Steve Barr who?
Even if you’ve never heard of him, he wanted to be mayor of Los Angeles, but the educator dropped out of the race before most people even knew his name.
Barr insists his decision has nothing to do with his improbable chances in the race, saying instead it’s all because of the “nightmare” of Donald Trump’s election.
Green Dot Public Schools founder Barr announced he is dropping plans to run against Mayor Eric Garcetti in the March 7 city election, citing the results of the presidential election.
“Tonight, sadly, I have decided to end my race for mayor of Los Angeles,” Barr wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday. “After talking to many of you, it is obvious to me, that we are still reeling from November 8th.
“The people in this amazing city, are starved for good public schools, affordable housing, and a thoughtful approach to our homeless brothers and sisters . We need real debate on these complicated issues.
“I could not find that path in the short time and quick turnaround, between our nightmare of a national election, and March 7th. I am so sorry to have let you down.”
Barr’s withdrawal leaves political strategist Mitchell Schwartz as Garcetti’s best-known challenger.
“Mitchell and Steve are old friends and he has a great deal of respect for Steve’s commitment to improving education for our most disadvantaged children,” Schwartz’s campaign manager Josh Kilroy told City News Service.
“Mitchell was looking forward to Steve’s contribution to the upcoming civic conversation and wishes him all the best as he `continues the fight.”‘
Barr had said he was running “to disrupt the political establishment and turn our city around” and was building a grassroots movement “to transform L.A.’s public schools, end the homeless and (housing) affordability crisis and fight for a city where every family can thrive.”
The mayor of Los Angeles has no formal role in education.
Barr was among 19 people filing declarations of intention by the Nov. 11 deadline. The deadline to submit nominating petitions was Wednesday.
The final field of candidates is expected to be announced Thursday by the City Clerk’s Office.
Green Dot Public Schools was founded in 1999 in response to what was described as the poor state of public high schools in the Los Angeles area. It had one ninth-grade class of 140 students when it started in 2000, and now serves more than 11,000 students in Los Angeles, Memphis, Tennessee and Tacoma, Washington, according to information supplied by the nonprofit organization.
–City News Service