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Friday, January 14, 2011

Things That Make You Go Hmmm: Brad Smith Drops Out

Street Hassle reports that Brad Smith has dropped out of the race for the CD12 Council Seat being vacated by Greig Smith. (No relation)

The heir apparent under the Smith-Villaraigosa machine is Mitchell Englander, currently Chief of Staff for Smith. As you may remember, Smith was the Chief of Staff for the Clowncilman before that, Hal "Napkin Joke" Bernson.

Apparently it's an oligarchy in CD12.

I became aware of Smith puling a Sarah Palin via SOME GUY, who DM'd yesterday on Facebook.

My first response was "What did you guys offer him?" SOME GUY didn't like that.

Now I am not at all accusing anyone of anything shady (though in this town it's usually a safe bet) but when the leading challenger with the most money after the heir apparent drops out, it makes you go "Hmmm."

We've seen a number of occasions where a past opponent in a race drops out and then gets something. Lawyers call "quid pro quo" and no, my friends, that is not a character in Nickelodeon's SpongeBob Squarepants.

There is no evidence to suggest the more evil Englander scion offered B Smith anything nor that if he did, Smith accepted. But it's still legal, even in a post-Gattoaclytpic world, to wonder out loud.

I simply find Englander to not be genuine and one who's entire career has been about climbing a ladder of political offices, opportunistically like Mike Gatto, Bob Blumenthal, Lloyd Levine, Cindy Montanez and even to some degree, Tamar Galatzan.

And before you riff on that "Higby must hate young politicians," don't bother. There are a number of younger candidates who have sought public office as a way to do service. Stuart Waldman, Monica Rodriguez and Caprice Young, or even back in the day, a young Joel Wachs, to name a few, come to mind.

However unless Kelly Lord and a whole bunch of SLAP Happy Clean Sweepers get to work fast, get some money and make magic happen (and have the fortitude for when Michael Trujilo calls you racist), the Dark Lord will be your Clowncilman out there in CD12.

Otherwise stay tuned for more of the same.

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14 Comments:

Anonymous trojan2002 said:

I don't think anything was offered to Brad.
But you're right, in this town anything is possible. And it wouldn't be surprising.
I don't believe Mitch is genuine either. I do think he is a born politician, and always looking two steps ahead on how to get to the next position.
I am befuddled that Mitch has over $400K in donations, while Cardenas has less than $200K, Huizar has less than $200K, and is Kerkorian even accepting donations?
Mitch is spoken for (by special interests and older connected voters of cd12) before election day.
And somehow, that seems ok?

Michael, speaking of Blumenfield... should we start referring to him as the candidate for 28th District? Or is that already spoken for by Michael Feuer.

January 14, 2011 5:50 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Is Englander's occupation on the ballot going to be "Policeman"?


It's showing on the filing docs, but isn't his main day job working for the CM and working as CM Greig Smiths's Chief of Staff at that? (Which is the one he puts more effort into? Shouldn't that be what decides it?)


I don't think a reserve officer would qualify to be his occupation under the circumstances. And if you "volunteer," is that sufficient for an "occupation"? At least have it read "Volunteer Policeman."


What happened to "Truth in Campaigning"? Just kidding.


Political campaigns are not reall life- they just affect real life. It's all like a magic show to make you believe that what you saw really was what happened.

in cd-14

January 14, 2011 7:13 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What if by some odd chance, Brad still gets elected? Isn't it too late to withdraw? Did he officially withdraw? What happens in a case like this?

January 14, 2011 7:20 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I guess this blog is reserved for CD 14 issues.

January 14, 2011 10:49 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This blog has a bad habit of trying, and failing, to make viable candidates of people who don't have a prayer.

Englander has $400,000 and Smith had $4,000. When Smith entered the race, Englander already had $300,000.

You can be the best candidate in the world, but if you don't have the money to tell the voters you exist, you're going nowhere.

Englander did what viable candidates have to do. He started early with a plan through which to win and raise money long before he filed.

January 14, 2011 11:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Englander "talked to" Brads employer, who receives city contracts. Need anything else be said?

His ballot designation of "Police Officer" (yes, I'm serious) is another example of the fraud he is pulling on voters.

God help CD 12

January 15, 2011 12:29 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Englander did what pond scum scammers do. He started really, really early since he's despised, used his boss's donors, threatened Brad Smith's employer,(really?)used an improper ballot designation, took campaign donations from very special interests.

The only people that want him in office is the current CD 12 staff and a few elderly residents and the Republicans because they forget it's non partisan.

I guess I'll suck it up and vote for Kelly Lord now.

January 15, 2011 4:09 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Brad Smith suddenly drops out because he's out of money and realizes he doesn't have a real chance - and the first thing you post on your blog is hey, Greig Smith or Mitch must have paid him off????????? What the kind of irresponsible moron are you?

You don't have to like any of those people, and you can think or suspect whatever you want, but to publicly accuse an elected offical of bribery just like that? You should be ashamed. I guess I'm not surprised since you obvioulsy have had a personal vendetta against Englander and Smith for years.

January 15, 2011 7:41 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Daily News reported at the candidate forum Little Mitch Englander not once refer to his "real" job but kept insisting and giving the wrong impression that he is a "real cop," HE'S NOT HE'S A VOLUNTEER. More deceit from little Mitch showing all the photos on his web site wearing his LAPD uniform. Red flag to everyone is he has the endorsement of all the corrupt city council members. Englander is nephew of othe even more corrupt Harvey Englander who runs the biggest scam agency for lobbysists. Grass roots support need to vote for ANYONE BUT LITTLE MITCH. He has an ego but has little man syndrome. He treats people like crap and thinks he's all that. EXPOSE HIM FOR WHAT HE IS. HE'S NOT A REAL POLICE OFFICER

January 15, 2011 8:48 AM  

Anonymous g said:

TELL HELL FREEZES OVER I WON'T BE VOTING FOR MITCH ENGLANDER OR GRIEG SMITH'S CREW. BRAD SMITH SEEMS TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER BUT HE HAS A HABIT OF QUITTING BASICALLY A FLAKE. HE SHOULD KEEP TO HIS DAY JOB AND NOT INVOLVE HIMSELF IN NC'S OR POLITICS. IT'S A CHARACTER FLAW. I SUPPORT ARMINEH CHELEBIAN SHE IS THE MOST IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY NEEDS CHECK HER OUT JAN 31 IN GRANADA HILLS 7 PM AT THE SENIOR CENTER.

January 15, 2011 12:54 PM  

Anonymous g said:

KELLY LORD ANOTHER MESS.

January 15, 2011 12:58 PM  

Anonymous trojan2002 said:

11:14... the last filings showed smith had raised over $8K.

And I doubt the Englander campaign had to call Smith's employer or make any threats.

$400k vs. $8K... there was never a legitimate challenge from Smith or anyone else.

Mitch is on "leave" until the election. That, I think is the difference. None of the other candidates have the financial wherewithal to campaign for 10 weeks 24/7.

January 15, 2011 3:04 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The 3:04pm poster makes a valid point that only makes it worse for Englander.

He doesn't HAVE to deny he's Chief of Staff for Smith to win, he just does.

He doesn't HAVE to denigrate the hard working men and women of the LAPD in a blatant attempt to curry votes by volunteering once a month and then claiming identical status as the cop dodging bullets 40-60 hours a week, he just does.

He didn't HAVE to call Brad Smith's employer and pass veiled threats to a guy who runs his small business in part on city contracts, he just did.

Englander will win, almost undoubtedly. What is just as certain is that he will end up in jail if he continues his dishonest, vindictive and juvenile behavior in office.

January 16, 2011 1:45 PM  

Blogger Draiman for Mayor of LA said:

Do you want to maintain the quality of life in CD12.
Elect Brad Smith For Council.
If you want to change the business as usual.
Elect Brad Smith.
He has carisma, honesty and integrity.
Brad Smith is a family man, a church goer, believes in family values and morality.

YJ Draiman for Mayor

February 03, 2011 7:25 AM  

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