Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterBillionaire developer Rick Caruso filed to run for mayor of Los Angeles on Friday afternoon, ending months of speculation and shaking up the crowded race to succeed Eric Garcetti.A onetime Republican, Caruso is best known as the builder of the Grove and the Americana at Brand shopping centers, among others.

He is also a former Los Angeles city commissioner, and has flirted with a run for mayor for the better part of two decades. With his ability to spend almost unlimited funds, Caruso immediately becomes a top contender in the campaign, perhaps second only to frontrunner Karen Bass.Jay Sures, co-president of UTA, is hosting the first entertainment industry event in support of Caruso’s candidacy at his home on Feb.

23. Other Caruso supporters in the industry include CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd, who is a longtime friend, and Dana Walden, Disney’s chairman of television entertainment. “I truly believe there is going to be overwhelming support in the entertainment community for Rick,” Sures told Variety. “I believe at the end of the day people are going to look at Rick’s track record of accomplishing big projects and say that he’s better suited for the job.”Caruso has long expressed his affinity for the entertainment business, and particularly for Walt Disney, whom he has often cited as a key influence.Caruso has been making preparations to run for several months, lining up a full team of political consultants and strategists, and announcing last month that he had re-registered as a Democrat.

He faced a Saturday deadline to file his intention to run in the June 7 primary, and is expected to kick off his campaign in earnest early next week.Caruso is expected to pitch himself as best suited to.

Rick Caruso Files to Run for L.A. Mayor

Related News