LA Mayoral Election Profile: Eric Garcetti
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A familiar name to Angelenos is already preparing for what he sees as a two-candidate race for Mayor of Los Angeles.
KNX 1070's Charles Feldman reports City Councilman Eric Garcetti anticipates being among the last candidates standing after the primary on March 5.
LA Mayoral Election Preview: Eric Garcetti
While no candidate is expected to win enough votes to walk off with the grand prize after the first round of voting is over, Garcetti fully expects to be one of the two candidates who will go on to the May general election.
Garcetti responded to criticism that he and the other candidates have been accused of not being specific enough in debates.
"Three things I want to see is, our unemployment rate go down below 10 percent and beyond, make sure we put people back to work with vocational training and and getting rid of our city's business tax which chases businesses away," said Garcetti.
"Two, looking at boosting our graduation rate," he added. "I think the mayor can play a catalytic role in making sure we have great schools by spending city money in our schools and helping businesses around our schools find internships and other things that graduate students."
But perhaps Garcetti's most ambitious goal is to tackle the city's notorious traffic problems.
"We have to reduce our traffic in Los Angeles. And I want to see five different rail finished or well underway by the time I leave office," he said. "It's the only way we will be able to get enough people out of cars to be able to really make a dent in the traffic that is choking our lives."
Garcetti is hoping to get the important Latino vote and even expand it, but questions have been raised about his commitment to the San Fernando Valley.
Garcetti said if elected mayor, his presence will be felt there.
"I am going to be a strong voice, working every month out of Van Nuys City Hall as the Mayor to show not just that I am the Mayor for the east side, for south side, for the west side, but also for the Valley," said Garcetti.
