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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Secession Forces Downplay Loss of Goddard, Claussen

The Secession Question Secession Forces Downplay Loss of Goddard, Claussen By JACQUELINE FOX Staff Reporter Prominent leaders of the secession drive say the Sept. 26 departure of Goddard, Claussen, Porter Novelli as their hired strategist was expected and will do little to harm their cause. Even two of the top candidates for mayor of a new Valley city say they have no intention of bailing out of the race and do not consider Goddard’s resignation from the campaign as a blow to their own. They say a grassroots campaign, fueled by decades of emotional discord with city officials will win out over their opponents’ ability to outspend them four to one. Goddard’s representatives did not give specific reasons for the company’s resignation and even said they would consider taking on specific assignments for secessionists in the days to come. However, it became clear weeks ago that money was an issue. Prior to Labor Day the chances of spotting a pro-secession placard, TV commercial, radio or print ad were slim to none. Proponents said all that would follow Sept. 11 commemorations. But now they admit, money was tight. “They (Goddard) are a pretty high-priced unit,” said David Fleming, chairman of the Economic Alliance for the San Fernando Valley and a top contributor to the secession movement. Nevertheless, Fleming said Porter had done what it was expected to: hire focus groups to pinpoint voter priorities, send out mailers and assist with a blueprint for the ground campaign, expected to hit full speed in the next couple of weeks. He added that funding for the secession campaign from here on out would be gathered in typical fashion: fundraisers in the Valley and the other side of the hill. “This was the right decision for both sides,” said Fleming. “They did their job of laying the groundwork and now we are going to try to shoot together about $1 million. Certainly that’s no match for Mayor (James) Hahn’s campaign, but we knew that would be the case going in. Hahn covered the waterfront. He hit everybody in the business community up and there are a lot of deep pockets on the Westside of Los Angeles.” State Assemblyman Keith Richman, considered the highest profile candidate for mayor, said Goddard’s departure had no impact on his plans, particularly because, he said, there had been little interaction anyway between his campaign for mayor and the separate campaign run by the Valley Independence Committee (VIC). Like Fleming and others, Richman downplayed Goddard’s decision, saying the campaign was never intended to be won or lost on checkbook politics, but through a strategy aimed at the hearts and minds of voters who’ve had it with being treated like the redheaded stepchild. “There’s absolutely no question I’m going to continue with my campaign,” Richman said. “I think it’s always more difficult to raise money for a cause that may not happen, but this has never been and will never be a campaign that will be won by competing bank accounts. This is a grassroots effort.” Critics have been questioning the disconnect between campaigns for office and the iniative itself, suggesting that the lack of coordination between the two was creating confusion and would ultimately cost them support. Even Fleming agreed, saying “this is not an orderly campaign.” But Richman said the gap between candidates and the Prop. F campaign would be tightening over the weeks ahead. He also said that the vigor of 111 candidates all pushing for the same cause, combined with the efforts of VIC’s ground troops between now and Nov. 5, would be enough to sway voters, regardless of what the anti-breakup camp spends trying to defeat them. “I do believe that coordination between candidates and the VIC is important,” said Richman. “I have already been working over the last week and a half trying to enhance that coordination.” Richman said he’s raised almost $100,000 so far, but he declined to say how much he hoped to get before Nov. 5. Fleming said VIC is attempting now to corral about 5,000 volunteers to work precincts. To back up his support for grassroots-style campaigning, Richman pointed out that the secession movement has the backing of two prominent leaders of the Prop. 13 movement in the Valley: Joel Fox, who is helping run the Richman campaign, and Richard Close, one of the original leaders of the secession drive. Prop. 13 won only by a simple majority in the Valley and statewide but it forced a cap on property taxes and leveled the playing field for homeowners. “That’s the comparison that should be drawn,” said Richman. “The campaign for Prop. 13, in styles and in campaigning, is very much like this campaign we have today with the same degree of fear mongering and angry voters.” But one political strategist says the two are very different from one another, primarily because the Prop. 13 issue concerned residents across the state, not just the Valley. It also gave voters something they could sink their teeth into: the prospect of holding on to more of their money. “If it is a Prop. 13 campaign, it won’t be successful because the benefits were spent across the state and it didn’t need a dime to get voter approval,” said Raphe Sonenshein, professor of political science at Claremont College. He said grassroots efforts are always an adjunct to any campaign, but need money to carry the message to voters. He added that the only hope for secessionists now are the voters in their own back yard because of what he called strong anti-secession sentiment among ethnic groups in what would be left of Los Angeles under a split. “The only way they can win this now is to get a huge turnout by voters in the Valley,” said Sonenshein. Fleming disagreed. He said his experience “over the hill” is that voters south of Mullholland Drive “don’t give a damn about secession.” He said they were apathetic toward the Valley, and, with a lackluster race for governor also to be decided in November, voter turnout will be low outside the areas trying to break away. Fleming downplayed the notion that Goddard’s resignation sends a message to voters particularly those on the other side of the hill that secession has no credibility. “They don’t even know what Goddard Claussen is,” said Fleming. “Look, they’re frustrated because there’s no passion over there. They just don’t care.” Mel Wilson, also a candidate for mayor, called Goddard’s departure “disappointing,” but added that it would have no impact on his own campaign. He said, with the results of the recent VICA poll, secessionists can use the support of two major Valley business groups the United Chambers Of Commerce and VICA when they go courting the business community. “We can now go out and make our case to the business community at large, which has been rather quiet so far,” said Wilson. “Now they can get off the fence. We need to make a strong pitch to business owners and help them see the clear differences.” VICA Chairman Fred Gaines said his group met the same day the Goddard announcement was released to discuss a “strategy for how we are going to get the word out and as to why the business community should support Prop. F.”

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