Education Moves to Forefront of L.A. Mayoral Race
After enduring criticism by Mayor Villaraigosa for their lack of leadership and failure to offer a plan for improving public education in Los Angeles, both mayoral candidates were expected to go on the offensive Wednesday.
City Controller Wendy Greuel is slated to tour El Camino Nuevo Charter School with L.A. Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia.
District 13 councilmember Eric Garcetti scheduled a press conference with former mayoral candidates-turned-endorsers Emanuel Pleitez, Jan Perry and Kevin James.
The outgoing mayor slung attacks at his two potential successors during his State of the City address Tuesday night. His criticisms targeted both Garcetti and Greuel's lack of vision for one of the nation's largest public school systems.
"It has been disheartening to see our mayoral candidates devote so little time to a serious discussion of how to deliver a quality education to all our children," Villaraigosa said.
In advance of Mayor Villaraigosa's speech, both candidates sought to diffuse any criticism.
Garcetti's camp challenged Greuel to a debate that focuses solely on education-related issues.
"We agree that education has to be seriously debated in this campaign," said Garcetti spokesman Jeff Millman.
Greuel noted that as a "parent of a kid in LAUSD in the fourth grade," she agreed that education policy should take a more prominent position in the debate. She said that education is "something I talk about everyday."
Greuel also posted a Facebook status Tuesday night, adding a more personal touch to the debate.
"I enjoyed meeting with my son Thomas' teachers tonight at our LAUSD neighborhood school's open house," posted Greuel, pairing the message with a photo of her and her son.
It is great that the issue of education is being brought into the race. Maybe the candidates will consider the national movement to expand learning time for high-poverty areas. www.timetosucceed.com