After Trutanich Loses D.A. Bid, Feuer Guns for His Job as City Attorney

One day after failing in his bid to become the next district attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney said Wednesday he will seek a second term as the city's top legal counsel.

Trutanich finished third in Tuesday's district attorney election behind Chief Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson, who will square off in a November runoff.

Trutanich said today he was still upbeat, and was "looking forward to a second term" as city attorney.

"I am the luckiest losing candidate. I am at my desk today, honored to be the city attorney of Los Angeles," he added, reading from a letter to supporters.

Trutanich described himself as the most successful city attorney in Los Angeles' history, pointing to 112 jury trial victories in 129 cases, at a time when his office has seen severe budget cuts and weeks of furlough days for staff attorneys each year.

Trutanich said he would run for a second term on his record of protecting public safety, guarding the city's treasury and doing more with less.

Meanwhile, said today he was still moving ahead with his campaign to replace Trutanich as city attorney.

In a brief statement, Feuer, D-West Hollywood, said: "I respect the city attorney, hope to sit down with him shortly and plan to move forward with my campaign."

Feuer and Trutanich share the same campaign consultants, Shallman Communications.

Asked about how the two would sort out the issue with nine months before the election, Trutanich said, "I'm not there yet. I'm still winding down my campaign, but, trust me, it will work out."

Feuer, who represents a district that includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Studio City, announced his candidacy in February for the March 2013 election for Los Angeles city attorney. He first filed papers to raise money for his candidacy in September. The race will be Feuer's second attempt at the office. After serving on the Los Angeles City Council from 1995-2001, he lost a race for city attorney to Rocky Delgadillo.

Attorney Gregory Smith, who has represented Los Angeles police officers and firefighters in lawsuits against the city, is also running for the office. Smith has said that as city attorney, he would take steps to stop retaliation by the police department against complaints by officers. He said earlier this year that the city should also require any judgments against the department for retaliation to come out of the LAPD's budget.

Feuer reported raising $345,000 through Dec. 31. Smith gave his campaign $100,000 of his own money.

Feuer was elected in 2006 to the Assembly, where he chairs the Assembly Judiciary Committee and is the Democrats' policy leader in the lower house.

Feuer is the main backer behind two bills in the Assembly aimed at accelerating funding for Los Angeles County transit projects. One bill would extend the length of the Measure R half-cent sales tax beyond its 30- year life-span, and the other would add urban rail transit projects to the list of development types eligible to receive special legal protection from state environmental review challenges.

Feuer's professional origins are as a lawyer providing pro bono legal assistance to elderly and disabled clients, according to his website.

Smith previously criticized Feuer's lack of litigation experience, saying he "has never been in a courtroom in his life."

"I've spent my entire career in courtrooms," Smith said in February. "I've been a litigator for almost 25 years, mostly against the city. I know the city's weaknesses. I feel like I can offer insights into what's going on with the City Attorney's Office."