John Shallman, the campaign consultant for Measure R on the Los Angeles ballot, will soon be receiving a letter from City Controller Laura Chick, if he hasn't aready. She opposes his measure, but her name shows up in the campaign's literature anyway.

Dear John:

It has come to my attention that you are using my name, and the credibility of the Office of the City Controller, in the campaign for the passage of Proposition R.

The mailers imply that I believe that Proposition R would have prevented the public relations over-billing scandals. Nothing could be further from the truth. Proposition R would have had no preventive effect on that matter. I remind you that the City Council actually voted to turn down my request for them to stop the LADWP from paying millions of dollars more to outside public relations firms.

In fact I adamantly oppose Proposition R, using my name in mailers to voters in support of this measure is duplicitous and intentionally deceiving.

Please cease and desist immediately from using my name, or the Office of the City Controller, in conjunction with the Proposition R campaign.

Sincerely,

LAURA N. CHICK
City Controller

And so it goes. Over the weekend the Times reported complaints that the Measure R folks want voters to think it limits (rather than extends) council members' years of service.

* Email from campaign industry wag: "So I wonder if Chick still considers Shallman her campaign consultant?"