Democratic leaders blast Perry mailer implying Greuel is Republican
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Jan Perry is attacking City Controller Wendy Greuel, a fellow Democrat, as a Republican who is “not on our side!” in a new flier she is mailing to voters across the city.
The mailer features a picture of Greuel’s 1979 voter registration card, when she registered as a Republican. But Greuel changed her registration to the Democratic Party in 1992, and has been a Democrat her entire time in elected office.
The mailer, which implies that she remains a Republican, features a GOP elephant symbol beneath an unflattering picture of Greuel. On the flip side, it says that Democratic leaders support Perry, and urges voters, “On March 5th, vote Democratic. Vote for Jan Perry for Mayor.”
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Democratic leaders reacted sharply.
"To suggest that Wendy Greuel is anything other than a proud Democrat is absurd,” said John Burton, chairman of the California Democratic Party and a former state senator.
In an interview he said the tactic was that of a losing candidate and said any campaign adviser who suggested it ought to be sued for malpractice.
WHERE THEY STAND: Los Angeles mayoral candidates in their own words
“It’s not only far-fetched, it’s kind of stupid,” he said. “Everybody knows she’s a Democrat.”
The chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party said such tactics undermine the party.
"At a time when our city is seeking new vision and new leadership, Democrats tearing each other apart only helps the Republican in the race, and does nothing to advance our shared Democratic values,” said Eric Bauman in a statement.
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Neither Burton nor Bauman has publicly endorsed a candidate in the March 5 primary.
Perry has been waging a blistering mail campaign against Greuel, and prior mailers have also been questioned about their accuracy or implications. Perry and her campaign strategist Eric Hacopian dismissed such concerns, defending the mail pieces as typical campaigning.
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-- Seema Mehta
Photo: Jan Perry at a mayoral debate at Cal State Los Angeles on Monday. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times
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