Ferraro and Gage Nearly Square Off

In a nose-to-nose confrontation, Councilman John Ferraro and Mayor Tom Bradley’s campaign manager, Michael Gage, turned a run-of-the-mill campaign press conference Wednesday into a near fight over postcards and campaign pledges.

Ferraro, running against Bradley in the April 9 election, called the press conference in the City Hall Rotunda to again challenge Bradley to declare that he will not run for governor next year. Ferraro presented what he said were about 6,400 postcards urging Bradley to commit to a four-year mayor’s term.

The event was routine until Ferraro spotted the usually mellow Gage, a former Napa assemblyman, in the crowd and beckoned him over.

A shouting match ensued as each poked the other’s chest in an exchange reminiscent of old-style blustery campaigning that is dramatically different from the reticent, low-key Bradley style.

Ferraro said his clash with Gage was “a sign that we’re getting to them.” The incident with Gage was the second time this week that Ferraro has tangled with Bradley aides. On Monday, Ferraro showed up unexpectedly at a community meeting where Bradley had spoken and exchanged words with Deputy Mayor Tom Houston.

Bradley Bristles

The mayor himself had shown some sensitivity over the weekend, when asked about a Ferraro charge that Bradley had shown favoritism to a contributor. In a rare expression of anger, Bradley said he did not know “what the hell” Ferraro has accomplished in 18 years on the City Council.

Wednesday’s face-off reflected the growing tensions as Election Day approaches.

A snippet:

Gage: “Let’s talk about raising the level of your campaign, John, sign our fair campaign code of ethics.”

Ferraro: “You sign mine and I’ll sign yours.”

Gage: “. . . The mayor is not running for governor as you’ve tried to slant.”

Ferraro: “. . . How do you like Los Angeles now that you’re down here for awhile?”

Gage: “I was born here.”

Ferraro: “You moved to Napa?”

Gage: “Yes, well, I couldn’t pass up the wine.”

Ferraro: “Yeah, well you look like you’ve had a little tonight.”

Gage: “. . . That’s a real cheap shot . . . real nice. I drank wine this morning?”

Ferraro: “I don’t know, did you?”

Gage: “Why don’t you try to get your campaign out of the gutter?”

Ferraro: “You’re the one who brought up the wine.”

‘Campaign Gimmick’

Bradley said later that Ferraro’s press conference was “purely a campaign gimmick” and that he had sent Gage there to receive the postcards Ferraro brought and to urge Ferraro to sign a fair campaign code that would call for an independent panel to screen campaign literature and commercials.

The mayor also said he personally called Ferraro several weeks ago. “I told him we had started the campaign on a friendly basis, and I would hope we would end up that way (and) keep it on a high level. He said he would.” But when asked if he thought Ferraro had done that, Bradley said no.

Bradley’s complaints stem from Ferraro’s repeated charge that the mayor is merely laying the groundwork to run again for governor next year. While Bradley has said that he has “no plans” to run for governor, he has refused to rule out another try.