Leader in Farrell Recall Undecided

One of the leaders of the recall move against Los Angeles City Councilman Robert Farrell pulled out of the campaign Friday morning, but before nightfall, he said he might remain on the recall committee.

First, Mervin Evans said in a statement, “I am asking my supporters and the residents in the 8th District to no longer support the recall.” But in a later interview, Evans, a business development consultant who ran against Farrell in the last city election, said that another recall leader, Kerman Maddox, contacted him later and persuaded him to reconsider.

“We need a significant leadership change in Los Angeles that brings about jobs and opportunities,” Evans said.

Movement Still Alive

Whatever Evans eventually decides, it was clear by day’s end that the recall movement against Farrell was still alive in the 8th District, which runs from the Memorial Coliseum west into southwestern Los Angeles.

Maddox, a former Bradley aide, said of Evans, “You lose one volunteer, but your troops are more motivated than ever.” He said recall leaders are well on their way to collecting the 12,500 signatures needed to hold an election. If Farrell is recalled, a second part of the ballot will list candidates to replace him. Maddox said he expects to be a candidate.

Farrell counted the first Evans statement as a gain and attributed his decision to withdraw to persuasion by a group of black ministers who traditionally have had considerable political influence in predominantly black areas of South-Central Los Angeles.

“I think it reflects the power of the clergy,” he said. Evans said he changed his mind and agreed to remain affiliated with the recall movement after the call from Maddox.

Affluent White Areas

Farrell also sought to portray the recall movement as being heavily supported by political leaders from affluent areas of the largely white Westside. In particular, he criticized Bruce Corwin, a motion picture theater chain owner who has been a top political adviser and fund-raiser for the mayor.

Farrell, attributing Corwin’s recall support to an old council fight over cable television franchises, said, “I understand he is angry with me because I voted against him on the South-Central cable issue.” Corwin was associated with a group seeking a franchise.

The councilman said the participation of Maddox and Corwin in the recall “embarrasses the mayor.”

Small Corwin Donation

Maddox replied that Corwin had given only $500 of the $15,000 he said has been raised by the recall campaign.

Corwin said that “I would like to see the recall succeed and I would like to see Kerman on the council.”

He said he is opposing Farrell because of the councilman’s reluctance to condemn Louis Farrakhan, the black Muslim minister whose anti-Semitic remarks touched off a furor over his 1985 appearance in Los Angeles.

Corwin said he also objected to Farrell’s support of a special police tax for the South-Central area, which would have boosted taxes there to increase the number of police officers. And he said he was unhappy because Farrell declined to meet with him over another old cable television fight in the City Council, when Corwin and others unsuccessfully sought a franchise in the East San Fernando Valley.