13 File for April 16 Compton Council Election

Filing for the April 16 municipal election closed Saturday, with 13 candidates vying for three City Council positions, including the mayor’s post, and six others seeking jobs as city attorney, clerk or treasurer.

All six incumbents are seeking reelection, although one councilman is running for mayor rather than defending his council seat.

Though 19 persons sought spots on the ballot, the candidacies of three persons were not certified and they must go to court if they wish to appear on the ballot. (See story Page 1.) Knocked from the ballot were Louis Johnson, who is running for city clerk, and council candidates James Hays Jr. and Walter Goodin.

Mayoral candidates are dentist Walter Tucker, the 60-year-old incumbent, and Maxcy Filer, 54, a councilman since 1976. Other candidates are Edward Loney, a 44-year-old equipment operator, and Willie Bobbitt, 46, a supervisor for a construction company.

Councilman Floyd James and Robert Adams Sr., both first elected in 1977, are opposed by a total of seven candidates.

In council District 2, James, 44, is running against Patricia Moore, the 36-year-old president of the city’s United Council of Block Clubs, and Hays who is 28 and director of the Compton YMCA.

In District 3, Adams, a 53-year-old funeral home owner, is opposed by Emily Hart-Holifield, 44, a Compton Community College trustee, and Fred Cressel, 47, a longtime businessman and community activist.

Also challenging Adams are Goodin, 37, owner of a maintenance and painting service, Cleophas Dunlap and Seth Francois.

In the non-council races, City Atty. Wesley Fenderson Jr., 38, is opposed by Frank Bazadier, 51, a Lynwood attorney; City Clerk Charles Davis, 40, is opposed by Johnson, 28, an operations analyst at Fairchild Control Systems Co. in Manhattan Beach; and City Treasurer Wesley Sanders Jr., 51, is opposed by Delores Zurita, 48, director of Compton’s Senior Nutrition Program.

If a candidate fails to receive a majority of the vote in the April primary election, the top two vote-getters will advance to a June 4 runoff.

Voters from throughout the city may vote in all six races, though councilmen must live in the districts they represent. Registration for the April election closes March 18.