Los Angeles City Attorney

Of the 363 lobbyists who worked the corridors of Los Angeles City Hall last year, no one took the city to court more than Benjamin Reznik. By his own calculation, the veteran land-use lawyer and lobbyist has filed more than 150 lawsuits against the city's boards, commissions and elected officials over the course of his 32-year career, more than any of his peers.

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich touched off his first term with a note of defiance Wednesday, promising to vigorously pursue misconduct by public officials, restructure the office to spend less money on outside counsel and possibly even keep an eye on the L.A. Police Department.

San Pedro lawyer Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich claimed victory Tuesday in the race to become the next Los Angeles city attorney, a result that marked an apparent defeat not just for his rival, City Councilman Jack Weiss, but also for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who had backed him. In the race to replace Weiss in the council's 5th District, stretching from Cheviot Hills to Encino, former Assemblyman Paul Koretz held a lead over neighborhood council member David "Ty" Vahedi.

Less than six weeks before the election, Los Angeles city attorney candidate Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich on Thursday outlined his agenda for the office, promising to slash spending on outside counsel, improve training of deputy city attorneys, increase transparency and hire a team of investigators to aid the city attorney's office. "We spent in excess of $37.5 million last year on outside counsel; it's time to pull the plug on that expenditure," Trutanich said at a news conference outside City Hall.

In the midst of a bruising final few weeks of the Los Angeles city attorney's race, two groups are calling on candidate Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich to stop running a television commercial that they say unfairly depicts Latino men as gang members. But Trutanich's campaign consultant contended that the complaints were orchestrated by supporters of City Councilman Jack Weiss, who is also running for the job.

Los Angeles city attorney candidate Jack Weiss criticized his chief rival Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich on Wednesday for representing a man accused of shooting at sea lions. As a private lawyer several years ago, Trutanich represented John Gary Woodrum, a charter boat captain who ultimately admitted to firing a rifle at sea lions near Santa Catalina Island.

In the flashy television ad that has served as his calling card to voters, Los Angeles city attorney candidate Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich compressed his 30-year legal career into a narrow sliver: the time he spent prosecuting serious gang crimes. Not mentioned is the mainstay of Trutanich's work: his expertise in environmental law, developed as a young prosecutor in the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and finessed as a private attorney defending a number of polluters.

When four of the candidates running for Los Angeles city attorney recently debated on the home turf of their chief opponent, City Councilman Jack Weiss, there was no question about whom they were targeting -- or the level of animosity that simmers among some of Weiss' Westside constituents.

In the flashy television ad that has served as his calling card to voters, Los Angeles city attorney candidate Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich compressed his 30-year legal career into a narrow sliver: the time he spent prosecuting serious gang crimes. Not mentioned is the mainstay of Trutanich's work: his expertise in environmental law, developed as a young prosecutor in the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and finessed as a private attorney defending a number of polluters.

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the May 19 special election -- which includes a package of statewide measures aimed at easing California's budget crisis. Voter registration forms are available at more than 1,240 locations throughout Los Angeles County, according to Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan. Those locations include DMV offices, public libraries, fire stations, post offices, welfare offices and city clerk's offices. An online registration form also is available at www.lavote.