One day before she would have left elective office, Governing magazine features former Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick on its July cover. She stepped down early, of course, to become the state inspector general. The story begins, "It took Laura Chick barely a month in Sacramento to start making waves."

Speaking of Chick: Her name was invoked more than once at Tuesday night's pre-inaugural party for Controller-elect Wendy Greuel, who takes the oath formally today at City Hall along with Mayor Villaraigosa, new City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and eight City Council members. Possible successors to Greuel in the 2nd district, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and school board member Tamar Galatzan, appear in this brief video that shows the scene at Tuesday night's event on the New York street at CBS Radford in Studio City. Declared candidate Chris Essel was also there. Greuel spoke with her husband Dean and son Thomas beside her.

Watch the video full-sized at LA Observed's You Tube channel

Chick's photo was taken by Robert Durrell, the former Los Angeles Times photographer now freelancing in Northern California.