in the Department of Urban Planning, offered Villaraigosa some advice.
“What he should do is get out there and characterize himself
and his vision and let Hahn be on the defensive.”
Katz said the challenger should ask the incumbent, “You’ve
had four years. What’s changed?”
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