Austin Beutner a candidate for mayor?

Former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan told Bloomberg Business Week's Chris Palmeri that the first deputy mayor is a possible candidate for mayor, and Eli Broad agreed in an email that Beutner could be a good contender. The possibility of a Beutner candidacy has come up in the last few months, as he takes on more roles within the city (including interim general manager of the DWP). Seems like a longshot, given the crowded field that's anticipated, not to mention Beutner's minimal political base (well, except for Broad and Riordan). Beutner, a registered independent, said he's made no decision on a run. From the Bloomberg piece:

"He's got the mindset of a takeover artist, someone who comes into a failing business, gets rid of people as fast and efficiently as possible," said Ron Kaye, a former editor at the Los Angeles Daily News and board member of L.A. Clean Sweep, a political action committee challenging incumbents in the March 2011 city council election. "The trouble with that is, this isn't a business."

City Hall denizens use "Beutnercrats" to describe the former investment banker's economic-development team. At a Sept. 7 meeting of the group, in front of a banner bearing Beutner's personal motto, "Getting to Yes," the deputy mayor was being updated about a company that wanted to sell electric trucks to the city. Beutner said Los Angeles wants the company to open an office in town. "It's not our attempt to be a fleet-sales effort for them," Beutner said. "It's all about the jobs."