Dana Deputy Gray to Run Against Galanter

In a prelude to a showdown next spring, Mary Lee Gray, senior deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana, announced Friday in Playa del Rey that she is running against Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter.

At a news conference on the Ballona Creek bicycle trail, Gray accused Galanter of “a lack of leadership” in failing to solve the council district’s critical problems, including crime, traffic, overdevelopment, gang violence, air pollution and airport noise. “Herunresponsiveness to community problems has greatly concerned me,” Gray said.

The early announcement and decision to formally establish a campaign committee next week will allow Gray to start raising money for what could become an expensive and partisan race against the first-term councilwoman.

In response, Galanter said she will defend her record during the campaign, which ends next April. “I intend to win reelection by doing my job and doing it well,” she said in an interview.

Galanter served notice that her new opponent’s association with Dana will likely become an issue in the heavily Democratic district, which includes Venice, Playa Del Rey, Westchester, Mar Vista and the Crenshaw District.

Gray insisted she is running an independent campaign and warned against “guilt by association” and negative campaigning in the contest.