Man of Contrasts (poor Los Angeles)

[Rose Siding]

A Democrat, Bob Hertzberg is running on traditional GOP themes. Known for his hugs, he's also fierce and driven.

snip>
But beneath that outgoing persona, Hertzberg is fierce and calculating. He sued his own father. He went to court to cut his child support payments as he geared up to run for mayor.

He is campaigning as a contradiction. He is a Democrat running on traditionally Republican themes: He opposes new taxes and wants to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is an insider, trying to capture the outsider's elixir that propelled Arnold Schwarzenegger to the governorship in 2003.
...
As speaker, Hertzberg was immediately confronted by the energy crisis. As the financial health of California's major utilities crumbled and rolling blackouts plagued parts of the state, Hertzberg convened meetings of key players that would often last late into the night. Over months, he crafted a bailout package to keep Southern California Edison from following Pacific Gas & Electric into bankruptcy. Ultimately, the deal foundered in the Senate.

But his foes — specifically Hahn — note that Hertzberg benefited from the crisis in another way: At the same time that out-of-state generators like Enron were charging Californians unprecedented amounts for power, they were also donating thousands to Hertzberg. They were just one of many interest groups that donated millions of dollars during his speakership.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-hertzbergprofile10feb10,0,400513.story?coll=la-home-left1

[Demeter]

1. I Thank Goddess Every Day That I Don't Have to Live In CA!

While there may be some good people stuck in California still, or hunkered down in liberal enclaves, the state has gone to hell in a handbasket, with no signs of slowing.

[question everything]

2. What is sad that Hetzberg, and Alarcon

and Villaraigosa and Cardenas before him have become interested in City Council because their terms in the Assembly expired.

Wouldn't it be nice if these people did not look at public office as a security blanket never to let go off?