Story courtesy of The City Maven.
It has been less than two months since Austin Beutner left his post as the first deputy mayor in City Hall to launch his bid to be the next mayor of the city of Los Angeles, and now his days are spent meeting folks and raising money as he prepares for 2013.
The money seems to be coming along, with the Beutner camp giving notice yesterday that it has reached the $200,000 benchmark. The former investment banker is also spending days and evenings meeting constituents and civic leaders throughout the city.
"We started from scratch. We're making progress. We're making good progress," he told The City Maven earlier this week during an interview at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. "My campaign is going to be about getting past the reflexive geographic and identity politics to say we all have an interest in making Los Angeles work and seeing Angelenos get work."
Beutner came to most people's attention at the end of 2009 when it was announced that he would join the mayor's office with the responsibility of overseeing 12 city departments and 17,000 employees. Thanks to his financial success with The Blackstone Group and Evercore, Beutner famously worked for the city for $1 a year. He plans to do the same if elected mayor in two years, noting, "I don't need a job."
Some have suggested it could be tough for Beutner to raise funds if donors believe he will put his own money into the race at a later date. That's not likely, Beutner said.
"I tell people I'm contributing something far more valuable -- my time. I don't have to do this. I'm doing it because I think it matters and because I care, and if my time isn't worth something to people, I'll go do something else," he said.
In a race that already includes a council member and the controller, and is expected to have another council member, county supervisor and state senator, Beutner is positioning himself as the outsider who lacks the political credentials -- and baggage -- of his opponents.
"If Angelenos think we need more of the same, they should vote for someone in City Hall," Beutner said. "They should vote for someone who works for the county or works for the city in some formal fashion because they'll get more of the same. I don't see those in the city equipped to do things differently or to lead Los Angeles in a different way."
Despite criticism of "more of the same," Beutner has nothing but good things to say about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"There are those in City Hall who love the intrigue. 'They're so different. How could they possibly get along?' He gave me plenty of room to do what I thought I could get done and he supported it," Beutner said, noting the two men are having dinner together this weekend.
He and Villaraigosa, however, do have very different styles and energies. In a column published last month, Los Angeles Times writer Jim Newton described Beutner as "mild to the point of dull."
"Certainly in contrast to lots of what's getting attention today, dull is not so bad," Beutner said. "You know, I have a pretty simple life. I have a good set of family values. I'm never going to get headlines for the wrong things so I'll take dull any time ... And for those who have heard me speak, it certainly sets low expectations."
In that same piece, Newton suggested Beutner and developer Rick Caruso would be Republicans' candidates of choice, even though Beutner is registered as a "decline to state" voter.
"Angelenos have a long and actually pretty proud tradition of an open race -- apolitical. People identify, I think, with Los Angeles and what needs to be done, not with political parties so I don't think that's going to be an issue at all," Beutner said of his voter registration.
"I'm an independent person so I've always registered that way. I choose to vote the person. I choose to vote who is best equipped to tackle the challenges of the job."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.