In fact, he served as her campaign treasurer, but it riled him that he could not take over and mold Sacramento while the economy was hot. Today, Rudin has little to say publicly about Serna. Mention of his name has at times brought the slightest of frowns to her face. Friends say she saw Serna as too manipulative. Serna, however, took subtle shots at Rudin.
History suggests that Sacramento appreciated and benefited from both styles.
Rudin suggested in the mid-1980s that the region prepare for the possibility that its military bases might close. It was an unpopular stance. Serna and others focused instead on fighting the closures. They lost and have been scrambling ever since to plan for reuse. Conversely, Rudin contended that it was not the mayor's business to meddle in school district politics, even as the city schools were falling into disarray.