The Race For District Attorney: Mario Trujillo Close To A Decision

By Gene Maddaus Thu., Jan. 27 2011 at 11:16 AM

Mario Trujillo is considering a run for D.A.

There are at least two challenges for the career prosecutors considering whether to run for D.A. 1) How to deal with Carmen Trutanich, who has told supporters that he will run if Steve Cooley retires, and who would be the frontrunner. And 2) How to deal with Steve Cooley.

That's to say: Do you accept that Cooley has been a successful and popular D.A., and vow to essentially continue his legacy? Or do you look at his recent drubbing in L.A. County at the hands of Kamala Harris and decide that the county is hungry for change?

One of the folks trying to thread that needle is Mario Trujillo, the head deputy in the Bellflower office.

Trujillo has set up a website for his campaign, but has not yet formally announced. In an interview, he praised Cooley for his policy against prosecuting non-violent third strikes. But he also offered a mild critique, especially on the issue of recidivism.

"His decision on three strikes is well received," Trujillo said. "But there's many more things that can be done with this office. We need to look at alternative sentencing programs. It's clear, with the budget crisis, that we're not going to get more money from the supervisors. And the recidivism rate speaks for itself."

Trujillo is at least the fifth prosecutor to express a serious interest in running for D.A. next year. Among the others, Alan Jackson and Jackie Lacey would be most closely aligned with Cooley's policies. Danette Meyers is trying to define herself as the "change" candidate, challenging Cooley's record with much the same rhetoric that Harris used to beat him in the attorney general's race. Somewhere in the middle is Bobby Grace, who has offered both praise and criticism for Cooley.

The only one who hasn't staked out a position yet is Trutanich, and that's because -- at least officially -- he is playing coy about whether he will even run. Whenever he does get in, look for all the other candidates to train their fire on him.

For the non-Trutanich candidates, there are other challenges as well, such as how to raise money, how to court law enforcement groups, and how to build name identification. None of them have run for anything before. On fundraising, Jackson has the first-mover advantage, having announced early and already put more than $100,000 in the bank.

Tags:

Alan Jackson, Carmen Trutanich, Danette Meyers, district attorney, Mario Trujillo, Steve Cooley

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1146624

@Norma Scock: Your nonsensical paraphrase of "a tree falling in the forest" demonstrates your lack of cognitive reasoning. Therefore, your comment about Mario Trujillo and his race for District Attorney are worthless.

1146624

I believe its time for change and nonetheless "savor y ganas" (If you know what I mean). Therefore, Mario Trujillo "WILL" be the next District Attorney of Los Angeles County. Trust me on that! Half the Cerritos College students can't wait to vote in favor of "Mario Trujillo" the head deputy in charge of Bell Flower. Keep in mind citizens, it's the vote that matters not your ranting and raving.Oh and by the way, Mario Trujillo already made a decision which was to "RUN" tontos!! And the race has just begun .

NormaSkock

No one cares about Mario Trujillo. If a tree falls in the forrest, and no one hears it, did it really fall.

LA Observer

Trutanich is going to be ripped a new one when the TRUth about his "secret weapons" program leaks out. Secret Weapons? OK, it sounds crazy, but apparently that was the code word for some stealth-like programs he wanted to start that looked innocent, but were actually designed to gain power and money for his regime.

One "secret weapon" that has already proved a huge success was the billboard ordinance under which Trutanich is now suing property owners who allowed billboards to be placed on their properties to pay his office massive fines and penalties. The money goes to Trutanich's office, not the City General Fund and it doesn't matter if the property owner was told that there was a permit for the billboard, they still have to pay Trutanich "F you, pay me" is the explanation given.

One "secret weapon" that did not do so well was Trutanich's plan to appoint his deputy city attorneys as Administrative Judges who would hold hearings where they would be prosecutor, judge and jury over cases where homeowners installed water heaters without permits, or had yard fences that were too high. Trutanich believed that there was "no problem" because it was "only money" and the fines and penalties would ease the budget crisis. That plan died when the task force he assigned to design and implement the plan reported that it was "unconstitutional." Members of the task force apparently related that when others heard of the plan, they thought it was a joke. By all accounts, Trutanich was not pleased.

Trutanich's regime is nothing but that of a scare mongering shakedown artist.

Anon

I would support Trutanich if he ran.

LA Observer

I understand that the level of morale in the City Attorney's Office has shot up ever since they heard that Trutanich was going to run for DA. He won't be missed.

Morgan

Just the thought of having a bully like Trutanich with any real power (City Attorney is kinda like Boy Scouts compared to SWAT) sends a chill down my spine. Carmen the Clown, as he's called, made a complete fool of himself and the office when threatened Jan Perry and Tim Leiweke that he would have them arrested - over billboards! Trutanich is an ego maniac who won't listen to anyone and is consistently wrong on just about everything. He forgets that the only reason anyone voted for him was because his opponent was terrible, but that won't be the case in 2012. Jackson, Lacey and Trujillo at least all went to real law schools and have actual experience trying cases. Trutanich is a fake.

LA Observer

That's a little unkind to City Attorneys, but I get your point - Trutanich was really stupid to threaten to arrest anyone - arrests are done by cops not attorneys, and even Trutanich can't be stupid enough not to know that.

John

Trutanich a front runner? I don't think so. Without Cooley's support the San Pedro Thug has very little going for him. Law enforcement will back Cooley or Cooley's pick, leaving Trutanich with the support of his Bureau of Investigations - all 3 of them. After Trutanich made a fool of himself with his 'criminal aspects' investigation, and when that went nowhere, trying to some evidence, any evidence, with a Grand Jury (thank you City Council for say NO to that), he's got little to offer. People in his own offiice have turned against the man they call Carmen the Clown, and he's certainly not welcome at the DA's office where it is felt he would tie up the 260 investigators on his petty vendettas against his enemies. I say good luck to Mario, Jackie and Alan, don't worry about Nooooch, he's full of BS.

MOVE

No, Cooley has NOT been a popular DA and that's why the majority of voters in LA County (over 60%) rejected him when he ran for Attorney General! And NO, Trutanich is also not popular, in fact looks like he is hated by most voters and even his own supporters if you read any of the statements and articles written anywhere on the net by voters. Some of his former supporters are even calling Trutanich a "THUG". I have never heard such emotional negative sentiment towards any City Attorney of DA as I am hearing about Cooley and Trutanich. Why do you assume Trutanich, a LIAR, would be the front runner, especially when he promised not to run for another office until he was City Attorney for 2 terms. Voters aren't stupid, only politicians are.

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