Tony Boldi Still Wants to Be Mayor of Hollywood

In a verbal maneuver fit for a faux position, Tony Boldi, the man who claimed to be the new honorary mayor of Hollywood earlier this week, is now telling Patch he is simply an "honorary mayor hopeful."

Boldi revised his stance after the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the selection process for the volunteer position, said it had never heard of him.

Boldi is listed as an executive producer and script writer in the Internet Movie Database.

Chamber executives said they have not been seeking a new mayor in the two years since Johnny Grant, the longtime honorary mayor, died.

Past honorary mayors include Charlton Heston, Lawrence Welk, Art Linkletter, and, in 1954, a young Betty White.

"The chamber will not recognize and promote anyone who has not been approved by the chamber," said Leron Gubler, chamber president.

Boldi insisted that his friend, David Harrison Levi, is seeking the title on his behalf.

Levi made headlines recently after claiming that he is trying to get Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr booked at the Hollywood Bowl for a concert in August. The event has not materialized.

"David talked to the chamber for a while today," Boldi said Tuesday. "He supports me in my campaign and is doing everything in his power to help me."

Boldi's platform for the job includes paying for parking and other services with medical marijuana taxes. He also wants to stop movie productions from going out of state.

"I love the city and I want to make the rest of the world see it's a great place to make movies," he told Patch.

But the chamber isn't interested in filling the honorary role, said Ana Martinez, vice president of media relations for the chamber.

"Maybe in the future, but we're not looking for anyone now," she said.

Yusef Robb, spokesman for City Council President Eric Garcetti, said that the title of honorary mayor of Hollywood can be granted only by the chamber.  

That didn't stop what appears to have been a mock ceremony on Wednesday at nightclub—less than a block from the offices—at which Boldi accepted a certificate of appreciation as the “honorary mayor of Hollywood.”

The certificate was bestowed upon Boldi by Levi, who claims to be the honorary mayor of Beverly Hills. Unlike Hollywood, Beverly Hills is an actual city and has a real mayor.

The occasion for Boldi’s bestowal was Levi’s birthday. The party was also billed as a pre-Grammy celebration and a breast cancer awareness event.

Claps and cheers filled the room as Boldi took the stage.

"There's a lot to do, and I have a lot of energy. Those of you that know me, know I have a lot of energy,” Boldi said. “Johnny Grant is with us, and he's with me for sure."

At one point, Levi pointed out other members of the crowd he said held honorary titles, including an honorary chief of police from Beverly Hills and an honorary sheriff from Los Angeles County.

"Mr. Tony Boldi has exemplified what it is to be a friend," Levi said. "Mr. Tony Boldi has exemplified what he wants to do as the honorary mayor of the city of Hollywood."

David Markland, a Hollywood resident, wrote a column for Patch recently arguing why Larry King should take up the honorary role since retiring from CNN. Markland called Boldi's announcement "shameless self-promotion of the worst kind."

Boldi told Patch earlier in the week that he had the endorsement of the granddaughter of Johnny Grant, a lifelong bachelor. Martinez, a longtime friend of Grant’s, said to her knowledge he never had children.

When Patch asked Boldi to clarify his statement, he said:

"We have the granddaughter of the Grant family—I don't know if she was the honorary granddaughter of the Grant family—but she left me an e-mail a couple of days ago and she said those are big shoes to fill but if anybody can do it, Tony Boldi can. I have to agree with her and I know there's a lot to do.”

Boldi said he still believes the honorary job could be his. He just needs to take care of a few details, like joining the Chamber of Commerce.