Janice Hahn drops ‘Los Angeles’ from ballot designation; Craig Huey aide thinks he knows why

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What’s in a name, anyway? Less is apparently more to Democrat Janice Hahn, who dropped the ‘Los Angeles’ from her ballot designation and will be described as a ‘local city councilwoman’ on the July 12 runoff ballot for a South Bay-based congressional district seat.

That got the attention of the strategist for her Republican opponent, businessman Craig Huey, who wondered in a news release: ‘What about Los Angeles City and her record there is she ashamed of?

‘Apparently Janice Hahn has so little regard for the voters of the 36th [Congressional District] that she believes she can fool them into thinking she is not a well known Los Angeles City politician,’ wrote Huey consultant Dave Gilliard. He cited some of the city’s budget and other problems and a parking citation relief program that was hastily dropped recently after a critical city controller’s audit.

But Hahn campaign manager Dave Jacobson said the change was made to better reflect what Hahn had done to help residents of the other, smaller cities included in the district. He cited programs she worked on and was proud of to create jobs and clean up the environment at the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport, programs he said benefited all the district’s cities.

Gilliard wasn’t buying it, saying it was highly unusual for a candidate to change ballot descriptions between the first and second parts of the same election.

Jacobson added a final shot back at Huey, who lives in Rolling Hills Estates, currently just outside the district. Congressional candidates are not required to live in the jurisdictions they seek to represent.

‘At least, ‘ Jacobson said, ‘she lives in the district and she can vote in this election.’

Hahn and Huey finished first and second, respectively, among 16 on the ballot in last week’s special primary to replace former Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice).

-- Jean Merl