Yvonne Braithwaite Burke

LA City Councilman Herb Wesson passed up what many consider to be a “walk in the park” opportunity to run for L.A. County Supervisor when Yvonne Burke announced her retirement.

The former California Assembly Speaker appears to have his sights set on becoming President of the City Council, either nudging aside current President Eric Garcetti, or perhaps pushing him aside might be a better phrase.

Some people say that this is the first step in Wesson’s greater scheme, to become L.A.s 2nd African American Mayor.

It’s rare when a seat on the LA County BOS is open, but with Yvonne Burke’s retirement, it is the first open seat in 12 year. A solidly Democratic seat, heavily rooted in the Black community, though had certain Latinos shown any guts, they could have had a shot at winning. The race has boiled down to Senator Mark Ridley Thomas and Councilman (and former LAPD Chief) Bernard Parks.

Labor is throwing everything they have into Thomas’ campaign and expect to spend at least $500,000 (by any other accounting standards than the unions, it means $1 million) into an Independent Expenditure effort for him.  If they are successful – which is doubtful – labor has virtually nothing to gain by their efforts, except for throwing hard earned workers’ money away.