Admission of Plagiarism Gives Echo to Lawndale Council Race

In a mini-version of Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential campaign mistakes, Lawndale Councilman Harold E. Hofmann has admitted plagiarism in his candidate’s statement for the April 12 municipal election.

In an early morning interview Wednesday, Hofmann conceded that substantial portions of his ballot statement were lifted from the statement written by Mayor Sarann Kruse for her 1986 campaign.

But Hofmann said he did not write his own campaign statement. Hofmann revealed that the statement was prepared by his political ally Gary McDonald, a member of the Planning Commission who is often at odds with fellow commissioners and the mayor.

On Vacation in Australia

Hofmann said he did not know portions were plagiarized until he returned home this week from Australia with his son. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have used it at all,” he said.

Chagrined, Hofmann said the incident occurred partly because the trip coincided with the candidates’ filing deadline of Feb. 4 and some pressing business matters.

“I was in a hurry to leave for a vacation in Australia with my son before the start of the campaign,” he said. “I reviewed only a handwritten version of the statement and signed the typed version without double-checking its origin. Well, it was copied, and I take full responsibility.”

McDonald said Wednesday that when he compiled the statement for Hofmann he thought the lines he used from Kruse’s statement were “common phrases” that could be quoted without attribution.

“I realize now I was totally wrong, and I apologize to Harold,” he said, adding that Hofmann did not know he had used material from Kruse’s statement.

“I admire (Hofmann) for taking the responsibility, but actually the blame lies on me,” McDonald said.

He said he thought the most important part of the statement is a list of Hofmann’s accomplishments, including stricter parking standards for new commercial and apartment developments. Kruse’s 1986 statement, meanwhile, listed among her accomplishments Lawndale’s participation in the Galleria mall project and the city’s free trolley service.

In an interview from Atlanta where she was on a business trip this week, Kruse said it was while reviewing the 12 candidates’ statements for four council seats that she realized that Hofmann’s sounded familiar.

“I thought ‘My goodness, these are my words,’ ” she said. Then she checked her 1986 mayoral campaign file and verified the duplication.

The two statements bear several identical or nearly identical statements.

For example, one segment of Kruse’s 1986 statement reads “Although we are proud of our accomplishments, much still remains and it will take dedicated and experienced leadership to meet the new challenges before us. I feel that your trust and support has been placed in me because I have always tried to be fair and equitable to all. Your concerns and problems are truly my own.”

One Phrase Altered

Hofmann’s 1988 statement is identical, except that it substitutes the phrase “open and responsive” for “fair and equitable.”

In an interview Monday, before McDonald’s authorship was disclosed by Hofmann, Kruse said: “It was really disappointing to see that someone who has served eight years on the City Council couldn’t think of anything they had accomplished or to tell the voters. . . . We are given that opportunity to say something about ourselves and our accomplishments, and to use someone else’s words is very astonishing.”

Some local politicians compared the situation to the one that derailed Sen. Biden’s presidential hopes. Biden abandoned his Democratic presidential bid in September after he admitted that he plagiarized parts of a law school paper and borrowed rhetoric from other politicians in his campaign speeches.

Although Kruse and Hofmann have differed on various issues, she described their relationship on the council as “workable.” She said she has not spoken to him about the plagiarism.

Both are running for reelection, though not against each other.

Hofmann, a 55-year-old sewer contractor, has served on the council since 1980 and is one of five candidates for two four-year council seats. Also seeking four-year terms are Councilman Terry W. Birdsall, Planning Commissioner Carol Norman, office manager Virginia Rhodes and paralegal Ralph C. Williams. The top two vote-getters will win.

Running against Kruse for mayor are Councilman Larry Rudolph, business analyst Nancy J. Marthens and aerospace production scheduler Ronald V. Maxwell.

Seeking a two-year term are Dan McKenzie, flight engineer Herman Weinstein and homemaker Tina Zarro.

The candidates are scheduled to appear in a forum at 7 p.m. today, at the Lawndale Civic Center, 14717 Burin Ave.

Took Out Election Papers

McDonald, who wrote the disputed statement for Hofmann’s campaign, took out candidate’s papers for the April election but decided not to run.

McDonald’s critics often comment that he did not lose anything by dropping out because he is so closely allied with a majority of the council’s members--Hofmann, McKenzie and Rudolph--that he can accomplish his goals without being on the council.

McDonald’s unilateral and personal approach to some city issues have drawn praise from residents who say he gets things done and tackles issues that might otherwise get lost in city bureaucracy.

Even before he admitted the plagiarism, McDonald came under fire from Kruse. At last week’s council meeting she read a letter of complaint from businessman Robert L. Young, who said McDonald was rude and publicly made derogatory statements to him. Kruse asked that the council draft a code of ethics for city officials, and said privately she intends to ask for McDonald’s removal as a city commissioner.

McDonald on Wednesday acknowledged his political rivalry with Kruse over various issues and said he expects some fireworks from her “now that I’ve actually made a mistake (in preparing Hofmann’s statement).”

“I just hope this doesn’t dominate the campaign or taint the issues,” he said.

Statement of Sarann Kruse

Election April 8, 1986 Candidate for Mayor of Lawndale

I have been honored with the privilege of serving you these last 10 years--the last four as your mayor.

We in Lawndale have made great strides forward. The new business developments along Hawthorne and Redondo Beach boulevards, the enjoyment of the Galleria and the new jobs it provides to Lawndale residents, the convenience of the free trolley service, and the residential building boom have all contributed to upgrading the quality of our living conditions. This is why I am so proud of Lawndale. All of us who live here can and should take pride in these accomplishments. Your support and cooperation made it all possible.

Although we are proud of our accomplishments, much still remains and it will take dedicated and experienced leadership to meet the new challenges before us.

I feel that your trust and support has been placed in me because I have always tried to be fair and equitable to all. Your concerns and problems are truly my own.

Your vote of confidence on April 8 will allow us to continue our work in a spirit of cooperation, dignity and understanding.

Statement of Harold E. Hofmann

Election April 12, 1988 Candidate for Lawndale City Council

I have been honored with the privilege of serving you the past eight years on the City Council. Together we have made great strides forward. The Drug Awareness and Child Care programs are being used throughout the state as model programs. Neighborhood Watch Programs have had a true impact on crime. Higher parking standards for new commercial and apartment developments will create more parking and better developments.

This is a small reason why I am so proud of Lawndale. All of us who live here can and should take pride in these accomplishments. Your support and cooperation made it possible.

Although we are proud of our accomplishments, much still remains and it will take dedicated and experienced leadership to meet the new challenges before us. I feel that your trust and support has been placed in me because I have always tried to be open and responsive to all. Your concerns and problems are truly my own.

Your vote of confidence on April 12 will allow us to continue our work in a spirit of pride, dignity and understanding for open, responsive government for the people.