As Reported by Paul Taublieb
The message was simple and direct. This person wanted to run for council. Had a background which would have had this person seemingly leaning towards the pro-development side of things, at least in broad strokes. Strongly in favor of property rights for building on your land and passionate desire to make the city function better for getting building done faster and easier – though all couched with a deep love for Malibu and the very common-sense idea that rules were there for a reason and variances should only be allowed judiciously, if at all. A reasonable choice, it seemed as the positions and philosophy were outlined in a series of texts and by phone.
Nevertheless, this person would have been perceived as part of the pro real estate faction of the town in the binary world of local politics, even if the reality might have been different.
But in politics, perception is reality. And can draw votes.
As this person then explained, while mulling the decision whether to fully commit to run, two men came to see the possible candidate.
“They were worried I’d take votes away from their choice candidates,” this person wrote.
I asked, was one “Grisanti?”
“Yep,” this potential candidate wrote, later adding, “They said had their war chest, they had their candidates and they didn’t want votes taken away from them.”
Who where these men, I asked?
“I don’t want to name names but it was very wealthy men in town,” was the written reply, and in a later conversation added, “They want their puppets and I’m not that person and they didn’t want me to run. They have people in their pocket and don’t care about Malibu. They accused me of not having experience – but what did Grisanti do, he’s a realtor?”
This possible candidate has since decided not to run. So it goes in Malibu.
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