Yaroslavsky Takes Step Toward Mayoral Race

In his first official step toward running for mayor in 1989, Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky filed papers Thursday with the city clerk’s office to raise money for a possible campaign.

The action is not a declaration of candidacy, but it does signal more strongly than ever that the 12-year councilman might take on incumbent Mayor Tom Bradley. By filing the intent to raise campaign contributions, it becomes harder for Yaroslavsky to back away from actually running for mayor. If he decides later not to run, his contributors risk having antagonized the mayor and will have gained nothing from an abandoned campaign.

Traditionally allies, both are liberal and pragmatic politicians who have drawn on the same sources of support.

But more recent voter concerns about the city’s rapid growth and the resulting traffic and crowding problems have drawn a line between the councilman and the mayor. Already, a potential race between Yaroslavsky and Bradley has been characterized as a battle between anti-growth factions who supported last year’s limited growth ballot measure co-sponsored by Yaroslavsky, and business and pro-growth factions that have supported the mayor.

Though it does not commit him to becoming a candidate, under city law Yaroslavsky had to declare an intent to solicit campaign contributions in order to leave the door open to running for mayor. Yaroslavsky already has nearly $1 million in his campaign fund, but under city law it is all in a category of funds that may not be used in running for city offices.

Bradley announced in January on entertainer Joan Rivers’ television talk show that he would run for an unprecedented fifth term. He filed an intent to raise money a few days later.

Yaroslavsky’s filing, which he did without fanfare, appeared purposefully low-key for a councilman who traditionally has not been shy of publicity.

“We don’t want to make more out of this than it is at this point,” said Michelle Krotinger, Yaroslavsky’s press aide.

Yaroslavsky said in a statement that friends and supporters had offered financial help “for a possible candidacy in 1989. The formation of this committee is simply a step which enables us to accept funds from these supporters. This is not a declaration of candidacy nor will I make such a declaration until the latter part of next year.”

Bradley press aide Ali Webb said: “The mayor said the more (who run) the merrier. It’s really too soon to tell if Zev is really going to run, so the mayor is not going to speculate on that.”

Another longtime Bradley friend who did not want to be identified said the mayor’s office sees Yaroslavsky “as a viable, formidable candidate. The people who are working for Tom Bradley are working a little harder now. The challenge is good for the city, frankly. Whether Zev really will run, who knows? He makes up his mind every day, I think.”