Karen Bass moves ahead of Rick Caruso in L.A. mayor’s race
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Gil Cedillo, both Democrats, will be among the final candidates to qualify for October’s elections in what is shaping up to be the most expensive race for public office in state history.
Four people have so far signed up to run for Garcetti’s job: attorney and real estate lobbyist Rick Caruso, former federal prosecutor Karen Bass and businesswoman and philanthropist Wendy Greuel.
Bass is the first woman to register to run after she qualified with 11,851 signatures in October.
Two other people have so far qualified to run for Cedillo’s seat, former L.A. City Inspector Mark Ridley-Thomas and retired Army Maj. Gen. James Lyons.
Greuel could qualify Monday morning as a write-in candidate if she wins, and if she doesn’t, she could challenge her name on the ballot and run as a write-in candidate, according to the League of Women Voters.
Bass, a former aide to then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been running her own campaign for the past month.
The race has grown more expensive from the last time it was considered.
The $1 million filing threshold for candidates has grown from $200,000 for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2010 to $500,000 for the current mayor and councilman Steve Adler and $500,000 for Councilwoman Jan Perry, who decided not to run.
The filing fee is only $250 for minor parties.
The candidates said their campaign has been financed by donors from across the political spectrum, from grassroots supporters to wealthy elites.
“They have helped the candidates make that very necessary investment in their campaign,” said Bill Ament, spokesman for Garcetti.
Caruso said he has been a “longtime supporter” and “loyal supporter” of Garcetti, but has made his contribution in a “time and way that the leader has asked for.”
A Mentor volunteer and an unnamed “friend” have contributed more than $50,000 to Caruso’s campaign, according to campaign finance reports filed with the City Clerk’s office since last month.
On his campaign’s website, Caruso has already said he’s “offering his time to the Mayor’s campaign” at no charge.
In an email
