Jan Perry: Union Campaign Against Bernard Parks Is A 'Tantrum'

Jan Perry: Union Campaign Against Bernard Parks Is A "Tantrum"

By Gene Maddaus Thu., Feb. 10 2011 at 3:24 PM

Brian D'Arcy

Councilwoman Jan Perry called out the leader of IBEW Local 18 today, saying that a union-backed campaign against Bernard Parks is nothing more than a "massive, ridiculous tantrum."

Two union groups have so far spent ~~$192,000~~ $207,000* to defeat Parks in the city election on March 8. The L.A. County Federation of Labor and Working Californians have a long list of grievances against the pro-business councilman, and are supporting challenger Forescee Hogan-Rowles.

Speaking today at the L.A. Current Affairs Forum, Perry argued that Brian D'Arcy, the business manager of IBEW Local 18, is waging a personal vendetta against her council ally.

*Another $15,000 since lunch.

"This all goes back to Brian basically not getting his way and he's acting out," she said. "It's a massive, ridiculous tantrum."

Perry said she had heard labor leaders acknowledge that Hogan-Rowles doesn't have much of a chance against the well-known incumbent.

Jan Perry

They say, 'Oh yes, he'll win. We're just trying to teach him a lesson,'" she said. 'It's a candidate that they themselves don't believe to be extremely viable."

Perry lamented D'Arcy's tactics, which she said reminded her of those of organized crime back in Cleveland, where she grew up.

"I'm a little tired of people being intimidated," she said. "I don't take well to that kind of behavior. It needs to stop."

Parks and Perry are two of the most business-friendly members of the council, and they often vote together.

Labor groups spent more than $8 million to defeat Parks in the Second District Board of Supervisors race in 2008.

IBEW Local 18, which represents workers at the Department of Water and Power, objected strongly last year to Parks' plan for the council to take greater control of DWP pension benefits.

Asked to respond, D'Arcy issued a statement that hits all the Hogan-Rowles talking points:

"We want to let voters know that Forescee Hogan-Rowles understands what it takes to get people working again. As CEO of a local financial institution, Forescee has helped small businesses succeed by providing loans where big banks wouldn't, so local entrepreneurs could grow and create jobs. Forescee Hogan-Rowles has been a trailblazer in breaking down barriers and expanding opportunity for our community."

Forescee Hogan-Rowles

Parks has far outraised Hogan-Rowles. She reported bringing in only $17,000 last year, and is not well known in the district.

But she has much greater independent support than Parks does. The union groups have put out half a dozen mailers and bought radio and TV time to introduce Hogan-Rowles to voters. The literature touts her as a small businesswoman who has helped entrepreneurs through her job as CEO of Community Financial Resource Center.

Though the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles has vowed to launch an independent campaign for Parks, so far only $615 of independent money has been spent on his behalf.

Lamar Advertising spent $500 for a billboard and the L.A. Clean Sweep committee spent $115.39 for a door hanger.

Update: Here's a TV spot that Working Californians just put up on YouTube. Very soft-focus and uplifting. Presumably the nasty stuff is coming later:

Tags:

Bernard Parks, Brian D'Arcy, Forescee Hogan-Rowles, IBEW Local 18, Jan Perry

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Guest

Some folks went down and protested the IBEW Local 11 over this same issue yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Yuval Kremer

Great post, except you refer to Parks as "pro-business" and "business-friendly" in the context of the LA County Federation of Labor. Readers might take that to mean that Parks sides with businesses over employees in general. The reason these two unions are going after Parks is that he has tried to reduce the ridiculously generous and unsustainable Pensions (as well as other compensation) that CITY Employees get. The CITY Employee Unions are major players at election time...they can use UNlimited funds to help their candidate win (for example, by paying for mailers) and they can also tell their members who to vote for and make phone calls for a candidate. Our local politicians rely on the support of the CITY Employee Unions and are also in fear of these Unions...that creates a conflict of interest and a real problem when it comes time for these same politicians to vote on Union Pensions, etc. Bernard Parks and Greig Smith are both on the City's Budget and Finance Committee and they are they are the responsible adults that have said enough is enough...but the CITY Employee Unions will only concede very little ground and the DWP Union won't budge at all. Greig Smith is leaving unfortunately, so that leaves Bernard Parks (sometimes with an assist from others) as the courageous fiscal conservative that may be able to save this City from financial doom. He should not lose his seat for serving the Residents instead of the CITY Employee Unions...and City Employees should realize that this City is facing the prospect of NO services except for Public Safety and DWP, as well as the prospect of Bankruptcy...it's time for the City Employee Unions to HELP solve the City's financial problems rather than using threats, fear, and Independent Expenditures.

The two previous comments referred to Perry and Parks being pro-Developer...it's not really fair to single them out (in the context of this election cycle and this article)...virtually every councilmember, the Mayor, other local politicians, and the new head of the Planning Department are all pro-Developer. The residents in Parks' council district are not so focused on OverDevelopment as residents in other council districts.

Also, wasn't Forescee Hogan-Rowles a DWP Commissioner who approved rate hikes?...that was my understanding. She has also made it clear that she is unlikely to mess with City Employee Pensions and other compensation...somebody needs to ask her how she plans to serve Residents and retain or improve city services after selling out to the City Employee Unions, especially the DWP Union.

DaveinLA90012

Sure, Perry's trying to downplay this as a "tantrum" because she knows she is the target in two years. If Parks loses now, she better hope AIG is willing to step up to finance her reelection bid.

Eugenia

Pro-business? More like pro-Eli and pro-developer. Parks and Perry have been the leaders in seeing more and more of our public dollars being given to rich City Hall insiders who don't need it, while neglecting their constituents south of the 10 freeway.

They both need to go.