Trutanich, Vahedi Endorsed by LA Times & Daily News

Carmen Trutanich and David Vahedi

Signaling a cry for new blood in city politics, both major newspapers in town have endorsed David T. Vahedi for Council District 5 and Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich for City Attorney. Both face career track politicians, Paul Koretz and Jack Weiss, respectively, on next week's ballot.

"Having seen Weiss in public office for eight years, his shortcomings, including his obvious lack of interest in his constituents and the work of the office, are all-too obvious," opined the Daily News. The LA Times, also looked at Weiss' record: "Weiss is smart and capable. Yet the best argument for him from many supporters -- that he would blossom in the post in a way he did not on the City Council -- is based more on hope than evidence."

Besides slamming Weiss, the Times finds Trutanich's background of defending criminals and alleged polluters as a good thing and the Daily News likes that Trutanich is a practiced lawyer with lots of court experience behind him.

"For an outsider, Vahedi impresses with his encyclopedic knowledge of even the most obscure zoning regulations, Environmental Quality Act provisions and parking policies," noted the LA Times. The Daily News echoed those sentiments, too: "Despite the fact that he's never worked in City Hall, Vahedi seems well-versed in the details of government and could hit the ground running."