Rick Caruso Dips a Toe in Mayor's Race, Seeks Rates for TV Airtime in November

By Gene Maddaus Tue., Sep. 25 2012 at 3:41 PM

Rick Caruso

Rick Caruso, the developer of the Grove, is taking some preliminary, behind-the-scenes steps toward running for mayor of Los Angeles.

Media buyers working on Caruso's behalf have called in recent days to check on rates for TV commercial time in November, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Caruso has not reserved any time yet. But his media buyer was interested in hitting the broadcast airwaves shortly after the Nov. 6 presidential election, according to the sources.

Caruso's political adviser, Matt Middlebrook, declined to comment. "I don't have anything to say about it," he said.

It's not clear whether Caruso has decided to run or is just keeping his options open. The deadline to file for the March 2013 primary is Nov. 10.

Caruso is the only wild card left in the race. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky announced last month that he will not run. The other major candidates -- Councilman Eric Garcetti, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Controller Wendy Greuel and former radio host Kevin James -- have been in the race for more than a year.

Caruso has kept a low profile since giving a feisty speech last year in which he attacked Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council, and described L.A. Unified as an "educational gulag." Earlier this year, he switched his party registration from Republican to "decline to state," which would make it easier to run in heavily Democratic L.A.

Caruso has never held elected office, but he has served on city commissions since he was in his 20s. Most notably, he served on the Police Commission when it voted -- in line with Mayor James Hahn -- not to renew Bernard Parks' contract as police chief.

A private poll taken last fall showed Caruso starting out well behind the top two candidates, Garcetti and Greuel, and tied with Perry. Caruso, however, would be able to boost his profile by drawing on his considerable fortune, much the way that Mayor Richard Riordan did in the fall of 1992.

Tags:

Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry, Matt Middlebrook, mayor, Rick Caruso, Wendy Greuel

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lollipoptheif

Caruso is helping the two-front runners with this publicized feign towards entering the 2013 L.A. Mayoral contest. This move freezes up potential donor sources for Jan Perry. The money interests will spread bets in a 3 horse race, but Caruso's fourth horse entry drives most wagering into the Garcetti-Gruell exacta.

Caruso says he is on-deck and pretends to take-off the warm up suit. That also redirects any strong wind from blowing back into Yaroslavski's sail or the sails of any other ambitious local pols with the name recognition to contend for L.A. Mayor.

The real question: Will the stables of Villaraigosa and Speaker John Perez let this race go off without putting a horse in the gate?

Hard to believe Villaraigosa/Perez will sit out 2013L.A. Mayor election.

Garcetti has already thrown out the gauntlet - if he wins, the Villaraigosa cronies all get booted. Gruell's base is west valley and Ventura Blvd. corridor homeowners - they would act like vinegar if Gruell hooked up support from Villaraigosa/Perez oil.

So, no matter what Caruso decides- get in or stay out- expect another candidate filing under the Villar/Perez banner by the County Registrar deadline.

If you want my picks - then you need to shell out a dollar for my tout sheet or wake before dawn yourself and watch the trainers working out their favorite claimer ponies before daylight.

You can have a teaser on my prediction for late-entry candidate by Villar/Perez:

No track record in elected-office, but well connected in City Hall bureaucracy, city labor unions and CA Dem Party and D.C. - L.A. Block Grant pipeline. Latina. Lesbian. Out front and in your face.