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Former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado — "who was the highest ranking Republican Latino statewide official in generations" — is seriously considering a 2014 run for governor against Jerry Brown. SF Chronicle
Jim Brulte, who was chosen state Republican leader this weekend, donated $1,300 to Wendy Greuel's mayoral campaign in September — before Kevin James became a viable candidate, he says. LAT
An informal gathering of media and political types at the Republican state convention in Sacramento polled themselves on who is likely to be the next governor after Jerry Brown. The winner was Gavin Newsom, followed by Kamala Harris and Alex Padilla. Wendy Greuel got one vote, with her name spelled wrong; Antonio Villaraigosa got none. Carla Marinucci/Chronicle
Mayoral hopefuls Greuel, Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry exchanged last weekend shots at each other while out campaigning on Sunday. James made just one stop, while Emanuel Pleitez ran from Westchester to the Watts Towers. LAT
Monday campaigning: Early riser Greuel began at the produce and flower markets, then hit San Pedro, the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda and was to ride the Gold Line on the Eastside. Garcetti's first call was with union members in Wilmington at 5:45 a.m., then he planned to ride the Gold, Expo and Red lines and scheduled a night stop at Diddy Riese in Westwood. Pleitez will run or bike from Athens Park to the San Pedro Fish Market. Perry and James: unknown.
This is a stronger field for mayor than people think: "All five of the leading candidates are smart and committed," says Jim Newton. "But do we really know what kind of mayor any of the candidates would be?" LAT op-ed column
Slouching toward election day: This isn’t the worst mayoral election of the last two decades, but it is the third worst, trailing only Antonio Villaraigosa’s underwhelming beatdown of Walter Moore in 2009 and the Richard Riordan-Tom Hayden yawnfest of 1997. Downtown News/Regardie
As eight candidates vie to be Los Angeles’s next mayor, voters tune out. Daily Beast/Pelisek
They have got to be kidding: the misleading mailers of the LA candidates. LAT opinion/Greene
A quick look at the top-level demographics of the newly drawn 13th and 9th LA city council districts. In the 13th, for example, there are 5 Latino voters to every two non-Latino white voters or Asian voters. LAT opinion/Hernandez
LA Observed weekend roundup of the campaign
Campaign 2013 page
As we come to the end of round one of this year's city election, "we can now prepare for the May 21 runoff in 11 weeks." Plus the lineup for the special election in the Valley's 6th council district looks to pit Cindy Montanez against Nury Martinez. DN/Rick Orlov's Tipoffs
Crowded field competes in Tuesday's election for Los Angeles' 13th council district seat. KPCC/Stoltze
Jose Gardea vs. Gil Cedillo in city council district 1: Ugly fight for $178,789 job. LA Weekly/Mullins
There are elections in 28 cities in Los Angeles County on Tuesday. KPCC/McNary
The recent arrival of KFI's John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou on the air in the New York market "has given the popular duo a big new audience and their newest target to mercilessly mock — in the 'ultimate nanny' Mayor Michael Bloomberg — and the surprise of finding a politician they respect in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie." Politico
Vanity Fair deleted an article by a senior editor that was mildly critical of Jessica Chastain's body of work during the Oscar voting season. "It’s well known that The Hollywood Reporter and Variety cravenly promise Oscar hopefuls flattering coverage. But Vanity Fair?," asks Nikki Finke. Deadline
Pomona is the center of SoCal hot rod culture, says the LA Times.
California's economy needs more immigrants, argues Joel Kotkin. OC Register opinion
A major cross-mountains road, Coldwater Canyon Avenue, will close during the day from from March 23 to about April 26 for a major water improvement project.
