Huizar e-mails supporters that ranking of civic leaders was not 'some kind of Nixonian enemies list'
Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar sent an e-mail to his reelection supporters on Tuesday trying to explain his use of lists prepared by his office that graded civic leaders on their support for him.
He said the practice was done by “a former staff member” and has been abandoned.
“While the list has not been used in years, it was not, as my opponent claimed, some kind of Nixonian ‘enemies list,’” Huizar wrote.
“It most definitely was not used to determine who received services, or had their potholes filled.” Huizar said his opponent, Rudy Martinez, “cannot cite one single example of the misuse of that list for any purpose. Not one.”
The e-mail went out one day after The Times reported on the lists, which ranked dozens of civic leaders on their clout in the district, with 5 being the best score. The list also graded community leaders on their support for Huizar using a ranking of 3 to indicate a strong supporter and a minus 3 for a die-hard foe.
Huizar sent his e-mail after Martinez posted three separate lists--one for Boyle Heights, one for El Sereno and one for Northeast neighborhoods such as Eagle Rock and Mt. Washington--on his campaign website. “If Mr. Huizar was in touch with the community, he wouldn’t need to have a list,” said Martinez.
RELATED:
Huizar staff graded civic leaders on their clout and support for him
-- David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Does Huizar ever tell the truth?????????
Posted by: Gil | January 18, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Well, now that it appears that this list was released from a rival politician-to-be and a "Chamber of Commerce" and "Industrial Development" proponent...this Martinez guy has lost all credibility with me.
And I also just happened to see that particular segment of the "Flip This House" show where he hosted ("Rudy's Jefferson Jam"). He came off as an arrogant jerk who doesn't give a rat's rectum about what I consider is an extremely important element of District 14...historic and cultural preservation of its neighborhoods and architecture.
Posted by: Ruskinite | January 18, 2011 at 02:24 PM
The first president to keep an enemies list was John Adams.
Posted by: Schigolch | January 18, 2011 at 03:18 PM
The founding fathers also had slaves.
Posted by: founding father | January 18, 2011 at 03:41 PM
Of course, the original story on this went front-page in the Extra section; this response from Huizar will be buried in the online.
Doesn't seem quite fair, does it?
Posted by: Ms. M. | January 18, 2011 at 05:19 PM
Jose Huizar compounded his problem--he has made the egotistical mistake that many elected officials and corporate execs I have worked with always make--he didn't get in front of the problem...so he's making it worse.
Posted by: Ed C. | January 19, 2011 at 06:42 PM