LABJ Forum: Getting a Gauge on Election Season

It’s been an interesting time for news lately. From Enron to the Olympics, not to mention the war on terrorism, most Americans have been paying close attention to current events. But here in California, and Los Angeles in particular, several political races are starting to heat up. Still, local races have a tough time competing with national news that focuses on stories about corporate corruption and international terror. So the Business Journal asks:

Have you been following any of the recent political races?

Robert Darby

Partner

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP

I guess the answer is no, because I’m waiting to see the results of primary elections. I plan on voting, but I always wait until closer to the election. What I do is read the voter pamphlets and the editorial endorsements in everything from the L.A. Times to the L.A. Weekly to get a better sense of propositions. But I don’t do that until a week or so before the election.

Mark Gold

Executive Director

Heal the Bay

Yeah. Of course I’ve been following the gubernatorial race. But there have been so many water quality issues lately really that has been my principal focus. For me, right now, it’s really been Prop. 40 and the governor’s race.

Eddie Chan

Financial Consultant

Salomon Smith Barney

Not as closely as I normally do, that’s for sure. And some of the key issues have sort of slipped by the wayside. I think a lot about what’s been going on lately overseas in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia. The things that have been going on here Enron and Enronitis those are things that have definitely kept my attention. Someone I know didn’t even realize Riordan is running for governor. That was a little surprising.

Barbara Casey

Chief Executive

Casey Sayre & Williams

Absolutely. I’ve been following the Simon, Jones, Riordan race. Billy Simon was a client of ours and we’ve also worked with Riordan. Perhaps that’s why I’m more interested than the average person. It seems like the Governor’s race has gotten a lot more coverage than some of these other races, such as the controller. Also, a lot of people haven’t started their TV ads, so things will probably change then. Up to now, though, I feel a little short changed.

Lauren Kay

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

The Content Project

I actually haven’t. I’ve found it much more interesting to watch the Olympics. I love the Olympics and it’s reminded me how great it is to live in the United States. It’s been one of the only positive things in the media lately. It’s funny because today was one of the first times I even noted that Simon had gained so much popularity in the last few weeks.