Column: L.A., it’s time to choose a mayor. Is it Bass’ moment, or Caruso’s?
A: We still have to decide whether to choose a mayoral candidate from the same party as Mr. Caruso, or whether to have a different party or no party at all choose a candidate for mayor. We’re trying to sort through this situation and make a decision soon.
Q: Do we not know if the state Legislature will approve the bill?
A: The state Legislature still has to approve the bill, which is necessary because we need to have something in place to show we’ve adopted the initiative.
Q: What is the governor’s position on the ballot measure?
A: The governor feels strongly that he would support the ballot measure, but has not made a commitment to do so.
Q: What makes you so confident?
A: I really believe that by putting the initiative on the ballot, we’re putting all of the other players on notice: We’re not going to just ignore the initiative; we’re going to say to the people of L.A. that you have voted on this issue, and now you have to respond.
Q: What does the mayor do if the measure passes?
A: I’d advise him to do nothing.
Q: What do you think the mayor should do?
A: If the measure is passed, I’d recommend that he vote for the measure. If it’s not, I’d urge him to vote against it.
Q: The mayor doesn’t support the measure. So it’s a two-state-three-way tie, not the mayor versus the state Legislature versus the state Legislature.
A: He’s got to be with the people who voted for the measure. If he votes against it, that should make the people of L.A. vote no, because they’ve voted on the measure. And if they vote yes, it should make Bass vote yes, because he’s from L.A. And if it comes down to two votes against the measure and one vote for the measure from the mayor, he can’t vote no. He’s got to vote yes.
Q: What if the mayor supports a third candidate for mayor, from a different party?
A: It’s a four-