L.A. Votes: Mayoral wannabes spar over ads; school races break record

With less than four weeks to go until voters head to the polls to select Los Angeles’ next mayor, the candidates are sparring about advertising.

Eric Garcetti’s campaign is accusing Wendy Greuel of violating federal disclosure laws in a move that saved her significant dollars, and calling on television stations to pull one of the controller’s ads. Greuel’s top strategist countered that Garcetti was not quibbling with the content of the ad, which attacked Garcetti’s record on the city council, but rather the disclosure requirements and sale price.

Garcetti launched his first ad in the runoff, which touts his record on revitalizing neighborhoods and promises more job training and basic services if he is elected. The 30-second ad comes more than a week after Greuel’s first ad.

FULL COVERAGE: L.A.’s race for mayor

The duo will meet Saturday, along with all candidates seeking citywide office, at a debate sponsored by the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils.

The man they are trying to replace, termed-out Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, traveled to Washington, D.C., to push two of his pet causes – an overhaul of immigration laws that would provide a path to legal status and citizenship for immigrants who are in the country illegally, and increased federal funding for transportation projects.

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The candidates for city attorney quibbled at a forum, with incumbent Carmen Trutanich criticizing rival Mike Feuer for an unusual campaign contract that Trutanich said amounted to an unlawful manipulation of city election laws.

In school board races, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg donated $350,000 to a political action committee led by Villaraigosa that is backing candidates who will support the policies of L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy. The donation is on top of $1 million Bloomberg put toward the effort before the primary. The beneficiary of the latest donation is Antonio Sanchez, a former Villaraigosa aide.

But the donation comes as the leadership of the city’s teachers union is roiling over whether its officials made a private deal with Sanchez. According to people with knowledge of the matter, union vice president Gregg Solkovits had an alleged understanding with Sanchez allowing the union to choose Sanchez’s chief of staff if he wins. Sanchez and Solkovits deny any such arrangement.

VIDEO INTERVIEWS: Eric Garcetti | Wendy GreuelComments, questions or tips on city elections? Tweet me at @LATSeema

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