Before I write anything today - I just want to thank some really cool people I met this morning.  Sometimes I forget that the things I’ve said and done over the course of my campaign (and afterward) actually touched people’s lives.  This couldn’t have been better reflected than this morning at the bus stop when a nice guy named Jeremiah Small and his 4-year-old daughter Fiona took the time to say “Hi” to me and thank me for running.  It’s nice to know my message actually reached people and - more importantly - it’s nice to know that people were interested and people were motivated to make a difference in their community.  No election victory or any other type of “prize” could compare to that nice feeling I get when someone says “Thank you.”  Well, Jeremiah, you’re very welcome.

** 

Over the next few weeks and months I’ll be waxing on who I think my opponents will be in the 2011 Mayor’s race.  I came up with this idea the other night at the Pasadena Center when I ran into affordable housing advocate, former 2003 Mayoral candidate, and dystopian crystall ball reader: Philip Koebel. 

Since Bill Bogaard will be 72 years old by the time of the next election, it’s not a stupid idea to think he won’t seek a fourth term in office.  Not to say he’ll be too old to run the City - but I’m sure the “Tower of Affability” would surely deserve a nice break after all he’s done for the City.

There are several “front runners” people are murmuring about as to who will take the crown away from Bogaard (besides myself, of course).  Today, I’m going to focus on that sexy, sexy man and City Councilman from District 4, Steve Haderlein.

Look at this guy.  He’s got the ladies vote (and some of the guys, I’m sure) already.  But beneath this archetype of intelligence and 100% USDA approved man meat houses a family man and one of the few prominent Republicans in Pasadena politics. (He also supports the stupid Patriot Act - so I guess he’s “bringing sexy back to the Patriot Act”).

By night, he’s GQ cover material - but by day - Mr. Haderlein is a teacher at La Salle High School, a college prep school here in Pasadena.  He teaches Economics, Honors Economics, and Civics.  He’s a graduate of USC in `87 and Loyola Marymount in `85. 

Haderlein beat Gene Masuda in the March election and even took advantage of something that I thought only Jim Lomako and myself were aware of:  YouTube.

Here’s Steve - not only informing us of why he’d make a great leader for District 4 - but wooing the ladies by stylin’ and profilin’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvOZlpEHnck

Am I scared?  A little bit.  The only other heterosexual man-crush I had in my life was James Garner when he played Jim Rockford on “The Rockford Files”.   But I’ll be ok: maybe the universe will collapse from Steve’s handsome charm and my dark and seductive choice of eyeshadow.

2011 is looking to be an interesting year, already, for Pasadena politics.

Next time on Pondering 2011:  The other, less handsome Steve and front-runner for Mayoral candidacy - Vice Mayor and District 6 councilman, Steve “The Big No Show” Madison:

Stand & Deliver.

- Aaron

**
P.S. I may have mentioned I was to appear on “NewsRap” with Andre Coleman tonight on Channel 56 - that’s been pushed back until next week.