Letters: Dissecting the mayor’s race

Re “Greuel team lost control of message, insiders say,” May 27

While I agree that Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel’s mayoral campaign was wrought with missteps and mixed messages, I think The Times overlooks the fact that Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti ran a pretty good campaign. He not only capitalized on his strengths, he was also able to use Greuel’s strengths and endorsements against her very effectively.

Greuel did Garcetti a favor by being so negative, enabling him to appear cool as a cucumber. This display enlarged their relatively minor policy differences into clear distinctions in style and personality. It also made Garcetti appear likable.

Garcetti ran the steady and consistent race, with no major snafus; Greuel did the opposite. And that made the difference.

Irene Daniel

Los Angeles

Greuel lost the race when the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the union for the L.A. Department of Water and Power’s utility workers, decided to spend money to elect her. From that point on, any DWP bill opened by the voters had the effect of being a Garcetti mailer as well.

Robert McArthur

Mar Vista

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