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Austin Beutner for Los Angeles Mayor?

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He works for $1 a year and is bringing some no-nonsense planning to the city. Now Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, with his Wall Street background, is subject to rumors that he may be posturing himself -- or rather, he has been put in a high profile place to force the issue -- for political aspirations, says Rick Orlov at the Daily News.

One example of why some think he should run? "You can buy a $20 pair of shoes on the Internet and track it from purchase to the day it is shipped out," he said on transparency. "Yet, if you want to build a $100 million plant in the city, you can't find out where your plans are." Beutner has also rejected a budget plan from the LADWP, saying he wants one that residents can understand.

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