Campaign 2013

Election post-mortem in quotes (some very pointed)

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Eric Garcetti surrounded by supporters and media in Echo Park on Wednesday. Photo by Gary Leonard - click to gigantify.

Quotes often tell the story. These are from a variety of sources.

"Enthusiasm — real grassroots enthusiasm — trumps money, trumps endorsements, trumps everything." — Eric Garcetti on his election victory.

“This election was never for sale. People want you to be independent.” — Garcetti today in Echo Park.

"Soy uno de vosotros." — Garcetti. ("I am one of you")

"You showed the daughters, sisters, wives and mothers of Los Angeles that one day we will have a woman mayor of Los Angeles." — Wendy Greuel.

"Eric cares deeply about Los Angeles and he will work tirelessly and be a strong and innovative leader at a critical time in the city’s history." — Greuel to the media.

“They would be so proud... They never would have thought I would run for mayor of Los Angeles.” — Greuel emotionally discussing her late parents.

"In the end, [Greuel] proved unable to carry her home precinct in Studio City." — Michael Finnegan and Ben Welsh, LA Times

"We did much better in her base than she did in ours." — Garcetti strategist Bill Carrick, in the LAT.

"In the Valley, Republicans, especially in the western part of the Valley, deserted her." — Fernando Guerra of Loyola Marymount University, in the Daily News.

"I am flabbergasted; I thought women would really want to see the first woman mayor of LA but somehow that just didn't resonate." — Guerra on Greuel splitting the female vote with Garcetti.

"The most liberal man in the race carried Republicans by a substantial margin. To me, that can all be traced to the DWP, and the perception that was created around the DWP. " — William Wardlaw, chairman of the Riordan and Hahn mayoral campaigns, in the LAT.

"Garcetti may be the most politically progressive mayor Los Angeles has seen in recent history." — Times editorial.

"Voters showed they want something new." — Daily News editorial.

"It was one of the worst run campaigns I've ever seen in my life." — Parke Skelton, Mayor Villaraigosa's former election strategist, on the Greuel campaign to the LA Times.

"Greuel has been a high-profile public servant who believes in Los Angeles and has devoted much of her career to improving it. But boy, did she run a lousy campaign for mayor." — columnist Jim Newton

"Labor gambled and lost." — columnist Steve Lopez

"The potential for [DWP workers] going on strike, or having walkouts or slowdowns, is real. The potential for that happening when it's 110 degrees in the San Fernando Valley is also real." — City Hall lobbyist Steve Afriat, in the LA Times.

"Eric is a true leader who I trust to guide our city into its bright future. I know I am leaving Los Angeles in good hands....Wendy, like Eric, is a dedicated public servant who I've worked with for many years. She has devoted her career to making our city a better place, and I know she'll continue to do so in the future." — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

"I think the election signals a new generation of leadership for the city." — Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, to Los Angeles Magazine.

"I made a mistake and I can't turn back the clock." — City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, on the pledge not to run for DA that led to his defeat, in the LA Times.

"He's a very good lawyer. He's not a very good politician." William W. Carter, chief deputy to Trutanich.

"It would definitely seem that people did their homework." — Ron Galperin, on voters choosing him over Councilman Dennis Zine in the city controller race.

"It’s got to be disturbing to people who like good government." — Raphe Sonenshein, director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs, on the low voter turnout, to KCRW.

"Well I'd say this mayor's race is about complete. IBEW boss Brian D'Arcy just gave me the middle finger from his 2nd floor office window." — LA Weekly reporter Gene Maddaus tweet.


More by Kevin Roderick:
'In on merit' at USC
Read the memo: LA Times hires again
Read the memo: LA Times losing big on search traffic
Google taking over LA's deadest shopping mall
Gustavo Arellano, many others join LA Times staff
Recent Campaign 2013 stories on LA Observed:
Shallman and Carrick on 'Which Way, LA?' tonight
Greuel consultant blames the LA Times
Morning Buzz: Friday 5.24.13
Campaign 2013 photo gallery by Gary Leonard
Election post-mortem in quotes (some very pointed)
Losers in the mayoral race: Latino leaders?
Yaroslavsky: No regrets and some advice for the next mayor
Garcetti thanks Greuel and LA, says election was 'never for sale'