L.A. city attorney candidates pushing to the end in tight race

The major candidates for Los Angeles city attorney spent the day before Tuesday’s municipal primary stumping for votes in what a recent USC Price/L.A. Times poll indicated is a fluid and close three-way race for two spots on a likely runoff ballot.

Incumbent City Atty. Carmen Trutanich on Monday resumed campaigning after taking some time off upon the death of his mother, Esther Trutanich, 91, on Saturday. 

Trutanich got a boost from two independent efforts on his behalf, according to records filed with the city Ethics Commission over the weekend. L.A. Residents for Accountability to Support Carmen Trutanich for L.A. City Attorney 2013 and Citizens for Neighborhood Safety spent a total of $68,818 for consulting, mailers and phone calls to voters. 

Other independent groups have spent a total of $2,442 to help elect former lawmaker Mike Feuer. Ahead in fundraising and endorsements, Feuer spent the weekend and Monday walking precincts in the Fairfax District, making phone calls and meeting with voters in small groups at supporters’ homes. A Monday night community event and a scheduled Tuesday morning radio program appearance were to round out his campaign.

Dark horse candidate Greg Smith kept up his TV and radio ad blitz and added more of his personal funds to keep the ads on the air, campaign consultant John Thomas said Monday. By the end of last week, Smith, a private attorney who has represented police officers and firefighters in discrimination and whistle-blower lawsuits, had put $737,000 into his race.

A fourth candidate on Tuesday’s ballot, private attorney Noel Weiss, has not had the money to mount a citywide campaign.

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-- Jean Merl