Pomona Foes Agree--Somewhat, for a While

Singing Harmony--Pomona Mayor Donna Smith and Councilwoman Nell Soto are political enemies with nothing in common, it seems. But they were singing the same tune--more or less--after last week’s special election to choose a new council member.

Both said this is a good time for the council’s warring factions to bury the hatchet.

Oh, Smith couldn’t resist crowing a little about picking up a political ally on the council in Boyd Bredenkamp, who had defeated Soto’s choice, Bob Dahms. “I never doubted for a minute that Boyd would win,” she said by phone from South Carolina.

But she added a hope that Bredenkamp--who is as cautious in his statements as his predecessor, C.L. (Clay) Bryant, was rash--might help restore peace.

“There was a message out there,” Smith said. “I think that the entire City Council has to recognize that the community wants stability.”

Even if the council meetings don’t produce harmony, they are likely to be shorter than the marathon sessions that were routine when Bryant was in office. The council is limiting its agenda to 15 items a meeting and has cut back on its meetings from weekly to twice a month.

Party Crasher--Why is KABC radio commentator Dennis Prager, a registered Democrat, speaking to the Pasadena Republican Club?

That’s what some of her fellow board members wanted to know, said Angeli DiLucca-Paterson, when she suggested the club invite Prager. More eyebrows were raised, she said, when she told them that Prager commands fees for his appearances. Pay a Democrat to speak? Unheard of, no doubt, said DiLucca-Paterson, but if the Berlin Wall can come down, maybe the barrier against Democrats could be lowered.

In any event, DiLucca-Paterson said, no one is better than Prager at discussing the differences between conservatism and liberalism. So the Republicans will bring Prager to Pasadena and have invited everyone, including Democrats, to hear him talk on “Liberalism vs. Conservatism: A Moral Question” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pasadena Center, 300 E. Green St. Admission is $20, with a half-price discount to students with ID.

Debatable--The American Assn. of Retired Persons has criticized Reps. David Dreier (R-La Verne) and Esteban Torres (D-La Puente) for rejecting its invitations to debate their election opponents.

Lee Weinstein, spokesman for the group’s voter education arm, AARP/Vote, said the organization will stage political forums anyway and will set up empty chairs for the missing legislators if they persist in their refusals.

Dreier’s aide, Brad Smith, said his boss didn’t exactly turn down the AARP invitation. Instead, Dreier suggested that the organization join two other groups--the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce and a local realty board--as a sponsor of a candidates forum already set for 7:30 a.m. Oct. 23, at Hinshaw’s Auditorium, 13550 Whittier Blvd., Whittier. But AARP insisted on hosting its own forum.

Dreier and his two 33rd District opponents--Democrat Georgia Houston Webb and Libertarian Gail Lightfoot--will share the Whittier program with candidates from the 52nd and 59th Assembly districts.

A spokeswoman for Torres, meanwhile, said he has not ruled out participation in an AARP-sponsored debate but is trying to negotiate a suitable time. Torres’ opponent in the 34th District is Republican John Eastman.

The only congressman to accept an AARP invitation so far is Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-Glendale), who has agreed to debate his opponent, David Bayer, at 1 p.m. Nov. 2 at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena.