Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso hasn’t officially declared his candidacy for mayor but the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce is already planning to endorse him.
“We didn't officially endorse him yet because he hasn’t officially announced his run for mayor but as soon as he announces it, we are putting it on our agenda and we are going to vote on that,” said Roozbeh Farahanipour, chair of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. “I will try to make sure the board of director of our chamber endorses him.”
Caruso is expected to campaign as a Democrat, according to media reports but he’s formerly a Republican.
Farahanipour said the majority of the people in Los Angeles are Democrats.
"Caruso is a free man and a smart man," Farahanipour said. "He knows that by running as a Democrat, he can compete with other candidates not only in the general race but in the primary as well. I think that was a very smart move.”
Statewide, almost half of registered voters are Democrats, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Some 46.5% are Democrats compared to 24.1% who registered as Republican
“Instead of just competing with his Democrat competitors in one shot, he's competing with them in two different races, which creates a more and higher chance for him and also his voice will be heard by the people in the Democratic party,” Farahanipour told the Southern California Record. “So, they can hear his agenda and his plan for future of LA. Regardless of whether the people in LA are red or blue, they all want to create a better quality of life for themselves, their kids and neighbors. Everybody agrees that we need to change LA to be a better place to live, work, and serve the community. We should be leading the nation as one of the best cities in the world.”
But Caruso, who is Catholic, has made contributions to Republicans who are anti-abortion, which caused the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) to consider creating a blacklist of businesses and advisors who have worked with Rick Caruso, as previously reported.
"Abortion is a national issue,” Farahanipour said. “A national topic is not anything the mayor has decision-making power over. He switched to the Democratic party and the Democratic values are clear.”
LACDP eventually decided on a resolution that condemns anti-abortion candidates and discourages working with Caruso consultants and campaign staff rather than blacklisting them.
“This is America,” Farahanipour added. “Every one is free to think any way they want but my concern is on the business side of things and as a mayor, Rick Caruso is more flexible to fix the problems of homelessness, safety, business-friendly regulation and the many other issues the people in LA are facing. He can help solve it.”