Race for Mayor – Just the Facts

Los Angeles will have a new mayor after the November 8 General Election. Current mayor Eric Garcetti is termed out. Karen Bass with 43.2% of the vote and Rick Caruso with 36% of the vote in June vie for a majority in the November election.

The facts about Karen Bass –

·      Elected official and social worker.

·      Democrat.

·      Net worth - $415,501 (Source – Open Secrets – charitable organization)

·      Since 2011 serves as U.S. Representative for California’s 37th congressional district.

·      Previously served 6 years in the California State Assembly – the last 2 as speaker.

·      Founder of LA Community Coalition (CoCo) – support for black, brown, indigenous, people of color.

·      2010 won John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for leadership during Great Recession.

·      Born in LA, raised in Venice and Fairfax.

·      Degrees - studied philosophy at San Diego State, graduated from USC Keck School of Medicine physician assistant program, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from California State University Dominguez Hills, Master’s in Social Work from USC.

·      Campaign spending for Mayor - $6 million since entering race a year ago; spent $11.79 per voter in primary.

·      Bass said - “I’m running for mayor to meet today’s challenges: crime, homelessness, and the soaring cost of housing.”

·      Campaign quote - Speaking to Axios, Bass spokeswoman Anna Bahr said, “Voters have a choice in this race — between a billionaire real estate developer who has never built a single unit of affordable housing despite 50,000 people living on our streets, and a Black community organizer who has spent her life running toward this city's crises and solving them.”

·      Endorsements – Democratic Party, LA Times, Planned Parenthood, Labor Unions, Magic and Cookie Johnson plus listed on Karen Bass’ website - https://karenbass.com/endorsements/.

·      Sources – Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, LA Times, Crosstown Neighborhood Newsletter.

The facts about Rick Caruso –

·      Businessman and real-estate lawyer.

·      Republican until January 2022 when he became a Democrat.

·      Net worth - $5.3 billion (source Forbes Magazine).

·      Founder and former CEO of Caruso, real-estate development company.

·      Developments projects in LA – The Grove, The Americana, The Promenade.

·      Chair of the board of trustees at USC, President of LA Police Commission, member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

·      Born in LA.

·      Degrees – Bachelor of Science from USC, J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.

·      2015 funded a voter initiative to bypass local planning laws and the California Environmental Quality Act.

·      2016 gave $476,000 to LA city officials over 5 years.

·      Campaign spending for Mayor – spent more than $41 million on primary campaign - $39 million of his own money, $176 per primary voter; to-date has spent $62 million.

·      Caruso said, “I’m running for mayor because the city we love is in a state of emergency: rampant homelessness, people living in fear for their safety, and politicians at city hall just in it for themselves.”

·      Campaign quote - Caruso Senior Advisor Peter Ragone said, “Los Angeles is in a crisis: Homeless, crime and corruption are uncontrolled. This is a moment for someone like Rick to come in and clean up City Hall.”

·      Endorsements – LA Police Protective League, Ex-mayor Richard Riordan, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Apartment Association of Greater LA; Endorsements not listed on Rick Caruso’s website.

·      Sources – Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, LA Times, Crosstown Neighborhood Newsletter.

Compiled by Debra Shrout