Local Elections : Rising Star Tabor Seeks Upset Over Patriarch Tucker

At least two people are taking Inglewood Councilman Daniel Tabor seriously as he mounts a long-shot Democratic primary challenge to the 50th Assembly District’s political patriarch, Assemblyman Curtis Tucker (D-Inglewood).

One is Tabor, 33, who is considered a rising political star, but one who lacks money, name recognition, endorsements and a solid base in the district.

The other is Tucker.

Over the last 14 years, Tucker has used hefty campaign war chests and a strong Inglewood base to win easy reelection. The district encompasses El Segundo, Westchester, Inglewood, Lennox and sections of South Los Angeles.

Tucker, 70, is chairman of the Assembly Health Committee and a key ally of Speaker Willie Brown. The Assembly’s second-oldest member and sixth-ranking in seniority, Tucker has a heavy financial advantage over Tabor. And he is armed with an array of endorsements from political figures including such Democratic powers as Sen. Alan Cranston, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

But Tabor charges that Tucker has not provided leadership on issues such as crime, health care and economic development. Tabor, a two-term councilman, frames his candidacy in the context of a generational struggle in black politics, promising a new leadership style that will “empower” constituents.

“If Curtis Tucker thinks I’ve offended him, that’s his problem,” Tabor said. “Nobody gives up power; you have to take it.”

Although Tucker predicts victory in the June 7 primary, he is running hard in a race enlivened by a power struggle in the state Assembly and the effect of Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign on the black community.

“Danny’s stupid enough to think he can win,” Tucker said in an interview. “Kenny Hahn once told me: ‘If somebody files against you, you run a campaign.’ ”

Tucker has sent out a series of mailers describing his achievements as a fighter for his constituents, who are about 55% black and 20% Latino--and mostly Democrats.

Tucker represented Tabor’s council district as the city’s first black councilman before going to the Legislature in 1974. In 1985, Tucker accused Tabor of siding against him on local issues. The same year, Tucker supported an unsuccessful council candidate against Tabor.

Tucker has said Tabor’s candidacy is political suicide and has promised to crush him.

Challenge to Brown

Tucker’s energetic campaign also is affected by the challenge to Assembly Speaker Brown by the dissident Democrats known as the “Gang of Five.”

Though Tucker said that the Gang of Five is not a threat to Brown, Brown is protecting incumbent allies from possible primary ambushes. Brown will host a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser for Tucker June 1; the invitation to the event says Tucker faces an “extensive and costly campaign.”

Tucker said he will spend whatever it takes against Tabor. In 1986, when he faced negligible opposition, he spent $219,797. At least $55,000 of that was given to other Assembly Democrats.

According to the latest campaign contribution reports filed March 17, Tucker began the campaign with $30,208 to Tabor’s $2,127. Tabor campaign staffers said their candidate hopes to raise about $25,000.

“Curtis Tucker is trying to buy this election,” Tabor said. “We’ll see if he controls the people’s minds on June 7.”

As councilman, Tabor has emphasized affirmative action in hiring and opportunities for black entrepreneurs. His youthful, smooth style could appeal to young blacks who are expected to turn out for Jackson in the Democratic presidential vote on primary day.

Tucker campaign literature features photos of Jackson, and both candidates have questioned the other’s support for Jackson.

Though Tabor ran as a Jackson delegate in the 1984 presidential election while Tucker supported Walter Mondale, Tucker stung Tabor on the Jackson issue last month. A Tucker mailer to black households reprinted a 1986 letter that Tabor wrote to a local newspaper criticizing Jackson. Tabor’s letter said Jackson ignored efforts by local black groups when he declared a nationwide boycott of CBS television over minority hiring. The letter said,, “We will not be silent when anyone pimps or grandstands on our people’s legitimate needs.”

Tabor said he disagreed with Jackson on a specific issue and accused Tucker, who is local congressional district chairman of Jackson’s California campaign, of being a “Johnny-come-lately” to the Jackson movement.

After Tucker questioned Tabor’s claim that he had earned bachelor degrees in personnel development and labor relations from Cal State Long Beach, Tabor added a sentence to his campaign biography acknowledging that he is three units short of his diploma. A university spokeswoman confirmed that Tabor lacks several credits for a degree.

“He lied,” Tucker said. “It’s a question of integrity.”

“I didn’t intend to be misleading,” Tabor said. “I said I had earned the degree because I had completed the degree course work. All I need is a three-credit calculus class.”

Tabor says Tucker has attacked him to divert attention from Tucker’s legislative record, which Tabor said is weak. Tabor says Tucker has been “more of a shadow boxer than a fighter” in his efforts to combat problems in the district such as crime, rising auto insurance rates and the shutdown of hospital trauma centers.

Trauma Centers

Tucker said he is continuing the fight for money to reopen trauma centers. He also has sponsored legislation that would base auto insurance rates solely on driving records.

Tucker said his most notable legislative achievement was passage of “agency shop” legislation requiring non-union public employees to pay dues if a union represents their workplace. He is the author of legislation that brings $1 million a year to Inglewood from a tax on Hollywood Park Race Track and he voted in favor of the death penalty.

Last year, campaign records show that Tucker received $115,900 in contributions, much of it from medical interests such as the California Dental Political Action Committee, which contributed $7,000. He also received more than $11,000 in gifts and speaking fees.

Tabor has said Tucker is beholden to powerful lobbies instead of to his constituents. Tucker denied the charge.