Mother’s Day Mailers Face Council Vote

So give him the benefit of the doubt: City Councilman Nate Holden isn’t excessively frugal; he’s a man whose reverence for the maternal vocation extends to literally tens of thousands of mothers, all of whom--coincidentally, of course--happen to vote in Los Angeles.

The problem is that Holden, whose reputation for pinching pennies is legendary, can’t find a way to pay for producing and mailing the thousands of Mother’s Day cards he’s about to have printed, labeled and signed.

The councilman was rebuffed last week by the staff of the city’s Ethics Commission when he asked if he could use officeholder funds to pay for them.

So, today Holden will ask the City Council to declare Mother’s Day a “special event” in Los Angeles, so he can use his office funds for the $6,000 mass mailing.

The question now is whether his colleagues will go along with the resourceful lawmaker.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who seconded the motion Holden will present to his colleagues, says she has subsequently learned that it wasn’t just another of the dozens of special events motions brought in routinely by council members.

“I thought it was like anything else--the Cinco de Mayo celebration or a church block party,” Miscikowski said. But now, she said, “I won’t be willing or able to support the motion.”

When his bid to use the officeholder funds was denied by the Ethics Commission staff, Holden, with a twinkle in his eye, was heard to say: “I just want you all to know that Mother’s Day is going to be a city-sponsored event.”

And who are the lucky 15,000 women who will receive his well wishes? They are women about 35 and older who happen to vote--er, live--in his 10th District.

Holden said he got the addresses off the voter registration database. Whether or not they have children is anybody’s guess.

A couple of years ago, Holden said, he sent cards paid for with his officeholder account funds.

But according to ethics rules, a city officeholder account only can be used for mailings that “provide information related to city-sponsored events or an official’s position on a particular matter pending before the council or the mayor.”

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In fact, in a letter sent to council members Monday, city Ethics Commission Executive Director Rebecca Avila said the officeholder funds are intended to provide “substantive” information to constituents rather than merely raising the profile of the elected official.

Officeholder accounts, limited to $75,000 per year, typically are a combination of leftover campaign funds and money raised while the council member is in office.

The Ethics Commission is considering some revisions to those rules and is expected to vote on the changes next month.

Sending cards to women who he’s not even sure have children isn’t a problem, the councilman says, as long as the message is generic enough.

“You just word it a certain way so you don’t offend someone who isn’t a mother,” Holden said. “The ladies seem to like it. I’ve had people stop and say, ‘The only one [card] I got was from you.’ ”

Holden said the cards will be just like previous cards he has sent. They say: “I will always cherish those warm memories of the past. My mother was a great lady . . . and I loved her very much. Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones . . . happiness on this Special Day and everyday throughout the year.”

Asked whether his council colleagues will go along with him, Holden said he can’t lose no matter how the others vote.

“Can they turn around and vote against Mother’s Day?” Holden said. “It will just make me look good. Doesn’t hurt me.”

If the council does approve Holden’s request, one City Hall insider said, “Next, they’ll make it pie-eating day.”

Apple pie, of course.