Campaign Monday: Moms, a daughter and a Republican

Daily News columnist and KABC talk host Doug McIntrye, a Republican, comes out for Wendy Greuel and admits it's personal: her husband, Dean Schramm, is his agent. McIntrye was at their wedding and she at his. The campaigns' hit pieces have been silly, he writes:

Neither Eric Garcetti nor Wendy Greuel are crooks. They're politicians. And there is a difference.

This campaign illustrates once again the fatal flaw in our "nonpartisan" electoral system. In a heavily Democratic city, the runoff pits two like-minded Democrats who agree on nearly everything, leaving the campaigns no place to go but the gutter.

The truth is Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti served together at City Hall for years, if not as friends, certainly as respectful colleagues. Their voting records indicate a shared view of L.A.'s faults and virtues and general agreement on the role government has in fixing our problems.

I happen to disagree with Wendy Greuel on a host of issues, but that shouldn't be too surprising since she's a Democrat and I'm not.

I also disagree with Eric Garcetti on nearly everything, although have always found him to be a smart, likeable and witty man.

Also today, Jim Newton asks and answers: "Why does Los Angeles force candidates into a frenzy of second-round fundraising? The regulation dates to 1990 statutes that created the city's Ethics Commission and the rules it enforces." It doesn't make much sense, he says, to have Greuel and Garcetti start over at zero when they got into the runoff. LAT Op-ed

Plus: As of Friday, nearly 15% of requested mail ballots had been returned, which is ahead of the primary at this point in the cycle, but not by much. Rick Orlov says if the trend continues, turnout for the May 21 general election would be about 25%. And that's what makes accurate polling so difficult to do. People tell the pollsters they voted in March and will vote again this month, but most won't. So how do you scientifically sample an electorate that isn't really there? More Monday Orlov Tipoffs in the Daily News.

Later Monday, the candidates will tape a debate for KCAL Channel 9.

On Mother's Day, Greuel summoned the media to Art's Delicatessen in Studio City, stopped at the Los Angeles Jewish Home in Reseda and attended a Sunday service at Grant AME Church on South Central Avenue. Garcetti made a bunch of South LA church stops, including at Ruach Christian Fellowship on South Normandie, St. Marks AME on South Avalon, Mt. Moriah Baptist on South Figueroa and at Crenshaw United Methodist. He also listed visits to First Church of God in Inglewood and Full Harvest International Church in Gardena.

Also, LA Times campaign reporter Maeve Reston posted a YouTube video of Garcetti, his mother, his wife Amy Wakeland, and their adopted daughter Maya marking the holiday earlier at an event at San Antonio Winery. Is this the first time the Garcetti child has made an appearance?

No rest for Garcetti, Greuel on Mother's Day. ABC 7/Q McCray

Saturday at the the South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils. KPCC/Frank Stoltze

Union supporters of Greuel are telling potential voters she will deliver a $15-hour minimum wage, but the proposal itself only applies to hotel workers. LAT/Rainey, Reston, Zahniser

After pummeling Garcetti with hit ads for weeks, Greuel calls for an end to negative TV spots. He scoffs that she's out money. LAT/Michael Finnegan and Seema Mehta, ABC7/Carlos Granda and Elex Michaelson

Greuel seeks to reframe DWP issue, blame Garcetti DN/Dakota Smith

Garcetti, Greuel trade barbs over campaign strategy. DN/Smith

Friday Attack Ad Roundup: Garcetti Slammed Over Occupy L.A., Greuel Camp Threatens Lawsuit. LA Weekly/Gene Maddaus

KCRW's Friday Mixer discussion of the race with Gene Maddaus and Howard Blume. KCRW

Peter Mehlman, a former writer on "Seinfeld," suggests the candidates address issues like renaming one of the San Vicente Boulevards and eliminating the position of Los Angeles County sheriff: "If we wanted a sheriff, we wouldn't have moved to the second-largest city in America." LAT Op-ed

Wendy's an incredible mom -- if there's still some daylight when she gets home, it's not uncommon for her to join Thomas and me for a game of pick up basketball in the driveway -- usually while she's still in heels!

— Dean Schramm, in a fundraising email pitch for wife Wendy Greuel.