Beutner on Split With Consultants: “Different View as to the Best Way Going Forward”

Austin Beutner

Mayoral candidate Austin Beutner was let go by two high-profile political consultants Friday, and today Beutner said he wanted to focus on an upcoming policy speech rather than the personnel change.

Ace Smith and Sean Clegg of SCN Strategies were on board when Beutner announced his candidacy last April. The two, who have both worked for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other politicians inside City Hall, had urged Beutner to go further in his criticisms and critiques of Los Angeles city government, something that fell short in his recent speech to Town Hall Los Angeles. That difference of opinion was first reported by the LA Weekly.

In an interview with The City Maven, Beutner chalked up the split to a disagreement over strategy.

“I don’t think there’s much of a story there,” Beutner told The City Maven. “You acknowledge it and move
on.”

“I think Ace and Sean are great, good people, but it’s good you figure these things out well in advance and we just had a different view as to the best way going forward.”

Beutner will now be advised by Bill Knapp, who led New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s successful campaigns, and Anita Dunn, former communications director for the Obama Administration. In the next month, Beutner is expected to give a speech on Los Angeles city government and how it can be improved.

“There’s a better explanation than just pointing at a problem and assuming that it fell from heaven and landed on us,” Beutner said.