She wants to be the first female Mayor in Los Angeles
For original article (in Spanish) click here.
"One, two, three, four," girls at Logan Avenue Elementary School in Echo Park are counting the beats. It is the rhythm of the dance they are performing. The beats accelerate "five, six, seven, eight." They repeat the cycle twice and stop with their faces flushed and fits of laughter.
Wendy Greuel, City Controller and Mayoral Candidate, is following their movements, with a joy that only demonstrates the close relationship she has with her only son, Thomas, age nine, the age of most of the eighteen girls who are instructing her on the moves.
"I started LA's BEST [an after-school program is offered in 189 Los Angeles schools] and wanted to see how the program I started many years ago is functioning," Greuel explains as the reason for her visit.
"You did?" asks one of the little girls amazed.
In the humble hallways Logan Elementary School, Greuel recalls her beginnings in public service, She created the initiative in 1988, under the leadership of then-Mayor Tom Bradley. She is also reunited with her goal to become the first woman mayor in the history of Los Angeles and be a motivation for women, especially for girls.
"What it means for those girls is that they can achieve, there are no barriers to reach their goals, if they want to be mayor, astronaut, lawyer, police, whatever you want. The message I'm sending is that if you do what you are meant to do and you work hard you can go far, "she says.
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Greuel entered the public sector during the administration of Bradley (mayor from 1973 to 1993), then worked as an advisor to the Department of Housing (HUD) and then became executive DreamWorks film company.
In 2002 she was elected to the District 2 City Council of Los Angeles and seven years later became Contoller , where, according to her calculations, she has saved more 160 million dollars to the City avoiding "fraud, waste and abuse", a figure that has been criticized.
"It's campaign silly season ," she said regarding the attacks from her main rival in the race and former political ally, Councilman Eric Garcetti. "It's funny that they're arguing over how much fraud and abuse I have found' [imitates an angry voice], because I found a lot," she says.
Earlier, the Comptroller, 51, faced questions about his alleged use of official time and personnel for electioneering. All the attacks, she says, only divert the attention of voters on the issues that really concern them.
"That sends the message that I'm leading the race," says the candidate.
Not every poll has her leading. A SurveyUSA poll released last week concludes that it has 20% of voter preferences, four points behind Garcetti. With a similar advantage to the margin of error of the study, both reach the finish line in a virtual tie. According to the survey, the comptroller has the support of whites, older and more income, while Garcetti has the support of male voters, conservatives, Latinos and Asians.
She has the support from some of the major unions in the city, helping her to be the first candidate with a TV ad. Without being subject to donation limits, the contributions of the group will give a financial boost to her campaign, which has already raised $ 3.6 million.
"As mayor I want to see a city that allows us all to achieve our dreams, no matter where you live or your income level, you have the same opportunities, "said Greuel.
Before leaving Logan Elementary, in a class where they make shapes with marshmallows and spaghetti, a girl listening to the Greuel's story about creating LA's BEST, says she will vote for her. "You can't vote " Greuel says. "until you turn eighteen."