OpEd: The dirty politics of Lindsey Horvath

This past weekend I received a text message with a photo of Lindsey Horvath’s campaign van plastered with #MeToo, and a “say no” to her opponent in the race for County Supervisor. The hashtag was meant to degrade her opponent’s reputation. Horvath’s campaign could have said “#clean up the homeless,” or “#vote horvath,” but instead Lindsey Horvath can bring down the integrity of campaign all by herself.

It’s dirty politics. We all know what #metoo means, but Google its definition: adjective: relating to the adoption of imitation of a person’s views or policies, often for political advantage.

Think back to 2015 when Lindsey was first elected to the West Hollywood City Council. She ran for the open seat being vacated by Abbe Land. The city council at the time was comprised 3 Johns, a Jeff, and Abbe. Horvath ran a ‘gender based campaign” — ‘we need a woman on the dais.’ That year, the voters selected two women to join the council dais, Lauren Meister and Lindsey Horvath.

Fast-forward seven years. Horvath is running for County Supervisor after only one full term as a part-time city council member. There are five females on the Board of Supervisors. Does Bob go around saying we need a man on the Board of Supervisors?

This time around Horvath is name-calling — “Big Oil Bob” or a host of other insinuations to demean and degrade. Horvath has no ideas to “brand.” But the fact is Lindsey Horvath supported ‘Big Oil – George W. Bush‘ in his 2000 campaign against green-energy hero Al Gore. Horvath supported ‘pro-life Bush’ against pro-choice Gore. Horvath cast many stones to deflect from her own record.

Our little town of West Hollywood is 1.9 square miles. A tiny city where most of us know all our council members. The Mayor of West Hollywood endorsed Bob Hertzberg. The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce endorsed Bob Hertzberg. How did Lindsey Horvath lose her home court advantage? How did she burn so many bridges that neither could give her the benefit of the doubt? To understand Horvath’s politics just read this op-ed written by a resident.

Horvath had a friendship with outgoing County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and knew her seat would open after this term. She positioned herself early. Together with her friend co-Council member John Erickson, they ganged up on Mayor Lauren Meister to vote against West Hollywood’s seat on the Southern California Association of Governments — a total sell out by them both. Horvath and Erickson voted for the Mayor of Culver City over the Mayor of West Hollywood.

After the primary campaign this past June, Horvath scrubbed all references to “LGBTQ” and “West Hollywood” from her bio, just like she erased her pro-life and pro-oil connections. In the last forum, Horvath never mentioned West Hollywood once; we were relegated to “my city,” “my community,” and not a word of the LGBTQ+ .

The corruption of Lindsey Horvath is widespread and happening right now in front of our eyes.

The players, Estavan Montemayor who is Horvath’s campaign spokesperson, direct appointee to Rent Stabilization, registered city lobbyist for the 8850 Sunset Blvd Viper Room project. Barbera Grover, heading up the independent expenditure committee “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath’ and is/was part of the team lobbying for 8850 Sunset Viper Room project, and Council member John Erickson who was part of the “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath” independent expenditure committee through the primary and their candidates Robert Oliver and Chelsea Byers.

Big Labor opened two independent expenditure committees, “Friends of Robert Oliver”, and “Friends of Chelsea Byers” for both first time candidates. Jim Arnone and DJ Moore of Latham and Watkins are the attorney’s for 8850 Sunset and have chipped in handsomely. One must ask themselves how first time candidates could get this backing?

It’s Dirty Politics. At the 8850 Sunset Viper Room project, Erickson and Horvath are quietly horse trading votes A colleague close to the relationship told me directly that the developers ‘felt pressure to win both Horvath and Erickson’s vote on the project’ This project has a pre-approval from UNITE HERE Local 11, who are supporting both Oliver and Byers. Their votes are guaranteed before they are even elected.

Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath is also milking the city’s trash provider Athens’s Services for donations to the Horvath campaign. The organic waste update that is mandated from the State of California has been held up at City Hall since the beginning of the year. It should be a slam dunk for Athens, – the state changed the law. But Horvath’s campaign received at least $20,000 from Athens made to an independent expeniture campaign “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath”, – (not real neighbors).

Remember the 3-2 vote on the Faring / Roberson Lane Treehouse project? The vote split 3-2 with Horvath and Erickson voting for the project and a mural of Lindsey rises on the corner of Robertson and Santa Monica Blvd a few weeks later. It was listed as an in-lieu contribution and violated the laws of the City of West Hollywood. Horvath sat by and smiled until the City of West Hollywood was forced to cite the project and have it removed. It was an embarrassment for Faring and for the Horvath campaign.

Is Lindsey Horvath running on ideas? Have you heard any?

The appointment of Nika Soon-Shiong to the Public Safety Commission was a betrayal of the public trust. Soon-Shiong is the daughter of the Los Angeles Times owner and an activist with no previous involvement in West Hollywood. Horvath advanced her ideas to defund our Public Safety to curry favor and win an endorsement in her race for County Supervisor. Our commissions are liasons to the community, advisory boards, but Soon-Shiong voted to cut 10 deputies from the Sheriff, the motion was seconded by Robert Oliver. Then when the community had objections they called all of West Hollywood racist. Horvath doesn’t listen to the voters, she does what’s best for herself. Often she moved without public input pretending to represent us and then pushing her agenda. What was in her self-interest.

And then there is Planned Parenthood. Council member John Erickson is the director of advocacy for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. Two $50,000 donations were made to the Horvath campaign. Planned Parenthood, a non-profit that is supposed to be raising money to support abortion rights and the needs of those who cannot afford an abortion but donated $100,000 to the Horvath campaign against a man Bob Hertzberg who has a 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood. This mis-appropriation of funds should be investigated.

Don’t forget, the County is a partner to the State. Bob Hertzberg can bring us meaningful change with his broad experience. Lindsey Horvath is not much different from Sheila Kuehl who is under investigation for corruption and insider dealing.

In my opinion, the FPPC and District Attorney would do a public service if they investigate the Horvath campaign and the movement of money and/or trading of votes.

Authors Note: I began in the Lindsey camp and made a small donation of $100 to her primary campaign. As the campaign progressed it became clear that Horvath was placing her self interests over her oath of office or the residents she was elected to represent.