Voting Station

Tom Bradley

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Mayor

The Resume

    (December 29, 1917-September 29, 1998)
    Born in Calvert, Texas
    Mayor of Los Angeles (1973-93)

Why he might be annoying:

    Early in his career, he clashed with other black politicians in California.
    Critics felt he lacked charisma and was too cautious.
    He reversed himself to support a controversial oil drilling project in Pacific Palisades.
    He was reluctant to condemn an anti-semitic speech that Louis Farrakhan gave in Los Angeles.
    His narrow loss to George Deukmejian in the California gubernatorial race (1982) despite leading in the polls inspired the term 'the Bradley effect' for white voters telling pollsters that they are likely to vote for a black candidate or undecided, but then actually voting for his opponent.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He attended UCLA on a track scholarship.
    He became the first black lieutenant in the Los Angeles police force.
    His 20-year tenure was the longest for any mayor in Los Angeles history.
    He was a political liberal with a pro-business philosophy.
    He was married to Ethel Arnold for 57 years until his death.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 46 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 69.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 81.25% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 40 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 39 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying